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Our Story
Our journey creating The Modern Uniform.
From humble beginnings in a small flat with big dreams to reshape the uniform industry, to our 4500sq/m Bundoora HQ, delivering quality modern uniforms to over 80 countries worldwide. Read the story of how Cargo Crew came to be
In 2002, Felicity Rodgers (Founder & Chief Creative Officer) set out to reinvent what uniforms could look like.
At the time, in her eyes, the industry's existing uniform providers offered the same generic options and little new in the way of design and style. Felicity used her Fashion Design background working with businesses big and small to create bespoke uniforms that truly represented their brand or venue, enhancing their customers experience.
Service is at the heart of everything at Cargo Crew, so when Felicity’s sister Narelle Craig (Client Service Director) joined her in the business in 2008, it brought to Cargo Crew vast Advertising Agency experience in client service and our full-service offering came to life. So much so, we are proud to say many of our foundation clients are still our clients today. In 2012 the demands for implementing and managing the engine room of the business like the warehouse, website, technology systems and office facilities became the domain of Paul Rodgers (Operations Director) aka Felicity’s husband. Paul ensures that the business is always humming for our staff and servicing our clients.
As Cargo Crew continued to grow, the business recognised the need for additional experience to help in its next phase of evolution. In 2019, Luke Littlefield, a former CEO, COO and CFO of listed and unlisted businesses, who with a successful track record of helping and building businesses at scale, joined the business as Managing Director, supporting Cargo Crew in driving the vision and navigating the high seas of ongoing business growth.
Alongside the executive group, Cargo Crew has built an incredible team we like to call our crew, a mix of smart, creative, passionate and talented people, working day in day out with laser focus dedicated to our vision and the Modern Uniform.
Celebrating our 20th Birthday, we reflect and celebrate where we have come from to shape where we are today. From humble beginnings to five office moves, Cargo Crew has grown significantly while still housing the office, showroom and warehouse together in a 4,500sqm uniform destination in Bundoora.
We grew up in a family who appreciates quality food. Our family gatherings have always brought together shared passions for creating and the elusive pursuit of perfecting flavours. Underlining the passion for creating was the desire to please and deliver memorable moments to others.
Our British/ Italian heritage on our mother’s side made their mark at The Savoy Hotel in London where our Grandfather Patrick and Great Uncles Basil and Arthur delivered silver service.
We believe there is an intrinsic link between our family’s passion for food, and our obsession with quality; that led us to create Cargo Crew and built it to be what it is today.
In 2015, Cargo Crew were honoured to be the winner of the Telstra Australian Small Business of the Year Award. The prestigious awards have recognised the very best of Australian Small and Medium businesses for over 25 years.
The recognition, spotlight and platform the awards provided to help amplify our business was extraordinary for Cargo Crew, and certainly one we will never forget.
In 2016, we had the added honor of being asked to be the focus of Telstra’s Be ‘That’ Business National advertising campaign. Learn more about the Telstra Business Awards and watch the advert here.
ETHICAL ALWAYS
We have always sought to work with like-minded clients who value quality design and service; as well as long-term supply partners, often including other family businesses who truly have a passion for what they do.
For us this means we can be confident in our relationships across our network, maintaining our ethical supply chain and ensuring we always deliver on our promises to our clients.
We are proud to be changing and setting new expectations for the uniform industry, including being recognised for this work through being named Telstra National Small Business of the year in 2015.
We have created a brand that crews around the world love to wear and have used our talents to create original, design-led products that enhance and compliment a business’ visual identity.
Today, we carry over 200 styles that are worn by over 45,000 crews in over 80 countries around the world!
Our clients include leading corporate brands like OPSM, Melbourne & Olympic Parks, Beacon Lighting, Nandos, ME Bank and Renault, leading venues like Four Pillars, Georgie by Curtis Stone, Higher Ground and even Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop (yes, Gwyneth Paltrow).
Our mission hasn’t changed though. We are still focussed on ethically and sustainably, building brands through the design, manufacture and supply of a range of quality modern uniforms that clients and their staff want to wear.
The Modern Uniform is an aesthetic; it elevates your brand and sets it apart in the ever competitive marketplace.
It speaks to professionalism, style and quality for your staff, product and service offering. A fresh look unites your team and provides brand cohesion across all locations and all staff roles.
Our take on sustainability is considered design, providing quality and longevity to our garments and implementing effective changes along our supply chain. We can’t change the world overnight, but we’re making a start and doing our part. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on how we’re progressing and doing our part.
What excites us?
Short answer? Seeing you and your crew happy at work.
Everyday we see teams excited about their modern uniform and sharing the impact it has on their customer experience, team moral and motivates their business. Florists to Physios located in Finland to Frankston, we love seeing crews rock their uniforms on social, with over 800 tagging us each year! That’s what gets us leaping out of bed in the morning.
"From the conception of product, all the way through to the customer service & the delivered product, Cargo Crew really just get it and they deliver in spades."
OUR BRAND VALUES:
Using originality, creativity and new technology to improve & challenge the status quo. Challenge the norm and find new solutions
A love of design and happy customers that is genuine and personal.
Always be honest, transparent and helpful. No matter the topic!
Bravely standing up for what is the right thing to do.
Energy to keep trying in the face of difficulty or delay.
2022 CSIA Australian Service Excellence Awards WINNERS - Service Excellence in a Small Contact Centre.
Our local team were judged based on 4 key categories: Learning & Growth Culture, Operational Consistency, Service Quality & Financial Performance.
The Cargo Crew mindset of 'nothing is too hard' has been built from the ground up. Through all growth stages of our business established in 2002, Cargo Crew has stayed true to that core philosophy of delivering an exceptional customer experience - it's part of our everyday DNA.
Our team is always growing! See any roles we're currently hiring for on our careers page.
