A Cut Above The Rest: How Woolcott St Sews Up Success
When co-founders Jake Nolan and Michael Vlassis opened Woolcott Street in 2016, their goal was simple: transform men’s wardrobes and the way they shop for their attire . Many of their clients had grown tired of wandering through department stores, unable to find garments that fit well or advice they could trust. “It might be a bit of a cliché, but the majority of men don’t really like to shop,” Jake says. “If they do like to shop, fantastic – we’ve got a lot of different fabrics, and we can do a lot of different styles. But if they don’t, well, we try to make the whole process a lot more enjoyable than the typical chain-store suit purchase.” The result is a service designed around long-term relationships, understanding clients’ preferences, and delivering bespoke garments that look and feel right for each person. Over the years, Woolcott St has grown from two talented tailors into a team of seventeen, serving thousands of people across Sydney, Australia, and beyond. Tailoring a personalised experience The Woolcott St experience is, above all, personal. “It’s about having someone who cares about what’s in your wardrobe and what’s not,” Jake explains. By getting to know each client – their lifestyle, the events they attend, the image they want to project – the team ensures that every garment reflects who they are. The tailoring process starts with an initial consultation, either in the showroom or at the client’s home or office. From there, Jake and his team create an action plan based on timelines, fit, and preferences. After patterns are created and cloth selected, fittings take place four to six weeks later, with adjustments logged back into the client’s pattern to ensure consistency. An atmosphere fit for any occasion The showroom at Woolcott St adapts to suit the occasion. During the week, fittings with corporate clients feel calm and focused. On weekends, groups of groomsmen bring energy and laughter, often with a beer or whiskey in hand. “The general idea is that it’s fun, it’s helpful, and it’s a place where someone can step back from their day, relax, not feel pressured or overwhelmed, and know they can get the right advice to make the right decisions,” Jake says. Exceptional customer service woven in For Jake, exceptional customer service comes down to one thing: taking the time to understand the person in front of you. “It’s about not assuming things, asking the right questions, figuring out who they are as a person, what they’re comfortable in, and what the right options are for them,” he says. This approach means Woolcott St doesn’t just make clothes – they help clients feel confident in their choices. Many of their clients have been returning for years, becoming advocates for the business and sharing their experiences with others. This long-term approach is reflected in Woolcott St’s reputation, with 721 Google reviews averaging a perfect five stars. “We don’t want to see someone just once, make them something, and never see them again,” Jake says. “It’s not about one garment, ideally it’s about working with them for life and doing a really good job.” Cutting time from every invoice Behind the scenes, Zeller Invoices has transformed the way Woolcott St bills clients. Creating an invoice takes less than a minute, with products and client details pre-saved. “By streamlining the process, we’ve cut down the time it takes dramatically. Compared to manually making up PDF invoices, the difference is night and day,” Jake explains. Payments also come through faster. “As a rough percentage, I’d say our invoices are paid about 50 percent faster than before, usually within 12 to 24 hours,” Jake says. Clients appreciate the convenience, too. “The easier you make things, the less barriers there are, the better the experience. Removing friction and making it simple for people to pay via a link in a text or email has been really positive.” Business spending, neatly hemmed Zeller Corporate Cards have also proved useful. Woolcott St uses different transaction accounts within Zeller Dashboard for different business activities, with corporate cards attached to several. “We give employees corporate cards with set limits for various activities, which means they don’t need to come to us to get approval each time,” Jake explains. “It makes business activity and tracking much easier." A savings account that measures up (where the big-4 don’t) Woolcott St chooses to keep its cash reserves in the Zeller Savings Account. “We use the Zeller Savings Account because it gives us a much higher interest rate compared to the big four,” Jake says. “Plus there are no fees or hoops to jump through. If the money’s in the account, it’s earning interest. Simple.” A seamless suite of solutions For Jake, the biggest advantage of Zeller is integration. “Having everything all in one place with Zeller – accounts, payments, invoices – really helps us as a business,” he says. “Instead of being spread across different platforms, everything’s integrated, which makes keeping track of everything so much easier.” Zeller’s support team, he adds, is also more responsive and easier to deal with than traditional banks. Stitching together what’s next Woolcott St has its sights set on becoming Australia’s number one tailoring outfit, with plans to open offices across the country. And while the business grows, Jake still finds joy in the craft itself. “When asked for his favourite suit, Jake doesn’t hesitate. “I’m a classic man myself – I don’t tend to go for things that are too loud. That said, I always find it interesting when we get to make something we haven’t before. Whether it’s different colour combinations or a rare fabric, or combining different garments into a unique outfit, those are the ones that really stand out to me.”
