About Alexanders Apparel Hastings

Originally known as Alexanders Menswear, Alexanders Apparel Hastings originally opened in 1980. It was owned by the late Des Bowater. Des spent his entire working life immersed in menswear. He was a well-known and respected figure throughout the district. His name became synonymous with quality and service in local retail. Des first took up menswear in Hastings back in 1973. He started out just across the road at Blackmore's. There he learned the trade from the ground up. He developed the eye for quality that would define his career. At that time, Hastings was a thriving hub for menswear retail. There were around 16 separate independent menswear stores in town. Each proprietor was able to carve out a decent living. This reflected how central the main street was to daily life.

Des often reflected on how much the industry had changed. "Thirty years ago we were flat stick on a Friday night," he said. "At 7.30pm the fitting rooms would all be full." "We would have four staff on until 8.30pm," he recalled. "Now at 5pm it's dead," Des said when the sale was announced. His words captured the shift in retail habits over the years. Independent menswear stores had, one by one, faded from the scene. They couldn't keep pace with changing shopping habits and competition. By the time Des retired, only a handful of stores remained.

Darren Olsen bought the business towards the end of 2011. He had previously built a successful career in finance. Darren was ready for a career change and a fresh challenge. Menswear retail offered exactly that opportunity to build something new. Since taking over, Darren has developed a genuine passion for apparel. He particularly enjoys interacting with customers from all walks of life. He also values building relationships with suppliers across the industry. Business acumen is essential in such a competitive sector. It's an area where Darren has consistently excelled over the years. He has steered the business through a changing retail landscape. Throughout, he has stayed true to its roots and reputation. Darren also owns and operates Stitch N Time Alterations next door. This lets customers get a perfectly tailored fit on purchases.

Darren has spoken about how basic the technology once was. When he took over in 2011, there were no computers. There was just a simple cash register handling every sale. Since then, the business has moved quickly with the times. They installed a computerised point-of-sale system for daily operations. They also embraced social media through Facebook and Instagram accounts. A dedicated web page rounds out their online presence today. During the pandemic, Alexander's launched online sales through their ecommerce website. They continue to offer this service to customers today. This gives shoppers the flexibility to buy whenever suits them best. It's a far cry from the manual transactions of the 1980s. Back then, virtually all contact with customers was face to face. Relationships were built across the counter, not through a screen.

In retail for over 40 years

Alexanders Apparel has now been proudly trading for over 40 years. This milestone speaks to its resilience and loyal customer base. As a celebration of solidarity and equality, change followed in 2020.

Alexanders Apparel now has womens clothing

In October 2021, the Alexanders Apparel team opened a dedicated women's clothing store on King Street. It later relocated to Heretaunga Street, giving it a stronger presence in the heart of town. The women's section has since moved into the main store. It fills a genuine gap that had long gone unaddressed. Our female fans can now shop in-store till they drop, only this time, it's for themselves rather than their husbands!

For more information
Contact us now here 
Connect with us on Facebook here