{{Short description|Australian fashion retail company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox company | name = Universal Store Holdings Limited | logo = File:Universal Store logo.svg | image = Universal Store, Perth.jpg | image_caption = Universal Store in the Perth CBD | type = Public | traded_as = {{ASX|UNI}} | industry = Fashion retail | founded = {{start date and age|1999}} | founders = {{Unbulleted list|Greg Josephson|Michael Josephson}} | hq_location_city = Brisbane | hq_location_country = Australia | num_locations = 118 stores (2025) | area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = --> | key_people = {{Unbulleted list|Alice Barbery (CEO)|Peter Birtles (chairman)}} | products = | num_employees = | num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) --> | website = {{URL|https://universalstore.com/}} }}

'''Universal Store Holdings Limited''' is an Australian fashion retail company. It operates stores under the Universal Store, Thrills and Perfect Stranger names. The company was founded in 1999 by brothers Greg and Michael Josephson. It was purchased by private equity investors in 2018 before going public on the ASX in 2020. {{As of|2025|December|31}}, there were 87 Universal stores, 22 Perfect Stranger stores and 9 Thrills stores around Australia.

== History == Universal Store was founded in 1999 by brothers Greg and Michael Josephson. They opened their first store in the Brisbane suburb of Carindale.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=28 September 2018 |title=Universal Store taken over for $100m |url=https://www.businessnewsaustralia.com/articles/universal-store-taken-over-for--100m.html |access-date=30 August 2023 |website=Business News Australia |language=en}}</ref>

In 2018, the business was purchased by a consortium of three private equity investors for an estimated $100 million.<ref name=":0" /> The company floated on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) on 17 November 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Powell |first=Dominic |date=17 November 2020 |title=Universal Store still keen on physical stores as shares soar on ASX debut |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/universal-store-still-keen-on-physical-stores-as-shares-soar-on-asx-debut-20201117-p56f8i.html |access-date=30 August 2023 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> In September 2022, Universal Store acquired Cheap Thrills Cycles – the company behind the brand Thrills – for $50 million.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Pattabiraman |first=Rakshnna |date=27 September 2022 |title=Byron Bay fashion brand Thrills sold for $50 million |url=https://insideretail.com.au/sectors/byron-bay-fashion-brand-thrills-sold-for-50-million-202209 |access-date=30 August 2023 |website=Inside Retail |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Stores ==

=== Universal Store === Universal Store sells clothing aimed at 15–34 year olds. It stocks products from brands such as Herschel, Wrangler, Converse, Abrand and Kiss Chacey. It also sells its own private label brands which include Perfect Stranger, Luck & Trouble, Common Need and Token.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Sue |date=24 September 2018 |title=Universal Store in $100m private equity-backed management buyout |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/universal-store-in-100m-privateequity-backed-management-buyout-20180924-h15sf6 |url-access=subscription |access-date=30 August 2023 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}</ref> {{As of|2025|December|31}}, there were 87 Universal stores.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=19 February 2026 |title=H1 FY26 Results Presentation |url=https://investors.universalstore.com/DownloadFile.axd?file=/Report/ComNews/20260219/03058307.pdf |access-date=18 April 2026 |website=Universal Store Holdings Ltd |page=6}}</ref>

=== Perfect Stranger === [[File:Perfect Stranger, Westfield Carousel.jpg|thumb|Perfect Stranger store in Westfield Carousel]] Perfect Stranger is a womenswear brand founded in 2014. Its first retail store opened in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balaam |first=Kellie |date=2024-08-21 |title=Stylish Aussie clothing brand to open first Perth store |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/australian-label-perfect-stranger-to-open-first-wa-store-at-westfield-carousel-c-15778044 |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=PerthNow |language=en}}</ref> {{As of|2025|December|31}}, there were 22 Perfect Stranger stores.<ref name=":1" />

=== Thrills === Thrills was founded in 2011 by Brooke McGregor, Tabitha McGregor and Ryan Collins.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Robin |first=Jo |date=21 September 2020 |title=The Newest Collection From Byron Bay Streetwear Label Thrills Is Its Most Sustainable Yet |url=https://www.broadsheet.com.au/national/fashion/article/newest-collection-byron-bay-streetwear-label-thrills-its-most-sustainable-yet |access-date=30 August 2023 |website=Broadsheet |language=en}}</ref> The brand sells vintage-inspired apparel with a focus on sustainable fabrics and production.<ref name=":2" /> The company started as a vintage motorcycle import business but the popularity of their first T-shirt collection led them to shift to fashion.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=22 March 2021 |title=10 moments from 10 years: Thrills celebrates decade in business |url=https://www.ragtrader.com.au/news/10-moments-from-10-years-thrills-celebrates-decade-in-business |access-date=31 August 2023 |website=Ragtrader |language=en}}</ref> The company's first retail store was opened in 2014 in Byron Bay.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McDonnell |first=Josh |date=15 March 2017 |title=Thrills: "if we don't have it we don't spend it" |url=https://www.ragtrader.com.au/business/thrills-if-we-don-t-have-it-we-don-t-spend-it |access-date=31 August 2023 |website=Ragtrader |language=en}}</ref> In 2020, the company expanded to Japan with a store in Tokyo and in 2021 the brand was made available through stockists in the United States.<ref name=":4" /> Thrills was acquired by Universal Store in September 2022.<ref name=":3" /> {{As of|2025|December|31}}, there were nine Thrills stores.<ref name=":1" />

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Portal|Australia|Companies|Fashion}} * {{Official website|https://www.universalstore.com/|name=Universal Store website}} * [https://www.perfectstranger.com.au/ Perfect Stranger website] * [https://thrills.co/ Thrills website]

Category:Australian companies established in 1999 Category:Retail companies established in 1999 Category:Clothing retailers of Australia Category:Companies based in Brisbane Category:Companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange