Mountain Designs
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Outdoor apparel and gear |
| Founded | 1975 in Brisbane, Australia |
| Founder | Rick White |
| Fate | Acquired by Spotlight Retail Group in March 2018; ceased physical stores January 2018; relaunched online and through Anaconda outlets in 2019 |
| Headquarters | Brisbane , Australia |
Area served | Australia, New Zealand (until 2014) |
| Products | Outdoor apparel, accessories, sleepwear, bags |
Number of employees | 45 (retail stores closed in 2018) |
| Parent | Spotlight Retail Group (since March 2018) |
Mountain Designs is an Australian brand specializing in outdoor apparel and gear, catering to activities such as hiking, rock climbing, and general outdoor pursuits. The company features a combination of both international and domestic brands, alongside its proprietary collections of clothing, accessories, sleepwear, and bags.
History
Established in Brisbane in 1975 by Rick White, Mountain Designs experienced consistent growth over the years. By 2004, the company operated a manufacturing facility, corporate headquarters, and an outlet store in Brisbane, in addition to running 29 retail locations throughout Australia and New Zealand. These stores were distributed across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, and included four outlets in New Zealand—though none were situated in Auckland at that time.
Due to market saturation and an economic downturn, Mountain Designs withdrew from the New Zealand market in 2014. At the point of exit, it maintained 12 stores across the country, including three located in Auckland.
In January 2018, the company ceased operations at all 45 of its Australian physical stores to focus exclusively on online sales. Shortly thereafter, in March 2018, Spotlight Retail Group acquired the Mountain Designs brand for an undisclosed sum.
By April 2019, Mountain Designs had relaunched its online shopping platform and began offering a selection of products through around 60 Anaconda outdoor retail outlets owned by Spotlight Retail Group.