DOCSLIB.ORG

Its Distinctive, Wide-Brimmed Hat Has Been an Icon of Australian Culture

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Its Distinctive, Wide-Brimmed Hat Has Been an Icon of Australian Culture EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW VISION, MISSION, PURPOSE, RESULTS Canberra’s Hotel Hotel As featured in CITY STOPOVER: ATOMIC DOWNTOWN DARWIN The CEO Magazine the212 sky's the limit RUBBING NOSES WITH CHURCHILL’S POLAR BEARS REGUS’S JOHN HENDERSON For more info visit HARRIS SCARFE’S GRAHAM DEAN Millenial attire: ADORE BEAUTY’S GET WITH IT KATE MORRIS AKUBRA’S STEPHEN KEIR theceomagazine.com RED SPOT CAR RENTAL’S DAN MEKLER HOT TIPS theceomagazine.com ISSN 2201-876X 5SMSFs 33 PLUS: MASERATI’S QUATTROPORTE • CULTURE CLUB: ENGAGING MINDS 9 772201 876005 $19.95 incl. GST. Issue 55, March 2016 Aussie icon Its distinctive, wide-brimmed hat has been an icon of Australian culture for more than 130 years, and Akubra is now focused on extending its product range and reach to guarantee many more years of success. IMAGES LINDSAY MOLLER onesty, fairness, quality, and generosity epitomise the Akubra brand. These values have been important since its foundation more than a century ago and are still an integral part of its operations today. Fifth-generation family member Stephen Keir has been leading the company as managing director since 2007. He has a hands-on Happroach to leadership and knows the business well, drawing on his almost three decades worth of experience. “Akubra has been going since the early 1880s,” Stephen explains. “It started off in Tasmania, then moved to Sydney. Then we moved it up to Kempsey on the mid north coast of New South Wales in 1974. I have been working here since 1990. Basically, my father started me off on the factory floor and I did probably 10 years there in the fur-cutting and hat-making parts of the business. Then he stepped me up to general manager while he was still managing director. When he retired, I took over his role. “A lot of what we do now hasn’t actually changed for a long time, but I suppose technology has been the biggest change in this business. Being a manufacturer of a product like ours—and it’s such a small industry around the world—there is not actually a lot of chance for change. There is not a lot of innovation when it comes to machinery and everything to do with the hat industry.” While its processes might not have changed a great deal, Akubra itself has, broadening its portfolio of products. It has expanded its range to keep up with the latest fashions, now boasting more than 100 different hat designs—including the straw, trilby, and fedora. It has also extended its reach into some wallets, bags, Name Stephen Keir IV and belts, mainly on contract work. Company Akubra Hats Pty Ltd Position Managing Director Stephen says manufacturing in Australia can be a tricky industry to be in. So HQ Kempsey NSW many other clothing and apparel manufacturers have sent their operations Employees 90 57 EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW “It’s not easy being a a very flat management structure here,” manufacturer in Australia, Stephen says, “and the CFO, the but it does set us apart. The production manager, and I weren’t spending enough time on our retail majority of people who buy network and our customers. We needed our products are all very someone to coordinate all of that and to vocal in regard to Australian- also look after our export customers. We made, and I think people are trying our best to keep in contact and do everything the right way, but in understand why we do charge all fairness we were probably letting that a little bit more.” - Stephen Keir slip a bit because we just didn’t have In the next 10 or so years, Stephen “In addition to that, I would like to enough time in the day to do it. So we anticipates that Akubra will double its expand our hat range. I would like us to have hired Andrew and he is basically production of hats, as well as expand its get into making some other leather offshore, but Akubra is staying true to its coordinating our sales team in Australia factory to cater for greater demand. products. Hopefully, all of that will be roots. “I think it sets us apart from our as well as our retail network, getting “With the succession planning that we going in an upward trend. I think we are competitors,” Stephen says. “The playing things a bit more organised and taking a are trying to do, I think that is a doing really well with that plan, so we field is not fair when it comes to bit more of a coordinated approach to realistic aim,” he says. “My sisters have will see what the future holds.” manufacturing at the moment. The our sales. He is also going to be spending two children each and I have got three free-trade agreements you need might a lot of time trying to get our export children, so one of them might come help, but when you are competing secured the Defence Force contract for groups; we have people anywhere from market going in an upward movement and step into the business. Maybe they against products that are made by another five years. When that finishes, 18 years old to 65 years old. It feels a bit because it is fairly flat at the moment. will want to have a go. At the moment, “Hard work, passion, integrity and commitment are the hallmarks of family business. These values people who are paid a pittance to work, there are four one-year contracts