Harvey Norman
If a tree falls in a native Australian forest, should anybody care?
That’s the question effectively being asked by critics of GetUp’s ‘No Harvey No’ campaign. The campaign was launched in partnership with Markets for Change following a year long investigation into the journey of timber sourced from native Australian forests in Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia.
The investigation found Australia native forests were being logged, with the resulting timber being shipped off to China where it was being made into furniture which was then sent back to Australia to be sold in places like Harvey Norman stores.
Continue reading "Harvey’s massive Aussie forest clearance must stop" »
Gerry Harvey spends a whole stack of money on advertising.
I note this as a disclaimer for the article which follows, which is not intended as a sop to a bloke with deep pockets who helps keep our business afloat. Indeed given the serious trouble I have had as an editor over the years with sooky chief executives at our gouging banks cancelling advertising in protest at editorial content, it’s a novel thrill to write something which an advertiser might enjoy.
Gerry Harvey has become something of a hate figure in Australia today. I’m kind of puzzled as to why. He has probably left himself open to attacks because, unlike other chief executives who prefer to fly under the radar, Harvey speaks his mind and is always prepared to front up for a fight. Apart from having committed the apparent sin of working hard and making lots of money, Harvey is disliked for two reasons.
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Kipling says:
Most people go “internet” for some items because they don’t have to contend with poor service or ineptitude at the selling end in a face to face setting and of course, cheaper prices. Personally, I think internet shopping has huge security issues attached to it, that said, I have purchased… Read more »
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LH says:
I don’t see Harvey Norman success like this at all, DOB. I am old enough to remember Chandlers etc. These competitors didn’t do so well with new fresh product as I remember. Surely you don’t think Harvey Norman’s success can be chalked up to a massive nation-wide conjob? Your respect… Read more »
If you’re in a Harvey Norman store right now preparing to buy a video game, put it down. Gerry has commanded you.
The CEO of electronics chain Harvey Norman Gerry Harvey has admitted defeat and will finally be opening an online store.
But he won’t be selling fridges. Oh no. Nor will he be selling fans, or air-conditioning units, or iPods, iPads, televisions or cameras.
Continue reading "Hypocrite Harvey goes stormin’ into cyberspace" »
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Dave says:
Yeah, but the point is that the differences in price are not due to the GST; its due to the big mark ups on the goods. Dont believe me? Then how come Gerry Harvey is a multi multi millionaire? Gerry’s shops could have competed with online - if he’d been… Read more »
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Pete #205 says:
Mick, three things. First, there is a GST on imports, but it only kicks in at (I think) $1000. That’s the amount they’ve worked out where the cost of collecting the tax becomes worthwhile. Second, you’ll find that many who buy online, like me, save much, much more than 10%… Read more »
Harvey Norman boss Gerry Harvey has dramatically decided to step away from a campaign to regulate the purchase of goods online from overseas. Harvey has blamed a torrent of social media abuse as prime reason for his departure.
Harvey said the attacks were “vicious and hateful” and, as for the campaign, well, it was “bad timing”.
However, Harvey really bells the cat when he says ‘you might have got a nasty phone call or a letter back in the old days but now anything slightly controversial, these people, whoever they might be, they go for you zealously and with hatred all over Twitter”.
Continue reading "Gerry Harvey: How Twitter toppled a retail giant" »
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Argonaut49 says:
Pawns in their game is about right. So what are Levy, Harvey, Myers, DJs, Borders, A&R really after? One thing’s for sure, it simply cannot be the lack of GST on online overseas sales. That’s such a tiny fraction of total sales, it’s simple not credible. Then there’s the cry… Read more »
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BobbyDan says:
Opps I was in full flight and we had power flick and I lost the lot. As I was saying I had a need of a refridgerator this morning (Sunday 09/01/11), my local bloke was off counting sheep so I had no choice but to go to the big smoke… Read more »
Change and innovation are always feared, and therefore always resisted.
When the first ATMs were introduced, the banking unions fought against them because they feared it would mean the end of tellers (who can forget the lines we used to endure at banks in the bad old days). Instead, we saw the rise of electronic banking with the banks now involved in almost every transaction. When the video player was first introduced, film industry experts predicted the end of cinemas, but today we are seeing a resurgence in cinema attendance numbers because the industry was forced to become more innovative, and now delivers a significantly enhanced customer experience via new developments such as 3D.
In recent weeks, some of Australia’s larger retailers have vigorously argued that the ability of Australians to buy online will destroy retailing in Australia, with thousands of jobs going off-shore, and that we need to tax the internet to “create a level playing field”. This is despite the fact that less than 3 per cent of all retail sales in Australia are transacted online!
Continue reading "Why good retailers will survive the internet" »
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Jim says:
@Kevin D and Bananabender - the stuff that I order from overseas is typically less than $1000 and typically comes via Royal Mail or US Postal Service and thus is delivered via Australia Post. However, I have ordered some things which have been more than $1k and which have been… Read more »
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James says:
@ Lisa H. I would be a bit more inclined to side with the major retailers had the major retailers involved not brought on the demise of Australian manufacturing and smaller retailers. Harvey Norman was one of the first retailers to give up stocking locally produced goods in favour of… Read more »
Sometimes you’ve just got to laugh in the face of brazen hypocrisy and insincerity. It can be pretty funny, after all.
One of my favourites was last year’s public campaign from the ‘Alliance of Australian Retailers’ railing against the mooted introduction of plain cigarette packaging.
Their hilarious (but deadly serious) message was “It won’t work so why do it?” Which, for me, prompted two questions: 1. Shouldn’t that question have a comma in the middle of it? And, 2. If you’re so sure it won’t work, why are you wasting around $9 million on an ad campaign to try and stop it?
Continue reading "Astroturfing: It’s what the big retailers do to get their way" »
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bargearse says:
I agree with the posts above relating to the implementation costs of imposing GST on OS purchases being the ‘real’ reason Gerry Harvey et al want the GST imposed. He may be an old codger, but he’s a good enough business man to know that making items 10% more expensive… Read more »
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Barry says:
I will believe what you say when you apply equal exposure to the other side. Your article seems to be very one sided. Read more »
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