Hi all
The first half of the financial year seems to have flown by, helped along by a healthy dose of fun, sun, and time with friends and family over the holiday break.
We have plenty to be proud of when looking back over the past six months, evidenced by this jam-packed edition of The Yarn. From celebrating the successful FENZ tender win and progressing our ambitions for circular workwear, to the major achievement that was the launch of Project Firefly, to revamping and road-mapping our iconic brands Hard Yakka, KingGee, NNT and the Totally Workwear franchise. As a team, we’ve also continued to flex our change management muscle, level up our productivity and efficiency as part of Redesign the Five, and strengthen connections across our teams, our WIS and WES family, and our valued customers.
As you’ve heard me talk about in our Business Updates, economic and trading conditions will likely remain challenging throughout the rest of the year. However, I remain confident that we can continue to navigate these headwinds by
sticking to our long-term strategy, continuing to prioritise highvalue work, and doubling down on financial elements within our control, such as our cost of doing business.
We have a great team committed to delivering great results, while enjoying and challenging ourselves along the way. Please keep taking good care of your health and wellbeing, including through our THRIVE program, take the chance to meet new people and socialise together at our Social Hub events, and recognise the great work being done across our business through team celebrations, Thank You cards and our quarterly Values Awards.
We love celebrating success at WWG, from our everyday heroes keeping BAU on track to those working hard to deliver big strategic projects like Firefly and Lightyear. So please don’t be shy in putting the names of your hardworking colleagues up in lights. Together, we are creating great impact for our people, customers, and WES shareholders – today and well into tomorrow.
Change can be uncomfortable. But it shouldn’t be scary. The Change for Better framework and toolkit is here to help all of us make change for better.
WWG’s Change Framework sets clear guidelines on what we need to do when it comes to driving, managing or supporting change. It’s specific to change at WWG - what we value and what matters most to us - and it’s for everyone. It covers our change principles, mindset and expected behaviours.
WWG’s Change Toolkit provides guidance and resources to help manage change more consistently. Created and tested by team members from across WWG, the toolkit covers key aspects of the change process - from planning and management to communications and engagement - to ensure we are making the right changes, the right way.
Change is leader led and we are all leaders of change
We lead change through initiation of change, supporting change and activation of change at all levels of WWG. Leading means seeking clarity and understanding as well as driving change and supporting those who do.
Our people are prepared with the skills and tools at the right time
We are deliberate about giving people the time needed to prepare and transition through the change.
Targeted communication is used to make sure people are aware and informed
I acknowledge that change can be uncomfortable but know it is important to progress.
For everyone, always
We use channels, formats and language for specific audiences and meet people where they already are, so we know the message lands.
Identified change champions help drive change
Our change champions are not necessarily the experts, but they provide access across business units and functions. They bring data back into the initiative team to understand what’s needed and how to improve the process as we work.
I align to the value of openness in all parts of change, even when it is not going as planned.
I will be aware that my own past experiences of change may influence my thinking and will try to remain open minded even if it’s difficult.
I am Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and a key part of my role is to partner with the business and support WWG’s strategic growth agenda. I am passionate about growing our business profitably so we can re-invest in areas that make a difference such as People, Sustainability, and Innovation. I also like to have fun along the way.
When asked ‘what do you want to do when you grow up?’ I would tell people ‘carry a briefcase’ (omg so boring!).
Growing up I admired Jana Wendt (60 Minutes) and aspired to be a journalist, which was my first field of study at university, before I switched to Accounting. When I was younger, my parents owned and operated a business and so discussing business (like the pros and cons of compulsory superannuation) were staple dinner table conversations. Switching to business seemed to make more sense.
For my first role, I took a position as a Tax Clerk working for a Taxation and Insolvency practice in Adelaide. It was full of young graduates and so the social atmosphere was great – mostly I remember having a good time at the pub! I knew early on though that Tax & Insolvency was not the industry for me.
