Hannahs celebrates 150 years

R. Hannah & Co. Ltd (trading as Hannahs), with 50 stores across New Zealand, has celebrated 150 years since founder Robert Hannah opened his first footwear store in Charleston on January 29, 1868.

One of the country’s longest running retailers, Hannahs has a proud association with the New Zealand community through generations of employees and customers alike. 
While the original Hannahs factories in Wellington have been transformed into residential apartments, the company headquarters are still based locally in Porirua.

Originally known for producing high quality boots for gold miners on the West Coast, Hannahs is currently the largest retailer of leading international footwear brands such as Clarks, Hush Puppies and Keds in the country, and offers a wide range of footwear for all occasions.

Hannahs Director of Merchandise and Design, David Gordon, who began working in the industry while still at school, said it was an honour to work with such an iconic New Zealand brand.

“The culture is very entrepreneurial while still maintaining family values. It’s a good sized company where you feel like you’re making an impact and our small and nimble senior management team can often be found working at store level,” he said.

“So although I’ve been with the Hannahs team for 21 years, this pales in comparison to the many long-serving team members we’re privileged to have, including some who have recently celebrated 30 and even 50 years of service within the Hannahs family.

“It’s a testament to the values and integrity instilled in the company from the very beginning.”

General Manager of Operations, Stephen Cook, said everyone has a Hannahs story and was proud to work alongside former employees such as Richard Johnson, a direct descendent of Robert Hannah as part of the Hannahs brand.

“The longstanding heritage of Hannahs is instilled in the brand with many New Zealanders able to recall without hesitation their own Hannahs story – whether it was the place they bought their first school or rugby shoes, they’re a current or past employee or know Hannahs as the place they shop for quality shoes at great value prices,” he said.

“This is why we feel the 150 year milestone for this Kiwi brand is significant not just for the company but for all New Zealanders.”