This section appears to be slanted towards recent events. Please try to keep recent events in historical perspective and add more content related to non-recent events.(October 2024)
In September 2019, Strandbags opened a new larger concept flagship store at Melbourne's Chadstone Shopping Centre, as part of a strategy to expand the size of major stores.[5]
In August 2020, Scentre Group locked out some Strandbags stores over a rental dispute.[7] The decision affected stores at Westfield centres in Australia.[8] The dispute was resolved and the stores were allowed to reopen.[9] Strandbags' revenue for the 2021 fiscal year was hit hard by the pandemic, only reaching $195.1 million compared to $350.8 million the previous year.[10]
In July 2020, the British luggage brand Antler was acquired by ATR Holdings, an associated company of Strandbags.[11][12]
In May 2021, the New Zealand Commerce Commission laid charges against Strandbags under the Fair Trading Act 1986, accusing it of misleading consumers about discounts.[1] The Commission accused the company of marketing discounts against a regular price that had never been used.[3]Consumer NZ alleged similar tactics were also used by other retailers;[13] the Commission warned other retailers against doing so.[14]
In October 2021, Strandbags relaunched its website following a four-month redevelopment process.[15] It followed the appointment of new Chief of Technology and Head of Online the previous year.[16]
In May 2022, Strandbags launched Evity, a leather goods brand[17] and, in July 2022, the company launched its Nere luggage brand in Australia and New Zealand. A UK launch followed in May 2023.[18][19] The first stand-alone Nere retail store opened in Melbourne in November 2023.[20]
In November 2022, Strandbags rebranded as Strand.[4]