My career journey to WWG has not been linear, but each role has been intentional, and I’ve learned from each one. Working in Insolvency showed me the impact of insolvent businesses on people’s lives; Private Equity gave me a front row seat to the investor mindset; and my career break as a cafe barista enabled me to grow my people and customer service skills (I also learned I make bad coffee). Operational roles at JB Hi-Fi showed me the value in agile decision-making when you haven’t crossed all the T’s, and that the main driver of performance is culture (all caring deeply about similar things).
My roles at Officeworks for the last eight years indoctrinated me to the Wesfarmers way (renowned for excellent business and investment principles) and exposed me to acquisitions, problem solving, and leading both large and small teams through change. Being part of Wesfarmers has been a highlight thus far and has certainly helped lead me here – one of the many benefits of being part of the Wesfarmers Group.
My advice to my younger self would be:-
• Think bigger than a briefcase!
• If you must choose between your brain or your gut, follow your gut.
• Be okay with your mistakes. Your biggest learnings may lead to surprising outcomes that exceed your expectations.
“ My career journey to WWG has not been linear, but each role has been intentional, and I’ve learned from each one.
Today, most companies – not just in fashion and uniforms – follow a linear process. We take materials from the Earth, we make products from them, and eventually throw them away - we waste
In a circular economy, we stop waste being produced in the first place and keep products and materials in circulation for as long as possible through processes like repair, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture, repurposing. When they can no longer be used in their current form they will be safely recovered or returned to nature through recycling or composting processes so the resource value can be retained infinitely ~ this is the journey we are on and what we are aspiring to achieve.
You can visit the Sustainability Hub for more resources here.
WWG is already making great strides in adopting more circular principles for garment production, distribution and use, and disposal. You can check out what we’re already doing, what we’re looking to do more of, and where we see opportunity to innovate further in the below graphic.
We’ve partnered with circular innovation agency, the Future Fashion Agency, to help develop WWG’s Roadmap to Circularity. This project includes talking to our customers about their expectations of sustainability and circularity, as well as identifying 2-3 potential pilots that could support circular practices at WWG.
You can access our FY23 Sustainability Progress Report here.
On November 14th, the WHS team and Blackwoods united at Rydges, Melbourne for a day of innovation, partnership, and vision.
The day offered the chance for the Blackwoods team to discover insights into the WWG service model and engage with the minds of our team directly.
We celebrated:-
• The launch of innovative product lines from KingGee, Hard Yakka & NNT;
• Our offering and standards in safety and sustainability;
• Our superior service model dedicated to meeting the complex needs of our industrial clients; and
• A runway presentation that was a testament to our diverse product range, featuring sizes up to 7XL and offerings for maternity wear, ensuring that every team member feels accommodated.
Leadership from both WWG and Blackwoods were present to reinforce our shared goals. Interactive sessions sparked conversations on our synergistic strategies for innovation, quality, and a safer & sustainable work environment.
Peter Allery, Sales Manager Safety Majors, said on the day:
"We'renotjustbrands;we'repartners propellingthefutureofworkwear."
Building connections and investing in our people is at the heart of WWG's ethos. One of the ways we achieved this in 2023 was November's WWGU conference. This also gave us the opportunity to celebrate key successes and learnings and share how our teams are working on achieving our business strategies.
The conference, held in November, brought team members across Australia and New Zealand together in Melbourne for the first time since the pandemic.T he one-day event featured key speakers from Design,
Sales, Account Management, Mechandising, Tech, Marketing, and Sourcing; providing considerable insight into the projects they've been working on, often in the background, to take the Uniforms business into the future.
Our guest speaker, Jenny Li from WGSN, shared information on sustainability initiatives and the consumer of the future.
The conference was an opportunity to celebrate, but also to share the vision of the Uniforms business for the coming years.
WWG took part in the A+A 2023: Trade Fair and Congress in October, which hosted over 62,000 visitors to see 2,200 exhibitors. It is the world's largest and most important event when it comes to safety, security, and health at work.
