Overview

Merchant 1948 is a family-owned footwear retailer with stores across New Zealand and Australia, offering men’s and women’s shoes, bags, and accessories. It blends physical retail with e-commerce, and uses a curated, globally sourced selection—featuring contributions from artisans in Portugal, Spain, and Italy—alongside services like free shipping for logged-in members and payment options such as Afterpay and Laybuy. The company differentiates itself through its three-generation heritage (now under the Overland Footwear Group) and its focus on craftsmanship and customer service, including an in-store repair program called Merchant Workshop and a sustainability-focused approach with its own manufacturing oversight via a factory in China. The goal is to be a trusted destination for quality, fashion-forward footwear while extending product life and reducing waste in the fashion industry, supported by a dedicated sustainability committee and ongoing expansion in both markets.