Damon Mcknight
The Just Group is an Australasian fashion and apparel retailer that owns and operates seven retail brands: Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Jacqui E, Portmans, Dotti, Peter Alexander Sleepwear, and Smiggle. The group has over 1,000 stores and employs more than 6,000 people throughout Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Malaysia. The company was founded in 1970 when Just Jeans opened its first store in Chapel Street, Melbourne, and has since expanded through acquisitions and organic brand growth. In 2008, Premier Investments, an ASX-listed investment company, acquired a controlling interest in the Just Group.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1970 |
| Founder(s) | Craig Kimberley, Connie Kimberley, Roger Kimberley, Chrissie Kimberley |
| Headquarters | St Kilda Road, Victoria |
| Distribution Centres | Melbourne, Auckland |
| Number of brands | 7 |
| Number of stores | 1,000+ |
| Number of employees | 6,000+ |
| Countries with stores | Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom, Ireland, Malaysia |
| Brands | Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Jacqui E, Portmans, Dotti, Peter Alexander Sleepwear, Smiggle |
| Owner | Premier Investments |
| Parent company | ASX-listed investment company |
| Ethical rating | 36/100 (Baptist World Aid Australia's Ethical Fashion Report, 2024) |
| Packaging performance level | 4 (Leading) (APCO Annual Report, 2024) |
| Tax status | No tax paid in Australia in 2019-20 |
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What You'll Learn
The Just Group's history and acquisitions
The Just Group is an Australasian fashion and apparel retailer that owns and operates seven retail brands: Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Jacqui E, Portmans, Peter Alexander Sleepwear, Dotti, and Smiggle. The group has over 1,000 stores and more than 6,000 employees throughout Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Ireland.
The history of The Just Group began with Just Jeans, which was founded by the Kimberley family—Craig Kimberley, his wife Connie, brother Roger, and sister-in-law Chrissie—in 1970. The family raised $4500 and opened their first store on Chapel Street, Prahran, in Melbourne, Australia, in December 1970. In April 1971, Just Jeans opened its second store in Centre Road, Bentleigh, followed by its third in Moonee Ponds a few weeks later. The company expanded rapidly throughout the 1970s and 1980s, acquiring and relaunching clothing chains across Australia, including Walsh's, Jeans Junction, Denim in Jeans, Zip Up, Central Park, and MSD.
In 2000, Just Jeans acquired Peter Alexander Sleepwear, and in 2001, it was taken private in a management buyout led by Catalyst Investment Managers. In 2002, Just Jeans acquired Portmans, and in 2004, The Just Group was listed on the ASX. That same year, The Just Group acquired Dotti, which expanded from 10 stores in 2004 to 100 stores in 2009. In 2007, The Just Group acquired Smiggle, its first non-fashion brand. In 2008, Premier Investments obtained a controlling interest in the shares of The Just Group.
Since then, The Just Group has continued to grow and expand its brands across Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. In 2021, Richard Murray was appointed Premier Retail Chief Executive Officer. In 2024, Premier Investments announced plans to spin off Smiggle and Peter Alexander as independent companies and explore a sale of its Apparel Brands division (including Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Jacqui E, Portmans, and Dotti) to Myer.
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The Group's international expansion
The Just Group is the leading Australasian fashion and apparel retailer, with over 1,000 retail outlets across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, Ireland, and Malaysia, and over 6,000 employees. The group owns and operates seven retail brands, including clothing chains Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Jacqui E, Portmans, Dotti, Peter Alexander Sleepwear, and the stationery chain Smiggle.
In 2007, The Just Group acquired the stationery chain Smiggle for at least $29 million, marking its first non-fashion brand acquisition. Smiggle has since expanded internationally, with stores in the UK, Singapore, and Malaysia.
In 2016, The Just Group lost a trial against its former CFO, Nicole Peck, who left the company to work for a competing firm. Despite this setback, the group continued to expand internationally, with a focus on Singapore, Southeast Asia, the UK, and Ireland.
In 2024, Premier Investments, the parent company of The Just Group, announced plans to spin off Smiggle into an independent company and explore a similar move for Peter Alexander. However, these plans were postponed in September 2024 to focus on a possible sale of its Apparel Brands division to Myer.
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The Group's retail brands
Just Jeans was founded by the Kimberley family in 1970 and was the first retail brand of The Just Group. In 1971, Just Jeans opened its second store in Centre Road, Bentleigh, and its third in Moonee Ponds. Over the next few years, the company expanded to other states by acquiring clothing chains and relaunching them as Just Jeans. In 1979, it purchased the 12-store Jeans Junction chain in New South Wales. In the early 1980s, it acquired the Queensland chain Denim in Jeans and the South Australian chain Zip Up. In 1988, it purchased the failed women's fashion chain Central Park, which had 15 stores in Western Australia.