Our key goals for the event were to:
• Pursue new international partnerships with European distributors by demonstrating the value and opportunity for our products in EU markets;
• Explore exciting new trends from worldleading brands that can provide us with future competitive advantage;
• Find new ways to deliver better products, faster and at a lower cost, with manufacturing and supply partners in Asia; and
• Strengthen relationships with key Australian retail partners by showcasing our local brand on the global stage.
It was a long week for the team, with plenty of hard work on the ground after extensive planning and activity before the event to ensure we maximised these great opportunities and learnings.
Find out more about what each of the teams' representatives got up to, and how it will help support our Road to 500 strategy:
• Represented WWG's iconic brands at our showstopping stand, alongside existing distribution partners. Together, we engaged hundreds of potential distributors, partners & customers;
• Held targeted meetings, product demonstrations & showcases; and
• Deepened connections with visiting Australian customers. With our competitors also present, this was key to keeping our name front & centre and reinforcing WWG's global standing.
• Met with all existing suppliers present at the show to further advance discussions on better, faster, and lower cost opportunities for fabrics, trims, etc; and
• Created new opportunities with new suppliers to enhance our product offering & sourcing costs.
• Conducted extensive market & customer research to strengthen WWG’s value proposition and offering in future tenders;
• Created new distribution opportunities for NNT to gain greater market share in the global healthcare industry; and
• Identified new ways to embed sustainability practices and messaging into product development & marketing to leverage our strengths in this area.
• Researched new product innovation, design inspiration & trends;
• Made connections with suppliers for future product innovation & insights on global sustainability trends; and
• Gained a better understanding of European ranging, retail trends, and go-to market strategy.
As part of the development of the new Jetstar uniform, late last year Stef and Chloe from the Design team embarked on a 2-week whirlwind trip abroad, including 8 or 9 flights. This strategic trip allowed WWG team members to develop relationships with our manufacturers and key contacts abroad, and ensure we could confidently deliver on our promise to our customer.
They visited factories, leaving with product in-hand as there was no time to wait for samples before they had to catch their next flight. When garments needed to be adjusted, it was done right then and there. They saw pilot shirts being manufactured and they even had on-the-spot fittings which were a testament to the positive business relationships between WWG and our manufacturers.
Despite the suitcase containing the samples going missing briefly, it was a hugely successful trip. Originally the trip was planned to be split between 2 people per destination, but it was more costeffective to send Chloe and Stef together to each spot.
As a result, they were able to build on important business relationships and represent WWG. Their adventure included bouts of food poisoning, missing luggage, and lots of waiting as their flights were on standby, but they became fast friends too.
At the end of the day, Stef & Chloe could stand in front of their client, Jetstar, and speak with confidence about the processes in place with our manufacturing partners to ensure delivery of their new uniform.
Congratulations to Team NZ who were successful in securing the Fire & Emergency New Zealand tender! This means our partnership with FENZ, which has been running strong for the past 21 years, will continue until at least 2030.
One of the key strengths of our tender response was our promise to extend our service, product, and cost model for FENZ to the next level. This includes implementing a fully global sourcing strategy, designing a cohesive functioning professional uniform, and holding stock on FENZ sites. The NZ team will be working hard over the coming months to set up these new ways of working with FENZ, to take this valued partnership to new heights.
The FENZ tender process was truly an ‘all of business’ effort and proof of what we can achieve together, when working for the benefit of our business and our customers. Congratulations to all involved!
“
...our partnership with FENZ, which has been running strong for the past 21 years, will continue...
THRIVE
• Employee Assistance Program ( EAP
• Assure Wellbeing Gateway
• Bring Your Dog To Work!
