Arthur Barnett Ltd
| File:Arthur Barnett logo.jpg | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1903 |
| Headquarters | Dunedin, New Zealand |
Key people | Sue Smaill, General Manager Michael Coburn, Director Nicholas Scott, Director Trevor Scott, Director Julian Smith, Director |
| Products | apparel, cosmetics, accessories, homewares, furniture, general merchandise |
| Website | arthurbarnett.co.nz |
Arthur Barnett Ltd, trading as Arthur Barnett (often erroneously referred to as Arthur Barnett's) is a Dunedin, New Zealand-based department store operator. Established in 1903 by Arthur Barnett the store first began as a drapery for men and boys, progressing over the years to become one of Dunedin's most successful department stores. Today Arthur Barnett continues to operate a single store on the site of the original George Street store in Dunedin.
History of the chain
The 1924 Arthur Barnett building designed by Edmund Anscombe was a landmark on the northern part of George Street, Dunedin. It was devastated by fire in 1959, with only the building shell and one major stained glass window surviving. It was rebuilt in 1960s modernist style behind the existing facades, the main retail floor being a soaring glass-roofed structure, inspiring the store's slogan of that era: "the Daylight Store." This was demolished progressively in 1995-7 and replaced by the Meridian Mall incorporating a reduced-size Arthur Barnett store on two levels.
As well as their flagship George Street store, Arthur Barnett had stores in Balclutha, Alexandra, Oamaru, and Christchurch. They also briefly had a branch in Melbourne, Australia which operated from 1970 to 1977. This branch sold mainly carpeting and furniture.
Arthur Barnett took over the ailing D.I.C. department store company in the 1980s. The D.I.C. had stores throughout New Zealand and should have proven a good geographical match for Arthur Barnett. In particular, the D.I.C. had 4 stores in the Auckland market, New Zealand's biggest. In December 1987, Arthur Barnett bought the trading assets of the three South Island stores and 50% of the 13 North Island stores which were run as a joint venture with Brierley Investments Ltd. Arthur Barnett Ltd bought the 16 D.I.C. stores outright in July 1988. The D.I.C. Stores were in Invercargill, Dunedin, Christchurch, Lower Hutt, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Hastings, Napier, Gisborne, Rotorua, Hamilton, Pakuranga, Henderson, Karangahape Road (Auckland), Takapuna, and Whangarei.
At its peak Arthur Barnett Ltd had over 1200 staff and 19 stores (the 16 former D.I.C. stores, along with its own branches in Alexandra, Balclutha, and Dunedin). However, the merger did not work well and all D.I.C. stores with the exception of Christchurch were closed within 2 years. By 1992 the majority of The D.I.C. assets were disposed of and the company was able to concentrate on its stores in Dunedin, Alexandra, Balclutha and Christchurch. The D.I.C. debacle cost Arthur Barnett around $NZ 20 million and as a result the company had to borrow heavily to help finance the Meridian Mall project in 1995.
The Christchurch store was re-branded as Arthur Barnett and refurbished within the High Street Mall development in the city's centre. The Alexandra and Balclutha stores were closed in 1995 and 2001 respectively, and the Christchurch store was closed in February 2006. The company now has only the Dunedin department store, which acts as Otago's luxury department store, specialising in cosmetics, fashion, homewares and school uniforms.
The Meridian Mall opened on 5 September 1997 with the final development costs close to $NZ 50 million. The Dunedin store is spread across two levels and at the time of opening held 13 departments linked by escalators, with a more upmarket appearance than previous Arthur Barnett stores, although with floor space only about half that of the old store. Arthur Barnett retains office and administrative space on the higher floors. Arthur Barnett sold the Meridian building in 2003 using the proceeds to retire debt.