In 2000, Just Jeans acquired Peter Alexander Sleepwear, with founder Peter Alexander staying on as creative director. In 2001, Just Jeans was taken private in a $108 million management buyout led by British-based private investment group Catalyst Investment Managers. In 2002, Just Jeans acquired women's clothing chain Portmans, and in 2004, The Just Group was listed on the ASX. Later that year, The Just Group acquired the Dotti chain, founded in Sydney in 1981 by Raymond Levis and Linda Bowen.
In 2007, The Just Group acquired stationery chain Smiggle, its first non-fashion brand. In 2008, Premier Investments obtained a controlling interest in the shares of The Just Group. In 2024, Premier Investments announced plans to spin off Smiggle and Peter Alexander into independent companies. However, in September 2024, Premier decided to postpone the Smiggle demerger to focus on a possible sale of its Apparel Brands division (including Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Jacqui E, Portmans, and Dotti) to Myer.
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The Group's ethics and sustainability
The Just Group has been the subject of several ethical investigations. In 2011, Humane Society International found that fur vests sold by Myer, a brand owned by the company, contained dog fur from China, despite labelling stating that the vests were made from 100% rabbit fur. The importation of dog fur is illegal in Australia, and Myer promptly removed the vests from its stores. In 2013, PETA launched a campaign exposing the cruelty inflicted on angora rabbits in Chinese factory farms, leading the company to remove angora items from its shelves and pledge never to use angora again.
The company received a packaging performance level of 4 (Leading) in its 2024 APCO Annual Report. The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a non-profit organisation that promotes a circular economy for packaging in Australia. The company also received a score of 36/100 in Baptist World Aid Australia's '2024 Ethical Fashion Report', which assessed companies on their efforts to prevent forced labour, child labour, worker exploitation, and environmental harm in their supply chains. The average score was 31.3, and the highest score was 90.
The Just Group has also been criticised for its tax practices, with data from the Australian Tax Office revealing that the company paid no tax in Australia in 2019-2020. However, it is important to note that companies pay income tax on profits rather than total revenue, and some companies have legitimate reasons for paying no tax.
The Group is committed to positively impacting the communities in which it operates and supports various charities and organisations, including those aiding flood and fire-affected communities and the Red Cross. They also partner with NSW-based charity Thread Together to donate clothing to those in need.
The Just Group acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters, and communities. They pay their respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and Elders, past, present, and emerging.
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The Group's career opportunities
The Just Group is a prominent retail company that operates a diverse portfolio of well-known brands, including Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Jacqui E, Portmans, Dotti, Peter Alexander Sleepwear, and Smiggle. With over 700 stores and 6,000 employees across Australia and New Zealand, the group offers a wide range of career opportunities.
One of the key focuses of The Just Group is creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the communities they serve. They strongly believe in building a team with varied backgrounds, skills, and perspectives to better connect with their customers. In Financial Year 2022, 91% of their total team and 52% of their executive leadership team were women, showcasing their commitment to gender diversity and career development for women in retail. The group also prioritises training and development through the Just Future Leaders program, fostering career growth for all employees.
The Just Group offers a range of career paths across their brands, including roles in retail stores, support offices, and leadership positions. They provide high-quality training, support, and excellent career progression opportunities. For instance, at Jacqui E, employees are encouraged to bring their passion to life, offering customers not just assistance but great advice and an uplifting retail experience. Similarly, Peter Alexander Sleepwear provides structured training and induction, competitive salaries, and a 50% product discount for employees.
The group also actively contributes to the communities they operate in. They support various charities and organisations, including those impacted by floods and fires, and partner with charities like the Red Cross and Thread Together to donate clothing to those in need. This commitment to social responsibility provides employees with a sense of giving back and positively impacting their communities.
Additionally, The Just Group encourages performance feedback discussions with managers to help employees develop their careers and pursue new opportunities within the company. With a focus on collaboration and philanthropic funding, they work alongside several organisations through financial and in-kind support programs. The group's commitment to community impact provides employees with a sense of making a positive difference beyond their day-to-day roles.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Just Group is Australian-owned. It was founded in 1970 when Just Jeans opened its first store in Chapel Street, Melbourne.
The Just Group owns seven retail brands: Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Jacqui E, Portmans, Dotti, Peter Alexander Sleepwear, and Smiggle.
The Just Group has over 1,000 stores throughout Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Malaysia.
The Just Group's head office is located on St Kilda Road, Victoria.
