Beau Stylish at Beau Gentry
Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer discovers the menswear magic behind fashion institution Beau Gentry – where customers come for the handpicked premium labels and stay for the world-class service.
Shopping for new clothes can be tricky, but when you find an expert sales assistant that gives you 100% of their attention, can effortlessly recommend styles to suit your size and shape, and assists with the entire process of elevating your wardrobe, it makes the whole experience feel like a cool seaside breeze.
Perhaps that’s one of the reasons customers return again and again to Beau Gentry – a high-end menswear store in Noosa’s Bay Village precinct (tucked just off Hastings Street) that’s been providing both visitors and locals with some of the most respected international and Australian labels for more than four decades.
Beau Gentry’s store manager, Daniel Smith, has worked in the fashion retail industry for most of his career, and it’s clear that providing local and visiting customers with good old-fashioned service is second nature to him.
“Often when you walk into a store these days the sales assistant is scrolling through Facebook and you feel like you’re an inconvenience,” he said.
“But at Beau Gentry, we want all customers to feel valued from the moment they step through the door.”
Daniel’s favourite part of the job is helping customers feel amazing when they walk out of the store.
“I really love the process of working with someone to help find an outfit that makes them feel really good,” he said.
“I suggest what styles and cuts might suit them; show them a great pair of jeans that have a similar fit to the shorts they love; ask them about the different colours in their wardrobe; and help open their mind to other options they weren’t aware of.
“Hopefully by the time they leave they’re unrecognisable!”
For fans of high-end European and Australian brands, Beau Gentry is a veritable treasure trove: the shelves are laden with patterned The Surfcar shirts and shorts from Spain; Hugo Boss and Original Weekend swimming shorts in a rainbow of colours; R2 Amsterdam polos and shirts; Australian merino wool blazers and Japanese linen suits from Daniel Hechter; retro print ties from Geoffrey Beene; and woven leather belts from Spanish brand Possum, with new labels regularly added to the mix.
But the hero brand is BRAX: an iconic German label started more than 125 years ago with a commitment to quality fabrics, sustainable production and innovative fit.
“Many people see the BRAX sign outside and come in to browse,” says Daniel. “They know they love and trust the brand – for some of our customers, it’s the only brand they want to wear.”
As the only BRAX stockists in the area, Beau Gentry offers an impressive range of styles, all made from beautifully light fabrics that complement the subtropical Noosa climate: think classic tailored shirts in checks and stripes; woven polo shorts in cheerful seaside tones; patterned short-sleeve shirts for casual gatherings and dinner dates; and perfectly-cut jeans crafted from luxury denim that are destined to become the new favourite piece in your wardrobe – BRAX has something for every occasion, which is handy when you’re on holiday and need an extra outfit!
Daniel says that often men can be resistant to change and trying new looks, but he gently works with customers to help them get out of their comfort zone.
“People will say to me, ‘I didn’t know I could look so good in this’. And their wives are delighted too!” he says.
A core pillar of the Beau Gentry brand is combining quality and experience to offer outstanding value to their customers.
“I think where Beau Gentry stands out is that we offer that personalised service,” says Daniel. “The brands we stock are upmarket and definitely not cheap, but our customers feel that they’re getting excellent value for money because of the way they are treated when they come into the store.
“It’s all about creating that world-class experience for them.”
Recently bought by a couple who live and breathe all things retail and have a passion for travelling the globe and discovering new labels, Beau Gentry has undergone an exciting brand refresh, complete with new shop signage and a new e-commerce website where customers can shop their favourite brands from the comfort of home, keeping the holiday vibes going long after their Noosa trip is over.
The store’s tagline is ‘Celebrate the Good Life,’ and the owners have plans to open additional stores in popular Australian holiday locations in the future, helping even more customers to add a bit of sunshine style to their lives.
“Our aesthetic is vibrant and upmarket, with a bit of a trendy edge,” says Daniel. “Beau Gentry is a lifestyle – join us in celebrating it!”
