Clothing company relocates to Somersby

Grip Asia Pacific is a member of the Grip Group of Companies, with offices in China and the United Kingdom.
Managing Director, Charles Hudson said, “We have recently purchased a long standing Sydney-based outer and wetwear company and are presently negotiating another acquisition. With these acquisitions completed we have chosen to bring all our operations under one umbrella and in addition, Somersby will become Head Office for the Group’s operations".

Mr Hudson and his wife Rossi – the Group’s Finance Director – live at Kulnura. “We always planned one day to have our business operations closer to where we live,” he commented. Established in 1958 on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, the business is probably most well known for the the creation of the original “Floaties” armbands.

“My wife is the daughter of the founder of our company. We had the opportunity to buy part of the original business some twenty years ago and have since expanded worldwide concentrating on apparel, outerwear, swimming and surf/ski style products,” said Mr Hudson. “Obviously Somersby is superbly located for incoming and outgoing freight and very importantly for a competent pool of qualified staff.

“By the end of 2010 we will have around forty people working here. We are bringing twelve people with us from Sydney – some of whom are considering a move to the Coast eventually. However, we will require people with accounting, design, logistics and sales skills and we know they all live here on the Coast.

“We intend that our move will be assisted by the NSW Department of State and Regional Development’s Payroll Tax Refund Program for expanding businesses,” said Mr Hudson.

Back Send us your comments