Whitfords kick-start 2012 with new showroom and online store
Whitfords of Five Dock, a 90 year old family run business, has joined the e-commerce revolution with the launch of its online store and a sleek new kitchen showroom.Read More...

Whitfords kick-start 2012 with new showroom and online store
Whitfords of Five Dock, a 90 year old family run business, has joined the e-commerce revolution with the launch of its online store and a sleek new kitchen showroom.Read More...

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Need more eyeballs? 

Everyday Connected's industry newsletters can fast-track your message to over 8,000 premium online subscribers. Connected's daily news service speaks directly to, for and about the Australian consumer electronics industry.
 

Make the choice today and change the way you do business. Tap into Connected's rich, paid database of industry leaders, buyers, managers and floorstaff who are making the decisions about your products.
Contact Patrick Keaney patrick@connectedaustralia.com .

2012 will reveal retail's true character
As the consumer electronics industry continues to face similar conditions that saw plummeting sales and profits in 2011, the true character of its leaders, particularly those at the head of retail brands, will be revealed.

The decisions that were taken over the past 12 months will either bear fruit in the first quarter of 2012, or drastic measures will be taken. Gerry Harvey has already told us not to expect any organic growth from his business within Australia this year and analysts are predicting that the soft market conditions for Harvey Norman and JB Hi Fi, place both these brands on private equity lists for mergers and acquisitions. 

Although Woolworths Ltd. has been mooted as a possible bidder for JB Hi Fi, it appeared to have fallen down the rabbit hole last week with the curious launch of its doorbuster.com.au daily deals site.

Clearly printed on the ‘About Door Buster’ page of the site is the bolded instruction: Don’t pay retail again! (in case consumers couldn’t grasp the importance of the statement).

I’m not a Woolworths shareholder, but those who are need to be concerned about a company policy that challenges the raison d’être of tradtional retailing, which still remains the dominant  business model. Not to mention supplier stakeholders who watch with trepidation as their sophisticated technology products are further commoditised on a generic auction site along with disposable nappies and potato chips.

Australian retailing in is distress, and while there is nothing wrong with following new trends, this is not the time to give in. Leadership is built on character and that includes the wisdom and strength to hold your nerve.

2012 will reveal retail's true character
As the consumer electronics industry continues to face similar conditions that saw plummeting sales and profits in 2011, the true character of its leaders, particularly those at the head of retail brands, will be revealed.

The decisions that were taken over the past 12 months will either bear fruit in the first quarter of 2012, or drastic measures will be taken. Gerry Harvey has already told us not to expect any organic growth from his business within Australia this year and analysts are predicting that the soft market conditions for Harvey Norman and JB Hi Fi, place both these brands on private equity lists for mergers and acquisitions. 

Although Woolworths Ltd. has been mooted as a possible bidder for JB Hi Fi, it appeared to have fallen down the rabbit hole last week with the curious launch of its doorbuster.com.au daily deals site.

Clearly printed on the ‘About Door Buster’ page of the site is the bolded instruction: Don’t pay retail again! (in case consumers couldn’t grasp the importance of the statement).

I’m not a Woolworths shareholder, but those who are need to be concerned about a company policy that challenges the raison d’être of tradtional retailing, which still remains the dominant  business model. Not to mention supplier stakeholders who watch with trepidation as their sophisticated technology products are further commoditised on a generic auction site along with disposable nappies and potato chips.

Australian retailing in is distress, and while there is nothing wrong with following new trends, this is not the time to give in. Leadership is built on character and that includes the wisdom and strength to hold your nerve.