The rise of kids stationery chain Smiggle

Solomon Lew's retail group Premier Investments plans to open Smiggle stores in the Netherlands and Belguim in 2018.

Brightly coloured children's stationery chain Smiggle, the profit powerhouse ready to roll into Europe, has grown rapidly in just 14 years.

* The first Smiggle store opened in Melbourne by founders Stephen Meurs and Peter Pausewang in 2003

* Apparel retailer the Just Group, the company behind Just Jeans, bought Smiggle in 2007.

* Solomon Lew's company Premier Investments bought the Just Group in 2008 and at the time, Smiggle was making $19 million from 35 stores.

* In that same year, Smiggle opened its first New Zealand store.

* Smiggle expanded into Singapore in 2011, then in the UK in 2014, followed by Malaysia and Hong Kong in 2016.

* It now has 300 stores across Australia and overseas and in the 2017 financial year, made $238.9 million in sales.

* Premier plans to expand Smiggle into the Netherlands and Belgium in 2018.


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Source: AAP


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The rise of kids stationery chain Smiggle | SBS News