Dresden Optics NZ, an eyewear industry ‘disruptor’ selling modular, price-competitive frames, has been placed into voluntary liquidation after blaming the impact of Covid-19 on its business. It’s closed its store in Ponsonby, Auckland, and is reorganising to sell its products online only in New Zealand.

“With the travel restrictions between Australia and New Zealand forcing us to reconsider our retail presence in Auckland, like many other retailers we've had to pivot,” said Dresden Australia’s Bonnie Hudson.

The company has taken the opportunity to boost its ecommerce platforms and develop an Australian-based contact centre, she said. “We are now serving our wonderful and loyal Kiwi customers through our contact centre and new website. We began our journey in New Zealand with ecommerce and look forward to building our customer base over the ditch well into the future.”

Dresden’s Australia operations have also been challenged by Covid-19, particularly in Victoria where its stores have remained closed entirely during the State’s long-running stage 3 retail restrictions in Melbourne’s metropolitan area. Its Canadian store also remains closed because of the pandemic, said Hudson.

Dresden launched in Sydney in 2014 and expanded into New Zealand in 2018, aiming to revolutionise the local eye wear market with its colourful range of modular NZ$69 glasses.