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Clothing Retailing in New Zealand - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Danny Martin Danny Martin Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: July 2025 ANZSIC G4251NZ

Revenue

$3.7bn

2025-26

$3.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

16,400

Businesses

2,280

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Clothing Retailing in New Zealand industry analysis

Fluctuating customer activity has caused the Clothing Retailing industry to lean more into expanding its omnichannel approaches. Many bricks-and-mortar stores are struggling against inexpensive online-only and overseas retailers. Major stores are strategically either developing their own platforms or partnering with other popular online clothing sales hubs to reach more people. Nonetheless, physical stores remain critical to customer experiences, with a large portion of customers still preferring to shop and try on clothes in person for known brands and products. Adopting multichannel strategies has allowed clothing retailers to tap into the online shopping market and expand their income streams. The online shopping boom benefited retailers overall, contributing to an annualised 0.3% rise in revenue through the end of 2025-26, to an estimated $3.7 billion. Revenge spending following the easing of pandemic restrictions contributed to this growth. However, heightened cost-of-living pressures have more recently swung the pendulum back the other way, stifling consumer spending in the current year. Revenue is expected to drift downwards by 0.6% this year as retailers fight to encourage a spending recovery.

Trends and Insights

  • The Clothing Retailing industry is facing an existential threat from overseas competitors. Foreign retailers are using lower overheads and penetrating online advertisement spaces to offer alternatives to New Zealand shoppers.
  • A significant proportion of retailers specialise in clothing for a particular gender. Societal shifts towards men's fashion trends are flowing through to more specialised menswear establishments.
  • Economic activity, population and income distribution influence the geographic spread of clothing retailers. Retailers in regions with large clusters of affluent people, like Auckland, can drive sales and profitability.
  • Luxury retailers have found it more difficult to compete as cost-of-living pressures remain sticky. Stores that have traditionally catered to upper-quintile incomes and occasional splurges have been faced with headwinds, with consumers hesitant to treat themselves to the little things.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $3.7bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

The lowering cash rate is yet to bear fruit as apparel spending continues to fall

  • Retailers have experienced varying sales trends as a result of divisions in consumer spending. While rising disposable incomes have enhanced consumers' ability to spend more on clothing, the prevailing economic difficulties and inflation have forced consumers to spend cautiously.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Clothing Retailing in New Zealand
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Luxury brands will rely on recovering household incomes for success

  • Both mid-market and luxury retailers have suffered sales slowdowns in recent years. Households' occasional splurges on luxury goods have become less frequent, prompting concern among some exclusive sellers.

Biggest companies in the Clothing Retailing in New Zealand

Company
Market Share (%)
2026
Revenue ($m)
2026
Hallenstein Glasson
232.6
Myer Holdings
185.9
Cotton On Clothing (New Zealand) Limited
132.7

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Clothing Retailing in New Zealand
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Men's clothing, Women's clothing and Children's and infants' clothing. Men's clothing is the largest segment of the Clothing Retailing in New Zealand.

Trends and Insights

Women’s clothing is a competitive segment, impacted by fast fashion trends and online shopping

  • Womenswear includes women's dresses, tops, shirts, skirts, shorts, jumpers, coats, pants and foundation garments.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Retailers in this market primarily sell clothing and clothing accessories. They typically buy products from wholesalers or manufacturers and sell them directly to customers. These retailers may also operate online platforms to enhance their instore sales.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand include Men's clothing, Women's clothing, Children's and infants' clothing, Gloves, Hoisery, Scarves, Ties and Headwear.

Companies

Companies covered in the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand include Hallenstein Glasson, Myer Holdings and Cotton On Clothing (New Zealand) Limited.

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand include point of sale (pos), bricks-and-mortar and wholesale bypass.

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 4251 - Clothing Retailing in New Zealand

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The Clothing Retailing industry is facing an existential threat from overseas competitors. Foreign retailers are using lower overheads and penetrating online advertisement sp...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

A significant proportion of retailers specialise in clothing for a particular gender. Societal shifts towards men's fashion trends are flowing through to more specialised men...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Economic activity, population and income distribution influence the geographic spread of clothing retailers. Retailers in regions with large clusters of affluent people, like...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Luxury retailers have found it more difficult to compete as cost-of-living pressures remain sticky. Stores that have traditionally catered to upper-quintile incomes and occas...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Hallenstein Glasson Holdings Limited is the industry's largest retailer. Its portfolio of brands has served it well globally, despite a slowdown in its New Zealand retail div...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of Hallenstein Glasson's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Myer Holdings's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Cotton On Clothing (New Zealand) Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Hallenstein Glasson, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Myer Holdings, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Cotton On Clothing (New Zealand) Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Retail NZ is the peak body for New Zealand retailers. The association's aim is to help its members succeed by supplying them with retail advice, industry information and educ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

To engage with intensifying competition, retailers have invested heavily in online platforms, either through partnerships or in-house development. The shift towards ecommerce...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand in 2025?

The market size of the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand is $3.7bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand in 2025?

There are 2,280 businesses in the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand?

The Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand?

The Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand has been growing at a CAGR of 0.3 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand?

The biggest companies operating in the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand are Hallenstein Glasson, Myer Holdings and Cotton On Clothing (New Zealand) Limited

What does the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand include?

Men's clothing and Women's clothing are part of the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand?

The company holding the most market share in the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand is Hallenstein Glasson.

How competitive is the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Clothing Retailing industry in New Zealand.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in New Zealand include:

  • Statistics New Zealand
  • New Zealand Company Register
  • Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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