up for like a family, and we all probably spend There are markets, for example in the none do, but we don’t know what’s are the basis for the 20+ year relationship between it can be hard. There is 28-per-cent duty grabs, and Stephen says he is confident more time here with our workmates than US, which we haven’t really spent a lot of down the track, as my children are Akubra and Packer Leather–both multi-generation family businesses.” - Lindsay Packer, Chairman of the on our products going into China, for that the business will continue to have a we do with our families at home, to be time on but we should.” quite young. Board, Packer Leather Pty Ltd example, and if I wanted to I could bring solid contract with the government for honest with you. something in from China and there the next nine years. “That contract is would be a 5-per-cent duty on it. something that I am pretty proud of, “Kempsey on the North Coast has There’s just no level playing field. There’s actually,” he adds. reasonably high unemployment rates, so a lot of red tape in manufacturing, and people really appreciate every job. There there are a lot of things that we have to In addition to that, Stephen says, he is are not many businesses around and not comply with that factories overseas incredibly proud of Akubra’s great a lot of manufacturing anymore. I think Australian Performance Leather don’t. That’s why they can offer super- workplace culture. Being a family-run when people get a job, they are quite competitive prices. The OH&S laws in business that is not publicly listed means appreciative to have it.” Since 1891 five generations of the Packer family have created some of the world’s many places overseas are just about that there is no pressure from best leathers. Today Packer Leather is recognised internationally and holds non-existent compared to here. shareholders regarding profit and loss, This family feel extends across to preferred supplier status with many major global brands. With a continual and therefore it is a great environment Akubra’s supply chain. Stephen has investment in R&D we have developed technologies that create distinctive “So it’s not easy being a manufacturer in to be in. open lines of communication with the finishes, improved performance and new standards in leather quality. Australia, but it does set us apart. The company’s partners and ensures he gives With a strong working relationship that spans many majority of people who buy our products “We are a very hands-on business,” he them lots of face-to-face contact. With decades, Packer Leather and Akubra have formed are all very vocal in regard to Australian- continues. “A lot of our employees have many of its raw materials, such as made, and I think people understand had their fathers and sons, mothers and rabbit fur, coming from overseas, a uniquely Australian partnership. why we do charge a little bit more than daughters, and cousins and relatives Stephen travels regularly to maintain the hats brought in from overseas. It’s work here. It’s got a different feel to it, I transparency and support. Last year, always a challenge. Every day it’s a think, being a family business. Our staff Akubra hired a general manager of challenge, but I am prepared to take it turnover is very low. People get a job sales and marketing, Andrew Angus, who head on.” here and they tend to stay until they will take some of the pressure off Stephen retire. I think it’s that family atmosphere and help him to nurture the supply-chain Since World War I, Akubra has provided that everyone really likes. It’s not a relationships in Australia and abroad. Australian service men and women with high-pressure situation or anything, but more than two million slouch hats, and I think everyone just gets on fairly well.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Part of the Great Australian Landscape
    P R O D U C T C AT ALOGUE P a r t o f t h e G r e a t Australian L a n d s c a p e AKUBRA HATS PTY.LTD Incorporated in NSW A.B.N. 62 000 175 333 South Street, South Kempsey, NSW 2440 Australia P.O. Box 287, Kempsey, NSW 2440 Australia Telephone: (02) 6562 6177 Fax: (02) 6562 8726 www.akubra.com.au P a r t o f t h e G r e a t Australian L a n d s c a p e or over a century, Akubra’s fine felt hats have adorned and protected generations of Australians. Akubra started out as a small family operation in Tasmania, and now employs over 90 trades people in Kempsey, NSW, Fmanufacturing thousands of hats each week. Over the years Akubra has maintained its ability to be in vogue. Our hats have become a vital part of Australia’s identity; worn by soldiers, Olympians, politicians, personalities and of course, loyal, everyday countrymen and women. Akubra produces a wide selection of fur felt and straw hat styles to suit all people and all occasions, from Western and Country shapes through to casual and formal fashion hats. AKUBRA HATS AND SUN PROTECTION Akubra Hats regularly independently tests its fur felt hats made from the fabric. Fabrics that test higher than UPF 50 for Ultraviolet Protection. Samples are sent to the are rated as UPF 50+. Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), a Federal Government Agency. Akubra Hats are currently rated at UPF 50+, and as such Akubra then receives an Ultraviolet Protection Factor are classified as EXCELLENT under the UPF Report and an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating.
