Meet the Founders
People do business with people they like.
Here is a spiel about us, what we like and the way we see the world, if this sounds like a bit of you, get in touch.
Matt & Janelle are partners and partners, business and personal. We founded Withers & Co in 2015 and have combined 30 years industry experience. Sophie joined Withers & Co in 2026 to lead the Australian expansion, bringing 15+ years of retail and buying experience.
We know not all projects will be super creative or custom, but we are looking to work with customers that want to be as thoughtful with their merch and apparel as the project constraints allow.
That being said, don’t be afraid to enquire on 20 coffee cups for your event next week!
Matt Withers
Matt is born and raised in Christchurch, New Zealand. He did all the education things, Christchurch Boys, University of Canterbury, Christchurch Teachers College.
Outside of work Matt is interested in learning, a big podcast guy, a big wellness and longevity guy, plays touch rugby, is learning to love running, and you might see him in at IHF in the sauna.
Janelle Cavanagh
Also born and raised in Christchurch, Janelle took the opposite route doing a gap year after high school, came back home and stumbled across this industry – her youthful good looks belie her experience!
Janelle’s average day will have her walking Billy to school, lifting heavy in the gym, smashing out work, running the Rapaki Track early evening and planning her next overseas trip after the kids go to bed.
Both Matt & Janelle love a concert or music festival, have goals to get overseas as much as they can. We plan our days around being available to spend time with our kids.
Sophie Barnett
From Timaru, New Zealand, Sophie took a similar path to Janelle, they actually met on their OE flight! Also skipping the traditional study route and then jumping straight into retail, grew into a career as a National Retail Manager, leading teams and launching brands across New Zealand.
After welcoming Lola & Otis into the world, the family made the move across the Tasman for Mike’s career, now proudly calling Adelaide home.
Outside of work, you’ll usually find Sophie at the beach, exploring South Australia, planning the next family holiday, or catching up with friends over good food and wine.
Kathrene Evangelista
For the past 5 years, Kathrene has been the one behind the scenes making sure everything runs like clockwork. As our Production Manager, her incredible eye for detail means she’s constantly keeping an eye on the finer points, making sure every order is correct, on time, and delivered exactly as promised.
Outside of work, Kathrene is a huge BTS fan, loves all things Disneyland, travelling and, most importantly, spending time with her family. She brings the same care and attention to our customers’ orders that she does to everything she loves and we wouldn’t have it any other way!
“We are genuinely nice people, and it’s not just our parents who tell us so. We pride ourselves on our collaborative, long-term customer relationships. We don’t over-promise, overcharge, and chances are very good that we will shout you a drink when we catch up.”
