Compass: Charting the Evolution of Outdoor Gear

Macpac History

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1956

Charlie McCormick makes packs under the name of Mac Sacs

1973

19-year-old Bruce McIntyre gets $2,000 NZD loan from his parents to buy Charlie McCormick's brand (now Macpac)

parents put up their house as collateral so Bruce could secure a $700 overdraft from the bank

business gets under way in Christchurch, New Zealand

1975

develops New Zealand’s first internal frame pack (Torre Egger) for the Canterbury Mountaineering Club’s Patagonian expedition

1978

sales are growing 100% per year

establish first export market, with Australia

1980

20 staff and sales of $300,000

Macpac forms marketing partnership with Geoff and Shelley Gabites and their Dunedin outdoor clothing company, Wilderness Equipment

1981

Geoff and Shelley Gabites move to Christchurch to merge the two companies, as ‘Macpac Wilderness Equipment’

open a new 1,120m2 factory and staff increase to 30

1983

exports amount to 5% of total sale of $1 million

1984

Bruce McIntyre takes a year off from managing the business

1986

A productivity consultant is engaged. Over the next three years the cost of labour falls from 25% to 14%

Geoff Gabites leaves to pursue other interests, Shelley stays on managing production

1987

Bruce McIntyre introduces a profit sharing scheme for employees, distributing 20% of pre-tax profits to staff

company exports to Europe via Holland

1988

develop house brand waterproof/breathable fabric, know as Reflex

introduce Japanese style ‘quality circles’

staff earn a day off work if they contribute an idea that benefits the company by more than $500

1989

begins exporting to the UK, Switzerland, and Germany

1990

sales total $8 million, with 35% in exports

1992

company sells direct to select Australian retailers

1993

sales top $10 million

1996

begin selling directly to European retailers, beginning with the UK (cutting out agents)

company move to new purpose built factory and headquarters in Christchurch suburb of Addingon

1998

become involved in EBEX21, a New Zealand project to help organisations reduce their carbon footprint

2000

230 different products

2001

Sales break the $20 million threshold

Growth has averaged 10% per year for the life of the company

Bruce McIntyre is co-winner of manufacturing category in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

After “September 11” tragedy in New York and a 40% rise in the New Zealand dollar sales drop 30%

2002

Sales drop another 10%

Macpac makes its first ever redundancies, laying off 11 management staff

2003

250 staff, with 200 in production

Company makes hard decision to move majority of production from New Zealand to Asia

150 production workers are laid off, but are given five months notice

Have seven manufacturing suppliers, in China (clothing), Vietnam and the Philippines (packs)

65% of sales were outside of New Zealand

2004

Sales drop below $150 million

2005

sales again pass the $150 million mark

2006

Graeme Lord appointed General Manager, and by end of the year Bruce McIntyre only working one day a week

direct Macpac staff now number only 60

design staff had doubled to 12, from six in 2004

2007

Vamoose child carrier wins Best In Test award from UK Trail magazine

Australian Outdoor magazine, rates Latitude 500 sleeping bag as number one

US Backpacker magazine Gear Guide rates Epic 300SF as Reader Approved “Lightest Three Season” Sleeping Bag

2008

Graeme Lord resigns as GM and Bruce McIntyre, wishing to move on after 33 years guiding the company, looks for a buyer

company bought by Campbell Junor, Pierre van Noorden and Bernie Wicht’s business: Mouton Noir (Black Sheep)

Mouton Noir are already owners of the Fairydown outdoor brand

Mouton Noir retain about half the Macpac management

Macpac brand is used for a retail outdoor store chain in New Zealand and Australia, stocking Macpac branded product

Macpac now