A brand new store opened its doors to the Dubbo community on Thursday.
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RB Sellars is a family owned, Australian brand and the Dubbo store is the first in the western region of NSW.
Beginning as a small catalogue and mail order brand, RB Sellars ventured into online sales, before its first store opened in mid-2000.
Regional operations manager Abigail Flatters said the reason they opened a store in Dubbo was because RB Sellars’ biggest online sales came from the City.
“We have a huge following (in Dubbo) for online sales so it made sense for us to put a store here,” she said.
Ms Flatters said RB Sellars chose the main street to set up a store because the CBD needed retailers support.
“The high street isn’t going anywhere fast and it needs good, strong retailers to support it,” she said.
Ms Flatters said RB Sellars was all about community and supporting local communities and families.
“In Dubbo high street we thought it needs people to step up and improve the quality of the high street,” she said.
“If someone steps up and takes that accountability then other retailers will follow.”
The local store employs 6 Dubbo residents.
The team first came to the City in May to look for a location and building the store took four weeks.
“It takes a long time,” Ms May said.
Ms Flatters said since opening their doors that morning there had been a steady flow of customers throughout the day.
“It’s been constant foot traffic,” she said.
“We had a queue at the door this morning.
“We’ve had good feedback, people are so excited and we’ve received a lot of support from the local community.”
Since first beginning over 20 years ago, RB Sellars has grown steadily, Ms Flatters said.
“We’ve now got 8 stores all in rural communities,” she said.
What sets RB Sellars a part from similar clothing stores was that not only was the brand Australian owned, but that the products use Australian grown cotton and wool.
“We source Australian materials and fabrics and employ 150 Australians,” she said.
“We’re all about the people and that rural lifestyle.”
RB Sellars managing director Richard Sellars is a farmer from Victoria and designed the range based on what he wanted and what his family and working people would need.
“He’s designed it for workers and families and everyday people,” Ms Flatters said.
“He’s done the physical work and knew it (clothes) need room to move, needs to be flexible, durable, and bright for out in paddocks.”
“So he’s designed it from experience rather than just sitting down at a computer and designing from there.”