• Free Flu Vaccinations
• Financial Wellbeing Sessions
• Celebrating Diversity
I BELONG
WE LEARN THE SOCIAL HUB
• Mentoring Program
• Quarterly Learning Calendar
• Learning Events
• Leadership Pathways & Programs
• Individual Workplace Profile (DiSC)
• Focused Activity: Gender And MultiCultural
• Calendar Of Events
• Celebrating Team Members
• Hybrid Work Environment
• Flexible Working Arrangements
• Gift Of ‘Time Back’
• Creating Social Networks
• Fun Events
• Celebrating Our Values In Action
• Team Building
• Superannuation
• Incentive Program
• Share Acquisition Plan
• Salary Sacrifice
WWG team members get access to a bunch of great perks and benefits - designed to be flexible and Fit For You.
• Values Awards
• Service Awards
• Thank You Cards
• Department/Team Recognition
• Family Support Program
• Team Member Discounts
• Novated Lease Program
• Refer A Friend Program
• Uniforms Allowance
• The Big Issue Partnership
• Volunteering Opportunities
• Giving Back: Fundraising, Payroll Giving
• Genuine Commitment To Sustainability
• 4-Pillar Approach: People, Sourcing, Community, & Environment
• Strong Ethical Sourcing Program
• Product Safety & Quality
• Internal Opportunities
• Access To Wesfarmers Opportunities
• Career Planning Support
• Regular Performance Feedback & Coaching
The social team kept us in festive spirits in the lead up to the year’s end with Christmas radio and the office decoration competition.
With 2024 comes an event for the World’s Greatest Shave at MADC, AFL & NRL tipping comps, and an exhilarating Easter Egg Hunt! Make sure to also prepare yourself for a range of 2024 Olympics and Eurovision events that will be running, along with radio sessions, quizzes & more.
Thrive hosted some wonderful sessions in 2023, including boomerang painting & chair yoga, as well as our virtual cookbook that you can find here!
In 2024, you can expect a wealth of wellness resources including a healthy cooking class, STEPtember, and flu vaccinations. There will also be an Indigenous Story Time session and a financial advice session.
We thrive in an inspiring, safe & inclusive environment. These are our cross-business committees of volunteers who help make sure nurturing our culture is always front & centre.
In 2023, the I Belong Committee released the updated Diversity and Inclusion Strategy on a Page, summarising the key strategic focus areas, goals, and 20222024 ‘grow’ initiative.
On the 1st March, the SPLASH Swim Fundraiser Event will take place. March also brings International Women’s Day and Harmony Day.
In December, a foodbank drive was held and our team members were encouraged to make donations, big or small. These were then packed in grocery hampers for Victorian families and individuals doing it tough.
WWG’s November Sample Sale raised $3972.00, with all proceeds going to The Big Issue.
In 2024, we’re calling on volunteers for a range of opportunities like Community Street Soccer, Pitch Walks & Magazine Launches. In August, we’ll be back with The Big Sell!
Demand and Supply Planning (making sure we have the right stock on hand at the right time) is a critical part of our business and how we meet our customer needs. Our clever team of planners in Australia and New Zealand help ensure we order the right products, the right styles and sizes and amounts, at the best price possible (amongst other things). But it isn’t always easy, as we rely on multiple legacy systems and spreadsheets, manual effort, and inconsistent ways of working across teams.
That’s where Project Lightyear – Demand and Supply Planning (DSP) comes in. This transformation project will help take planning at WWG to the next level, by empowering our teams to make better decisions through improved data, insights, and automation capabilities. Key to this is the introduction of a new planning system Anaplan, and a move towards more efficient and consistent processes.
The DSP project team, including subject matter experts from planning, merchandise, finance,
supply chain and more, have been hard at work over the past six months setting up Anaplan for our future state – demand model. Work is also underway on the supply side, with the team expecting to have the technology up and running in August. We’ll then take time to ensure everyone is trained and ready to shift away from legacy systems and processes before we fully go live. As part of evolving the planning approach at WWG, the planning teams in Australia and New Zealand have recently been brought together under the leadership of a new Group Manager Demand and Supply Planning, Darragh Miller, who reports into our CFO Robyn Longford. This shift supports strong alignment and collaboration between the finance and planning teams, who will be working hard together to realise the future vision for planning at WWG.
