Events Clothing up for NZ Exporter of the Year

by Sail-World Cruising on 14 Jun 2013 Events Clothing Company, an Auckland-based marine clothing specialist is a finalist for the 2013 Auckland Export QBE Exporter of the Year (sales under $25 million) Award. Little known in its home town, the company has grown from strength to strength, celebrating many successes since its start in 1991. Events’ first big win was supplying uniforms to Team New Zealand in the 1995 America’s Cup challenge headed by the late Sir Peter Blake. In 2011, as the company celebrated its 20th year in business, it secured a contract to supply the crew uniforms for one of the biggest motor yachts ever built in Europe - MY Serene, 134 metres in length and six levels high with a crew of 60. Recently, the company launched their first European showroom in Palma de Mallorca, Spain as the result of a strategic alliance with Evolution Yacht Agents, where the two businesses operate side-by-side from the same premises close to Palma’s busy superyacht marina district. There are future plans to create a similar base in Barcelona. Today, out of the top 200 superyachts- on the ocean, Events clothes 60 of them. The primary success of Events Clothing is the product. 'All of our clothing products have a unique point of difference whether it is an eco-friendly element, resilience to U.V. or wear and tear - nothing is standard,' says owner Owen Rutter. Another point of difference over competitors is that items can be custom made, such as incorporating the colourways of the ship or logos into the design of the uniforms. 'We don’t just stick a logo on a shirt; we can integrate desired elements into design, within the timeframes required.' Around 40 per cent of Event’s uniform items are custom-made. Just like yacht racing the backbone of the organisation has been a stellar team and an ability to change tack when they need to. Every member of the team has an impressive history in the industry and most have been with the company over 10 years. Events Clothing were finalists for the same award back in 2007 but lost out to now-household name Phil and Ted’s baby care manufacturers. This year they are back to deal with the ‘unfinished business’ of the past. 'We have an even better story now, and people have encouraged us to enter saying we have a unique business so we thought we’d have another go.' The 2013 Auckland Export Awards will be held on Friday 21 June at the Langham Hotel. Fellow marine specialists Southern Spars are finalists for the Commercialisation of Innovation for Export Award. For more information about Events Clothing, go to their http://www.eventsclothing.co.nz!website.