    [Show full text]
  • 03 Oct 2019 (Jil. 63, No. 20, TMA No
    M A L A Y S I A Warta Kerajaan S E R I P A D U K A B A G I N D A DITERBITKAN DENGAN KUASA HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY Jil. 63 TAMBAHAN No. 20 3hb Oktober 2019 TMA No. 37 No. TMA 142. AKTA CAP DAGANGAN 1976 (Akta 175) PENGIKLANAN PERMOHONAN UNTUK MENDAFTARKAN CAP DAGANGAN Menurut seksyen 27 Akta Cap Dagangan 1976, permohonan-permohonan untuk mendaftarkan cap dagangan yang berikut telah disetuju terima dan adalah dengan ini diiklankan. Jika sesuatu permohonan untuk mendaftarkan disetuju terima dengan tertakluk kepada apa-apa syarat, pindaan, ubahsuaian atau batasan, syarat, pindaan, ubahsuaian atau batasan tersebut hendaklah dinyatakan dalam iklan. Jika sesuatu permohonan untuk mendaftarkan di bawah perenggan 10(1)(e) Akta diiklankan sebelum penyetujuterimaan menurut subseksyen 27(2) Akta itu, perkataan-perkataan “Permohonan di bawah perenggan 10(1)(e) yang diiklankan sebelum penyetujuterimaan menurut subseksyen 27(2)” hendaklah dinyatakan dalam iklan itu. Jika keizinan bertulis kepada pendaftaran yang dicadangkan daripada tuanpunya berdaftar cap dagangan yang lain atau daripada pemohon yang lain telah diserahkan, perkataan-perkataan “Dengan Keizinan” hendaklah dinyatakan dalam iklan, menurut peraturan 33(3). WARTA KERAJAAN PERSEKUTUAN WARTA KERAJAAN PERSEKUTUAN 6558 [3hb Okt. 2019 3hb Okt. 2019] PB Notis bangkangan terhadap sesuatu permohonan untuk mendaftarkan suatu cap dagangan boleh diserahkan, melainkan jika dilanjutkan atas budi bicara Pendaftar, dalam tempoh dua bulan dari tarikh Warta ini, menggunakan Borang CD 7 berserta fi yang ditetapkan. TRADE MARKS ACT 1976 (Act 175) ADVERTISEMENT OF APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE MARKS Pursuant to section 27 of the Trade Marks Act 1976, the following applications for registration of trade marks have been accepted and are hereby advertised.
