Page 50 - HW May 2021

then as now
Then as now – 1991 & 2011
FOR ME, THE buried treasure of the May 1991 issue is the confirmation of the first PlaceMakers JV operations.
With the headline “PlaceMakers’ partnerships a reality”, a modest third of a page marks the opening of the first PlaceMakers 50:50 Joint Venture (JV) to become concrete.
New Plymouth Store Manager, Kevin McLaughlan, became the
very first PlaceMakers JV in February 1991 and the model was set: “with no goodwill paid either in or out and profits shared every 12 months”.
Further JVs in Timaru and Gore had followed in March and 10 more PlaceMakers JV stores were in place by mid-year 1991.
And the rest as they say is history, the JV system having only recently changed with the advent of regional hubs rather than store-level agreements.
Today, Kevin is an employment advocate, having enjoyed the best part of 20 years with PlaceMakers, 17 of which as a JV.
WHO WAS WHO BACK THEN?
Staying with stores and groups, but moving now to 2011, we find Kevin Marevich pleased to have signed off on an agreement for the eight stores of the Decorator Services Group (mainly former Levene franchises) to join the BuildLink buying group.
Kevin was also keen to point out that Waihi Beach Hammer Hardware had also joined BuildLink as a Home Hardware member, a banner that the store on Wilson Street, Waihi, bears to this day.
Kevin of course parted ways with BuildLink late last year. The buying group now has Simon Burden at the helm.
In terms of the other leaders of the main retailers and
merchants 10 years ago, because memories can play tricks, here’s a brief who’s who of the other home improvement and builders merchant channel 10 years ago:
• Bunnings – Rod Caust was GM NZ during 2008-2012;
Rod has been Bunnings’ GM Commercial in Brisbane for
the last nine and a half years.
• Carters – Brent Waldron was Carters’ Chief Executive
2010-2012; he is currently CFO of Bulk Commodities at
Anglo American in London.
• ITM – Gordon Buswell was the co-op’s CEO 2001-
2014; he is now consulting and has various directorships
including Chairman of Platinum Homes.
• Mitre 10 NZ – John Hartmann was CEO 2010-2013;
after moving to True Value in the US John is now Chief
Mitre 10 MEGA Kapiti is formally opened, back in 2011.
Operating Officer at Bed Bath & Beyond and President of
buybuyBaby.
• PlaceMakers – John Beveridge led the blue sheds during
2009-2013; he’s now Chairperson at NZ Scaffolding Group.
Also well worthy of note from 10 years ago was the grand opening of Vince and Trish Indo’s Mitre 10 MEGA Kapiti (photo above). Tricia and Vince had been associated with Mitre 10 since 2004 and had owned the Mitre 10 Paraparaumu store since 2009.
CHANGING TIMES, CHANGING HABITS
“The recession has hit, retailing is down,” said the editorial in the May 1991 issue of NZ Hardware Journal.
Fast forward 20 years to May 2011 and that 10-year cycle had come back round again, although this time it was making a more gentle impact on our chosen industry.
Still, February 2011’s residential consents had crashed
by volume and by value – the only gains coming from apartments, which accounted for a meagre but growing 9.1% of all consents... Today it’s more like 25%.
Back in 2011, retailers around the world had been increasingly voicing frustration at shoppers researching and trying goods in-store, only to then purchase online, often from someone else.
But, a decade ago, New Zealand was bucking this trend, according to a Fly Buys Shopping Intentions Poll.
Indeed, the poll found that almost three quarters of New Zealanders still did their research in person, in-store and almost the same number then purchased in-store.
And, although half of New Zealanders were using the internet to do research before buying, a bit more than half would then go and actually buy in-store.
How times have changed in just a few years and what an impact Covid-19 has had on accelerating these behaviours!
48 NZHJ | MAY 2021
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