Levi’s jeans and a crisp shirt. A leather belt and smart shoes. Whether they’re at work, home or a special event, the way a man dresses says a lot about him.
Men’s shopping habits and preferences vary greatly between generations, occupations and personalities. Some love shopping; most hate it. Many men bulk buy once a year, while others let their partner do it all for them. So when a man finds a single store with everything they need conveniently located in one place – it’s like they’ve struck gold.
You could be forgiven for assuming Inn Style Mensland is a uniform and embroidery shop, but it’s so much more. For almost four decades the Electra Street clothing store has been dressing the men of Bundaberg from head-to-toe for work, rest and play.
It’s true their range of workwear has every profession and preference covered. From the blue-collar blokes who prefer the tried-and-true basics to trendy tradies who want the ability to transition from worksite to watering hole. Their medical scrubs, suits and corporate clothing range from classically chic to fun and lairy.
But it’s their smart casual daywear section that is unrivalled locally. Many of the sought-after labels they carry can’t be found anywhere else in the Region.
And don’t let the name fool you – they cater for women and children too, with school and business uniforms and corporate attire.
It’s the kind of store that could, quite rightly, be considered a local institution. And that’s what appealed to Jackie and Warrick Wright, who bought the business in July. They’d been searching for an attractive business opportunity for a while when Inn Style Mensland hit the market.
Warrick said the handover was far more emotional than either of them expected. “Ian and Kathy McCloskey had run a good business and were retiring,” Warrick said. “It is a family business that has stood the test of time under their stewardship, and we treat that with a lot of respect. They were choosy about who they were selling the business to, and who would carry on that torch. They’re big shoes to fill and we hope to do them proud, while also gradually making it our own.”
Warrick and Jackie come from varied career backgrounds, but most recently worked in business development, finance and marketing – complementary occupations that will be invaluable to running Inn Style Mensland. “We always liked the idea of running our own business, putting our creative vision into something for ourselves,” Jackie said. “We’ve been taking inspiration from stores on the Sunshine Coast with their merchandising, so we’ll be leveraging the great brands we have – like Scotch & Soda, Ben Sherman, Industrie, FXD – and very gradually giving the store a more modern boutique feel to appeal to a broader age range.”
Jackie said the secret to Inn Style Mensland’s success was their fabulous staff. “They put people at ease,” she said. “They know which fabrics have more stretch or don’t need ironing. They give advice on sizing because every garment and label is different. The embroidery team’s work is meticulous. We are very fortunate to have them.”
Get it INN STYLE MENSLAND
23 Electra Street, Bundaberg 07 4151 6788 innstylemensland.com.au
Agribusiness owner Marcus Dornauf wears Boston chinos, Brooksfield shirt and Daniel Hechter jacket. Tahlia Walker wears NNT corporate wear. Dr Charles Blair uses Cherokee scrubs in his clinic (see our back cover). Electrician Ben Ballinger wears UNIT workwear and Oliver boots.
Crush models aren’t paid professionals – they’re real locals who love the Bundaberg Region.