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