In 2023, WWG saw crucial changes and revamps to some of our key sites, as well as the introduction of new ones. Why so many changes? To ensure that our team members are provided with safe and enjoyable workplaces and we’re setup the right way to best serve our customers.
In early January, the New Zealand office team relocated all the way over the road to join our warehouse team at 15 Omega Street, Roseland, Auckland.
A team of office relocation elves, led by Andrew McSwigan, spent months planning, designing and managing the fit out and setup of a revamped shared location. Highlights include modern kitchen facilities, Wi-Fi friendly and MS Teams-enabled meeting rooms and an upgraded VA space with efficient workflows.
Thank you to everyone who supported the project, including Andrew, Shelley, Kareen, Clem and Kieran, and to the warehouse team for such a warm welcome. A fantastic outcome that supports comfort, safety and collaboration across our teams.
We were excited to partner with mcm Logistics recently to open a new 3PL (thirdparty logistics) facility in Brisbane. This facility is a significant milestone in our supply chain transformation and will help us to meet evolving needs and expectations of our customers.
With recent anticipated growth in the region, it's an effective opportunity to establish a strong presence in QLD.
Collaborating with mcm Logistics has the potential to unlock opportunities and expedite our delivery times.
In 2023, we increased capacity at our Welshpool warehouse in WA with the purpose of improving delivery lead times and optimising our operations.
These changes included:
• Safety improvements for people & machinery
• A 30% capacity uplift
• Improved delivery times for customers
• Strengthened on-shore logistics
The revamp has not only optimised storage capacity but also provided a more ergonomic and efficient solution for our workforce.
Hard Yakka's partnership with the iconic Sydney Kings has reached new heights. With new heights comes a new audience for this iconic brand.
On December 10th, Hard Yakka took the court at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, enhancing the game day experience for devoted fans.
Next came two planned activations: a pre-game arcade basketball showdown and a quarter time oncourt spectacle.
Over 500 guests engaged in the friendly rivalry on the retro basketball machines. Every shot attempted was a chance to win, be it a lucky dip or an exclusive Hard Yakka gift card.
And when quarter time arrived, the real game begun. The challenge? Score as many points as you can while decked out in iconic Hard Yakka gear to win a $500 gift voucher.
The game day showcased Hard Yakka's seamless alignment with the Sydney Kings strategic pillars of resilience, hard work & having fun.
The boundary-pushing ToughMaxx line embodies practicality, designed from invaluable feedback sourced directly from hard-working Aussie trades participating in the Hard Yakka Y-Lab program. Crafted from the toughest fabrics, it ensures supreme comfort, perfectly attuned to the hands-on work environment it's meant for. Complete the look with the ToughMaxx footwear, boasting water-resistant fullgrain leather.
The resounding success of the ToughMaxx range speaks volumes, with tradies enthusiastically embracing it. At Hard Yakka, we don't merely craft workwear; we create legends.
In line with our Hard Yakka strategy to be the most wearable workwear brand in the world, we were excited to welcome the X-Range in November. Drawing inspiration from the athleticism of today's tradies, the X-range is meticulously crafted for legends. It seamlessly fuses the stretch and flexibility inherent in sportswear with the rugged durability that defines Hard Yakka. Complementing the apparel are two dynamic footwear styles, striking the balance between protection, lightweight design, and breathability.
Hard Yakka X-range embraces the essence of being a legend.
Step into the realm of performance and innovation with the KingGee commercial –the benchmark in workwear. Ever-ready, ever-compliant & always in stock, our commitment is to deliver workwear that stands the test of time.
Aligning with the key strategic pillars of KingGee, the extensive commercial range can meet all consumer needs in an array of industries with a variety of industry standards & configurations.
The range is developed using leading KingGee quality and performance designs & emphasises KingGee as the leader in the market.
“ Step into the realm of performance and innovation with the KingGee commercial...