    [Show full text]
  • 1455189355674.Pdf
    THE STORYTeller’S THESAURUS FANTASY, HISTORY, AND HORROR JAMES M. WARD AND ANNE K. BROWN Cover by: Peter Bradley LEGAL PAGE: Every effort has been made not to make use of proprietary or copyrighted materi- al. Any mention of actual commercial products in this book does not constitute an endorsement. www.trolllord.com www.chenaultandgraypublishing.com Email:[email protected] Printed in U.S.A © 2013 Chenault & Gray Publishing, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Storyteller’s Thesaurus Trademark of Cheanult & Gray Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Chenault & Gray Publishing, Troll Lord Games logos are Trademark of Chenault & Gray Publishing. All Rights Reserved. TABLE OF CONTENTS THE STORYTeller’S THESAURUS 1 FANTASY, HISTORY, AND HORROR 1 JAMES M. WARD AND ANNE K. BROWN 1 INTRODUCTION 8 WHAT MAKES THIS BOOK DIFFERENT 8 THE STORYTeller’s RESPONSIBILITY: RESEARCH 9 WHAT THIS BOOK DOES NOT CONTAIN 9 A WHISPER OF ENCOURAGEMENT 10 CHAPTER 1: CHARACTER BUILDING 11 GENDER 11 AGE 11 PHYSICAL AttRIBUTES 11 SIZE AND BODY TYPE 11 FACIAL FEATURES 12 HAIR 13 SPECIES 13 PERSONALITY 14 PHOBIAS 15 OCCUPATIONS 17 ADVENTURERS 17 CIVILIANS 18 ORGANIZATIONS 21 CHAPTER 2: CLOTHING 22 STYLES OF DRESS 22 CLOTHING PIECES 22 CLOTHING CONSTRUCTION 24 CHAPTER 3: ARCHITECTURE AND PROPERTY 25 ARCHITECTURAL STYLES AND ELEMENTS 25 BUILDING MATERIALS 26 PROPERTY TYPES 26 SPECIALTY ANATOMY 29 CHAPTER 4: FURNISHINGS 30 CHAPTER 5: EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS 31 ADVENTurer’S GEAR 31 GENERAL EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS 31 2 THE STORYTeller’s Thesaurus KITCHEN EQUIPMENT 35 LINENS 36 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
    [Show full text]
  • Akubra Hats Is a Fifth Generation Australian Owned Family Company, with the Current Managing Director Being Stephen Keir IV
    CONTENTS A KUBRA ’ S H ISTORY C OUNTRY S TYLES Stockman Coober Pedy Campdraft Cattleman Snowy River Riverina Plainsman Angler Territory Squatter Pastoralist Kiandra Tablelands Centenary Coolabah Gymkhana W ESTERN S TYLES Bronco Kentucky Rancher Golden Spur The Arena Mansfield High Country Outback Club Stony Creek Rough Rider Sombrero Woomera Colly Pilbara The Boss Bobby Warrego U RBAN S TYLES Bogart Leisure Time Homburg Stylemaster Bowler Cappello Fedora C.E.O Milan Bianca Trilby Hampton Adventurer H ERITAGE S TYLES Banjo Paterson Burke and Wills Lawson L IFESTYLE S TYLES Traveller International S TRAW S TYLES Balmoral Capricorn Rink Broadbeach Planter Zephyr Byron Range Country Club Reef U RBAN S TRAW S TYLES Casablanca Long Island Punter S PECIAL S TYLES Military Top Hat The Croc U S EFUL I NFORMATION H AT C ARE A KUBRA B ELT S A KUBRA P O S TER S A cc E ss ORIE S A KUBRA C ONTA C T D ETAIL S or over a century, Akubra’s fine felt hats have adorned Fand protected generations of Australians. Akubra started out as a small family operation in Tasmania, and now employs over 90 trades people in Kempsey, NSW, manufacturing thousands of hats each week. Over the years Akubra has maintained its ability to be in vogue. Our hats have become a vital part of Australia’s identity; worn by soldiers, Olympians, politicians, personalities and of course, loyal, everyday countrymen and women. Akubra produces a wide selection of fur felt and straw hat styles to suit all people and all occasions, from Western and Country shapes through to casual and formal urban hats.
    [Show full text]
  • Reframing the Righteousness Enabling Repetition of the Titanic Disaster Comprehension of 144 Distinctions -- Mahjong As "Angels" Versus "Demons" - /
    Alternative view of segmented documents via Kairos 6 July 2020 | Draft Reframing the Righteousness Enabling Repetition of the Titanic Disaster Comprehension of 144 Distinctions -- Mahjong as "Angels" versus "Demons" - / - Introduction Challenge of mapping 144 distinct forces in 3D Mutual entanglement of two patterns of 72-foldness? Reframing binary governance as minimally a fourfold challenge? Reframing the mapping challenge of 144 distinctions in terms of 288 Systemic recognition of the "cognitive underworld" -- integrating the "netherworld" Game ball design as holding insight of relevance to global governance? Non-linear pathways curving between octants Global psychosocial "thermohaline circulation"? Mapping options for 144 distinctive features of a dynamic global system Governance via paradoxical transformation of global mapping dynamics Enabling flying capacity with "headgear" -- cognitively comprehended? References Introduction There is a case for exploring the distinctions made with respect to a 144-fold pattern. This follows from the more general argument with respect to Identifying Polyhedra Enabling Memorable Strategic Mapping: visualization of organization and strategic coherence through 3D modelling (2020). There the focus was on a wide variety of patterns in which the symbolic significance of 64-foldness, 72-foldness, 81-foldness, 108-foldness, and 144-foldness was only highlighted in passing as examples of traditional systems of belief, most notably religions. By contrast a focus was given there to the challenging Memorability of 17 Sustainable Development Goals with 169 tasks -- with the latter starkly defined as an unwieldy mess (The 169 commandments: the proposed sustainable development goals would be worse than useless, The Economist, 26 March 2015) It was noted in the earlier argument that the Eastern board game of Mahjong, with its 144 tiles, was relatively unique in distinguishing visually clusters of tiles within such a set -- representative of opposing parties in the game.
