investment statement for - Pumpkin Patch investor relations

Pumpkin Patch storesPumpkin Patch currently has 111 stores in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom and employs approximately 1,700 staff (includingboth full time and part time staff). 37 of these stores are located in New Zealand with 64 in Australia and 10 in the United Kingdom - and afurther 2 stores will be opened in New Zealand by the end of the 2004 financial year. Each of these stores sells the comprehensive PumpkinPatch collections and is designed to be open, inviting and exciting.The Pumpkin Patch shopping experience is fresh and unique – when people walk into one of the stores they are meant to get a real senseof the passion that the Company has put into the clothes. Every store has a toy-filled play area to keep even the smallest shoppers amused,and lots of room for parents and kids to move around.Given that the unique stores are perceived by some parents as a shopper’s heaven with specially designed areas for boys and girls and acool mini-store for the Urban Angel brand, it is not surprising that several stores have been voted by shopping centre customers as the bestin the centre.140Pumpkin Patch Store Numbers120NZ HBK Aust UK11312210080718460402005640271114841 1 21992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005(Financial Year End)The fixtures and fittings throughout our stores reflect the commitment to quality that is evidentthroughout the business. Special interior effects and hand-painted finishes are used to createa warm and friendly ‘designer store’ atmosphere.Pumpkin Patch carefully evaluates the location for new stores. The Company undertakesreviews with external consultants that analyse customer catchments, customer demographics,availability, cost of retail space, proximity of competitors and proximity to other existing PumpkinPatch stores.Pumpkin Patch’s in-house design and fitout teams enable the Company to quickly design andbuild new stores. Generally a store is open within eight to ten weeks from the receipt of finalplans and approvals.Most stores are between 250m 2 and 350m 2 (the largest is 500m 2 ) with standard leases havinginitial durations of approximately five years.Pumpkin Patch has identified specific store expansion opportunities in both New Zealandand Australia and expects to open an additional 2 stores in New Zealand and 7 stores inAustralia during the 2005 financial year.32