FUZE by KingGee has been well-received through the Totally Workwear network with two drops of apparel already in market and more to come. The FUZE by KingGee sub-brand has a focus on youth tradies, taking trusted KingGee quality to another level.
Our growing range of FUZE by KingGee continues with our most sustainable boots yet: the FUZE boot with BLOOM™ Rise midsoles.
We are proud to take you on a journey of evolution, tradition, and empowerment as we breathe new life into an iconic brand that's close to all of our hearts: KingGee.
In the last 12 months, a research journey has lead to a refreshed vision for the brand, ensuring its relevance and resonance with today's tradie and those of the future.
With KingGee, you don't just wear workwear; You Wear the Crown.
The brand video speaks for itself.
2023 saw Totally Workwear re-launch its brand mission, focusing on trade, safety & uniforms. This evolution celebrates the worker, not just the workwear. They have refined their identity to better serve their evolving customer base, connecting to local communities and improving sustainability practices.
The revamp includes a crisp black, red & white logo and an emotive new brand tagline: Love Your Work.
Find the brand video here.
“It’s all about authenticity and consistency in our creative execution. Delivery of our brand truth looks like consumer connections that ensure our audience knows, that we know them. We have the workwear they need, from the brands they want.”
Ray Chand, Marketing Manager at Totally Workwear“
Our refreshed branding represents an absolute commitment to authenticity and expertise, underpinned by a culture of humility and integrity. It’s about a consumer experience that really connects with workers, in their communities and in a very real way. Ultimately, we exist for the workers, we like a laugh, and we love our work –this brand is the embodiment of that.”
Troy Yewdall, Head of Totally Workwear
The purpose of NNT's disruptive brand campaign is to redefine industry standards in the Australian market and solidify NNT's leadership in healthcare attire.
With this campaign came more promotional channels, including conversational voice ads aired on Spotify, video ads showcased across all major social media platforms, and impactful billboard placements in all major states. These initiatives are helping NNT to solidify their brand, build awareness, and maintain their core identity. Watch the campaign video here!
A huge achievement from 2023 is NNT's new partnership with Dr Preeya Alexander, a medical doctor, author, and TV presenter of Good Chef Bad Chef.
As the first-ever brand ambassadorship, this marks a pivotal moment for NNT and offers access to wider audiences and greater media opportunities.
She has served as NNT's spokesperson for all media engagements,participated in the upcoming #daretowear campaign launching in March, and will be the face for the launch of NNT's new blackberry scrubs.
In September, NNT hosted an exciting media event in Sydney to get in front of key media and PR personalities.
Best-selling NNT healthcare garments and accessories were on display and available to be tried on by attendees. The purpose? To show the wider community what sets NNT scrubs apart. With this media showcase, we at NNT firmly planted our flag in the world of healthcare attire, and we can’t wait to deliver more innovation and support for healthcare communities worldwide.
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In December, our hardworking NNT team made a generous donation of scrubs to the Royal Melbourne Hospital just in time for the holiday season. The donation consisted of 500 of NNT's festive scrub tops featuring a cheerful Christmas theme. The donation came at an especially busy time on the ward as a gesture of support to our dedicated healthcare heroes who sacrifice time with their loved ones to provide care. We hope they helped to create an atmosphere of joy, hope, and comfort to those serving our community.
The donation came at an especially busy time on the ward as a gesture of support to our dedicated healthcare heroes...
WWG's corporate cause partner is The Big Issue, a social enterprise that helps people experiencing marginalisation, disadvantage or are at-risk of homelessness.
We are in the business of helping people feel proud, protected, and positive at work, and The Big Issue also supports this vision. How? By creating work opportunities for people struggling to access mainstream employment.
In 2023, we continued to drive social impact for The Big Issue by leveraging our functional and technical expertise to create a refreshed uniform for The Big Issue's magazine vendors.
