Page 50 - HW Sept 2021

then as now
10 years ago, Bunnings Warehouse became a
(very) close neighbour to Mitre 10 MEGA in Glenfield.
10 years ago, online retail spending accounted for 5.1% cent of all retail sales in New Zealand, was predicted to rise to $2.68 billion in 2011 and forecasts said that 34% of total online sales in 2011 would go to offshore online retailers.
This year, 2021, NZ Post reckons 2.13 million adult Kiwis will spend $5.8 billion across 53 million transactions and that 11% of all retail sales are now online.
Rewind again to 2011, which was the second year that Mitre 10 MEGA stores hosted interactive education events for female customers with the Ladies’ Night in-store programme run nationwide as part of an effort to reach out to women eager to learn more about DIY.
Natalie Foote, back then Sponsorship & Events Manager at Mitre 10 NZ, talked of recessionary pressures meaning that more women than ever before were interested in learning DIY skills.
While ITM in 2011 went to Sanctuary Cove in Aussie for its 2011 conference, BuildLink trekked to Auckland’s Rendezvous Hotel.
The year’s Supreme BuildLink Store was Akarana Timbers in East Tamaki, and the award would be received by John Lang.
Keynote speaker at BuildLink’s award dinner was John’s brother-in-law, the late Sir Colin Meads, who regaled us with tales of his role as an enforcer, of his playing days under coach Fred Allen and of the introduction of dietary advisors (and other sophisticated performance-enhancing measures) into the extended All Blacks team during his time as All Blacks Manager.
In terms of business, BuildLink’s Richard Lewis and team were busy working on more members for the newish Home Hardware, Trowel Trades and Home Decor banners.
The building industry may have been less than optimal during 2011, but that didn’t stop the big DIY retailers playing hardball as they competed for network expansion.
Indeed, led by Complex Manager, Derek Powell, Bunnings Warehouse Glenfield (all 11,700m2 of it) would open right next
door to and very much in the face of Mitre 10 MEGA Glenfield.
Glenfield was the 21st Bunnings Warehouse store to open in New Zealand. 10 years later, in 2021, Bunnings has 48 Warehouse, Trade Centre and smaller format stores.
Four choice images from 2011’s BuildLink trade show, including some faces who aren’t in the industry any more and some whose roles have changed...
48 NZHJ | SEPTEMBER 2021
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