    [Show full text]
  • I Got This Hat by Jol and Kate Temple Illustrated by Jon Foye
    I Got This Hat by Jol and Kate Temple Illustrated by Jon Foye Book Summary: I got this hat in China. I got this hat from a miner. I got this hat from a deep-sea diver. I got this hat from a racing-car driver... Hats. Only the headless dislike them. Everyone else loves wearing them! If you enjoy wearing hats, you'll enjoy this book. But please don't wear it as a hat. It will fall off. Curriculum Areas and Key Learning Outcomes: ISBN: 978 0 733 33206 7 (Hbk) English, Mathematics, Science, Visual Arts, ISBN 978 0 7333 3230 2 (Pbk) Humanities and Social Science, Health and Notes created by: Laura Kings Physical Education. Appropriate Ages: 4+ These notes may be reproduced free of charge for use and study within schools but they may not be reproduced (either in whole or in part) and offered for commercial sale. Page 1 NATIONAL STORYTIME 2016 ACTIVITY IDEAS Australian Curriculum Links Classroom Ideas are suitable for the following year levels: Foundation, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Classroom Ideas address the Organising Elements within the following General Capabilities: Literacy, Numeracy, ICT, Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability, Ethical Understanding, Intercultural Understanding English Language Literature Literacy Language variation and Literature and Texts in context change context Language for interaction Responding to Interacting with literature others Text structure and Examining Interpreting, organisation literature analysing and evaluating Expressing and developing Creating literature Creating texts ideas Sound and letter knowledge These notes may be reproduced free of charge for use and study within schools but they may not be reproduced (either in whole or in part) and offered for commercial sale.
    [Show full text]
  • Part of the Great Australian Landscape
    PRODUCT CATALOGUE Part of the Great Australian Landscape AKUBRA HATS PTY.LTD Incorporated in NSW A.B.N. 62 000 175 333 South Street, South Kempsey, NSW 2440 Australia P.O. Box 287, Kempsey, NSW 2440 Australia Telephone: (02) 6562 6177 Fax: (02) 6562 8726 www.akubra.com.au Part of the Great Australian Landscape or over a century, Akubra’s fine felt hats have adorned and protected generations of Australians. Akubra started out as a small family operation in Tasmania, and now employs over 90 trades people in Kempsey, NSW, Fmanufacturing thousands of hats each week. Over the years Akubra has maintained its ability to be in vogue. Our hats have become a vital part of Australia’s identity; worn by soldiers, Olympians, politicians, personalities and of course, loyal, everyday countrymen and women. Akubra produces a wide selection of fur felt and straw hat styles to suit all people and all occasions, from Western and Country shapes through to casual and formal fashion hats. AKUBRA HATS AND SUN PROTECTION Akubra Hats regularly independently tests its fur felt hats made from the fabric. Fabrics that test higher than UPF 50 for Ultraviolet Protection. Samples are sent to the are rated as UPF 50+. Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), a Federal Government Agency. Akubra Hats are currently rated at UPF 50+, and as such Akubra then receives an Ultraviolet Protection Factor are classified as EXCELLENT under the UPF Report and an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating. Classification System. This is the highest classification achievable under this system. This confirms the long held The UPF rating indicates how effective a fabric is at belief that Akubra Hats provides excellent protection from blocking out solar ultraviolet radiation.
    [Show full text]