Our product designers worked closely with The Big Issue team and spent time with magazine vendors on the streets of Melbourne to understand how they wear the uniform, what they like and don't like, and what improvements could be made. Using this feedback, a refreshed and highly functional uniform was developed.
Iconic brand Hard Yakka was the perfect option for the hardworking magazine vendors. The updated uniform design prioritises comfort and functionality, and directly addresses vendor feedback through more and bigger pockets. The uniform is made from high quality, ethicallysourced fabrics and trims, which meet WWG's rigorous ethical sourcing and quality standards. The launch of the new uniform happened alongside the opening of The Big Issue's new office in Melbourne CBD. Melbourne's Deputy Lord Mayor, Nicholas Reece, was in attendance, along with some of our WWG team members.
Feedback from The Big Issue team has been positive, with vendors expressing their pride and gratitude to WWG for the refreshed design. From soccer games, to magazine launch breakfasts, the Big Sell, and conducting surveys, there are a number of ways that you can actively be involved in The Big Issue partnership.
The WWG Value Awards recognise and celebrate the extraordinary performance of our team members who have lived and breathed our Values & Behaviours each quarter. A big congratulations to each of our recognised team members –you deserve it!
Davinder Brah & Dani Perham
Both of whom demonstrated all Values & Behaviours consistently. It's been a delight to see what both Davinder and Dani have been able to achieve in 2023 and what they will continue to do. Congratulations!
Andrea Collins
We are fortunate to have someone as talented & passionate as Andrea leading WWG's training & development initiatives.
Additionally, Andrea has put an enormous amount of time & effort into bringing the RISE program content & guest speakers to drive our learning.
Roland Taylor & Daniel Rickard
Both have done an amazing job with the transition to SharePoint & providing ongoing support. The change was communicated in advance, the rollout was smooth, and the team has always been available to assist when challenges were experienced – even on the spot, in some cases.
Stef Smith
Stef always goes above & beyond, not only in her role but also as a Culture Champ. She often takes the lead on hosting fantastic, engaging events that really enable our culture at WWG to prosper. Being a Culture Champ is an additional responsibility to juggle along with full-time work, however Stef makes it look like a piece of cake.
Gareth Buckley
Gareth has helped to support 3 new team members in 2023; his openness to help us navigate around BOB, our internal systems & procedures, product knowledge, and more has proven to be invaluable. We could not be where we are within our journey without his support and knowledge.
Hayley Pallini
Hayley identified an opportunity in the warehouse & admin team to better communicate between Sales, DC & Customer Service. She launched a project to obtain and use a new, versatile ticketing system that allowed for better communication within the DC, better tracking, and clear access paths for the Sales team & Customer Service teams. She created all the SOP's, completed all the training, and rolled out the program which is now live and in use.
Thuy Nguyen
If there is anyone in this organisation who can make you feel special, it's Thuy. The amount of times she goes out of her way for people is phenomenal. The details she puts into every individual "thank you", words of appreciation, gifts, and hugs is outstanding. Thank you for making me and so many others feel special on such a regular basis!
Julie Devi & Kieran Fox
Both demonstrated outstanding accountability over this last quarter, including delivering exceptional service when our Albany operations had a vacant DC Manager role. Significantly, they identified learnings from the NZ Post rollout & made significant changes for the TGE rollout, which put the team ahead of schedule with no interruption to our BAU DC operations.
Don’t forget that the Q1 Jan-Mar Value Awards are still up and running! You have until 29th March 2024 to submit your entry HERE.
CareerTrackers is a national non-profit organisation whose goal is to create pathways and support systems for young First Nations adults. Designed for students from Year 12 and in tertiary education, its purpose is helping them to navigate their studies while linking them to multi-year paid internships related to their interests and career aspirations.
As part of our commitment to the Career Trackers program, this summer, we welcomed Satine in our Wholesale Marketing & Digital teams and Kaylah in our People team.
