Lowes Menswear
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (menswear) |
| Founded | 1898 |
| Founder | William Lowe |
| Headquarters | Arncliffe , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Jeffery Mueller (director), Linda Penn (director), Hans Mueller (former leader) |
| Products | Menswear, school uniforms, casual clothing, work attire, formal wear, big and tall sizes, socks, underwear, footwear, accessories, sportswear, fragrances, gift items, home goods, confectionery, stationery |
| Owner | Family-owned |
Number of employees | 1900 (2017) |
| Parent | Lowes Manhattan Pty Ltd |
Lowes Menswear, operating under the name Lowes Manhattan Pty Ltd, is an Australian privately held family business specializing in menswear retail. Established in 1898 by William Lowe, the brand experienced significant growth during Hans Mueller's leadership, who formally incorporated Lowes Manhattan Pty Ltd in 1948. Presently, the company manages a network exceeding 200 outlets across Australia, catering to casual apparel, big and tall sizes, corporate uniforms, school clothing, and apparel for senior customers.
Product range
The assortment at Lowes encompasses school uniforms, casual clothing, work attire, formal and business wear, plus men's extended size garments. Additionally, their inventory includes socks, underwear, footwear, and various accessories. The product selection further extends to sportswear, apparel designed for older adults, fragrances, gift items, home goods, confectionery, and stationery supplies.
Operations
By January 2017, Lowes employed approximately 1,900 personnel distributed among 206 stores spanning every Australian state and mainland territory—a growth of 13% since 2012. The flagship store is situated in Bankstown. Prominent New South Wales locations include Westfield Miranda, Bankstown itself, and Macarthur. The corporate headquarters along with the distribution warehouse are located in Arncliffe.
Advertising
Lowes became well-known for commercials featuring notable rugby league personalities such as Ray Warren, Peter Sterling, and Phil Gould. These advertisements were widely broadcast throughout Sydney during the 1980s and 1990s and highlighted affordable yet quality clothing available "at Lowes," thereby reinforcing the brand's presence in a competitive retail environment.
Future
After Hans Mueller passed away in December 2016, leadership responsibilities were assumed by his children, Jeffery Mueller and Linda Penn, who now act as directors. This transition maintains the company’s tradition of family-led governance.