In mid-2011, a small, temporary Arthur Barnett outlet store was opened in Christchurch's Hornby Dress Smart shopping centre[1], but was closed in 2012. Also in 2011, Arthur Barnett opened the Arthur Barnett Gift Shop at the front of the Meridian Mall in Dunedin. The Gift Shop was later changed to a clearance shop, and closed by 2012 to make way for the new Cue/Veronika Maine store.[2][3]
Departments
Arthur Barnett currently holds 14 departments[4] across the ground and lower floors of the Meridian. Departments include Beauty; Lingerie; Men's and Ladies' Fashion with new concept areas for Lifestyle Apparel, including RM Williams, Icebreaker and Silkbody, as well as popular New Zealand design labels Paula Ryan and Trelise Cooper; Accessories; Children’s Fashion; Luggage; Casual Living; Home Linens; Small Appliances; Furnishings; and Schoolwear. Additionally, the office and the Arthur Barnett Café are located on the lower level. The café also provides a catering service.[5] Casual Living houses the largest range of Maxwell & Williams homewares in Dunedin. Furnishings also includes the complementary Curtain Call design consultancy service.[6]
The large Beauty department includes serviced cosmetics counters from M·A·C, Yves Saint Laurent, and most recently, Jurlique, all exclusive to Arthur Barnett in Dunedin. Other counters include Lancôme, Estée Lauder, Clarins, Shiseido, Clinique, Elizabeth Arden and Revlon. The Fragrance counter is the largest in Dunedin. The Beauty department formerly housed Dunedin's only Smashbox counter, now located at new rival Life Pharmacy in the nearby Wall Street Mall.
Former departments include Electronics and Whiteware/Large Appliances featuring Fisher & Paykel. From 2007 electronics was branded as '100% Arthur Barnett' under the New Zealand 100% electrical franchise.[7] These were removed when the lower level was reconfigured to include Toyworld in mid 2010[8][9], considerably decreasing the floor space of the store. The area currently occupied by Toyworld formerly housed the first Nest 'store-within-a-store' homewares concept store within Casual Living.[10]
"Can't stop"
The advertising sign for Arthur Barnett is a prominent feature on the Dunedin skyline. Named Can't Stop, this neon sign features a small man (representing the firm's founder) trying to control a large horse, possibly a Clydesdale.
The sign was designed by the New Zealand artist Heber Thompson for the 1924 Arthur Barnett building (designed by Edmund Anscombe) which until 1995 stood on the site now occupied by the Meridian Mall.
Ownership
Arthur Barnett was listed on the New Zealand stock exchange until a NZ $9.5 million internal takeover by company directors Julian Smith and Trevor Scott took the company private in 2002 though their company Belwash Holdings Ltd.[11][12] However, in mid 2003, the company was purchased by South Island department store retailer H & J Smith Ltd.[13][14]
See Also
References
- ^ Rae, Sally (3 June 2011). "Arthur Barnett store returns to Christchurch". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ^ http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=279515345451275&id=230136333722510
- ^ http://www.meridianmall.co.nz/our-stores/cue-veronika-maine
- ^ http://www.brownbearindulge.co.nz/dunedin/arthur-barnett/
- ^ http://www.arthurbarnett.co.nz/content/cafe.php
- ^ http://www.arthurbarnett.co.nz/content/furnishings.php
- ^ http://issuu.com/arthurbarnett/docs/tabloid_100_
- ^ http://www.odt.co.nz/news/business/121835/retailers-ringing-changes-through-recession
- ^ https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:eySIikfKG5wJ:xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/16953937/897112665/name/A3%2BPoster_FINAL.pdf+&hl=en&gl=nz&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShJDv2hxAKzltYvt4KpSGEY5AmznNhiyuKH33op8kRhxJTSpjV5SZnIgs-2MnBIBiUrOjx5d4tkk80JI20R4NoFT8Q7PWAin0J7gnppwCVdiLw_is1OHu7Y6d7e9uOZ9CMnO1k3&sig=AHIEtbSBSuAD8zr9eND71IeeBQyxBII5Aw&pli=1
- ^ http://new.southernattractions.co.nz/content/arthur-barnett
- ^ http://www.sharechat.co.nz/article/db5f5806/arthur-barnett-to-be-delisted.html
- ^ http://www.sharechat.co.nz/article/65084ee7/arthur-barnett-bid-falls-short-of-company-s-latest-asset-backing.html
- ^ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=3509985
- ^ http://www.sharechat.co.nz/article/b8543bf8/takeover-creates-south-island-wide-chain.html