Kaylah
Kaylah is in her final year of a Bachelor of Psychological Sciences and has plans to do her Honours, then a Masters or PhD. Her role as Summer Intern in the People team has seen her contributing to the planning of WWG's MentorMe program, and she's really been enjoying working with Suzie around the mental health and wellbeing of our team members.
"The team is full of genuine, nice, and welcoming people," she said. "One of my internship goals was to be not so anxious and the team have been great."
“ The team is full of genuine, nice, and welcoming people...
Satine is studying Media & Communications and has a background in fashion & merchandising. Her role as a Summer Marketing Intern has involved content creation, copywriting, and social media marketing.
"The internship has been helpful for me in figuring out what I want to pursue," she told us. "I'm enjoying the social culture and flexibility at WWG."
“
I’m enjoying the social culture and flexibility at WWG.”
Jennifer
Mitchell
Jordan Marsh
Satine McDonald
Kaylah
Darragh
What has been one of your favourite memories over the years at WWG?
There have been a lot of favourite memories over the past 35 years. Having a few seconds of fame on a TV commercial for ARF Super Fund, being in an article for Business Review Weekly magazine, and dressing up Barbie for The Big Issue.
What has made you stay with WWG?
The culture and the people at WWG have made a significant impact on me whilst working for the company for 35 years. If it wasn’t for the people who have helped me over the years, then I don’t know where I would be now. It’s this type of collaboration and synergy that makes a team a family.
What is one piece of advice you’d give yourself when you first started at WWG?
Together as a team, we can build a world class uniform supplier. Together as a team, we can achieve anything by designing and delivering high-quality uniforms.
“ Together as a team, we can build a world class uniform supplier.
Michelle Jacobsen
Lingyan Liu
Saydy Nakfour
Isoa Iloa He Lotu Pouli
Kristina Le Quyen Thai
Michelle Maguire
Narong Sakulpichetratana
Lisa Aksoy
Neil Vincent McKay
Madeline Clair Paulsen
Nikki Taylor
Mark Pereira
Loretta Ekeroma
Kristi Barry
Vanessa Burn
Mary Wang
Shane O’Dell
Bradley Cox
Leanne Corcoran
Kuan Wenn Lim
Vikashni Devi
Amanda Newman
Gareth Buckley
Susan Hayes
Natalie Alcock
In November 2023, we were thrilled to be recognised by Westpac for our commitment to sustainability and our dedication to customer relationships. The hard work and enthusiasm of our team has been acknowledged by Westpac at their awards ceremony, where we proudly took home the award for Supplier Sustainability.
An enormous congratulations to the whole team, especially Michele McLoughlin and Al Hadebe for their exceptional work with Westpac.
WWG's unique marketing strategies have been recognised by The CMO Show podcast. They invited Maddy Cambel on to discuss WWG's unique approach to breathing new life into workwear.
Maddy delved into the art & science of raising awareness, cutting through the noise, and cultivating customer loyalty. While market size & customer demographics hold significant importance, it's the mindset of the workers wearing these uniforms that propels many of our marketing initiatives and discussions within our organisation.
Grab your headphones and have a listen here!
In August 2023, following the week of the NZ Safety Blackwoods (NZSB) Safety Expo, WWG team members attended the 2023 NZSB Awards Dinner, where the annual awards for outstanding suppliers and team members were presented. WWG picked up Supplier Partner of the Year – Footwear & Apparel! Jointly, Footwear & Workwear is the biggest category in the NZSB business and puts WWG up against a huge number of competitors. Winners are voted by every member within the NZSB business, from the DC Team to the Retail Store Team.
A special mention was given to exceptional sales performance in the metrics! Well done to everyone on the win – it is a testament to the team's commitment to being customer-first across the business.
WWG's presence at the IWS Trade Conference held on the Gold Coast was a huge success, earning us the Best Stand Award from the IWS team!
Brad Richardson & Darren Fletcher made crucial contributions to stand planning and execution, taking boldness and customer first to another level with a seamless stand and puttputt green for a fun, engaging activation.
