You could say Bunnings is a Masters of disguise...
With the ongoing success of the Masters Home Improvement chain in Australia, UnderCurrent thinks it's time for more expansion. But the retailer should get in quick before the New Zealand market is all snapped up.
Fri 07/06/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Big box retail's big appetite for land: the Bunnings and Masters battle
Bunnings has today announced ambitious plans to open more than 60 new warehouses over the next three years. But as Bunnings and Masters look to secure more and more sites in the future, how big will big box retail become?
Wed 29/05/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Online retailers leading price wars in appliances and electronics
Harvey Norman has the highest advertised prices for whitegoods while Appliances Online is consistently the cheapest. This and other insights are revealed in a report published by Credit Suisse.
Mon 29/04/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Rapid growth for Masters a highlight in Woolworths' quarterly results
Woolworths is going strong in the home improvement sector, with Masters seeing sales growth of almost 40 per cent this quarter. Woolworths' quarterly results also showed positive growth for Big W, despite difficulties in Home Entertainment.
Thu 11/04/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Value Depot opens to take on Costco, rapid expansion flagged via Campbells chain
At the opening of Metcash's first Value Depot warehouse outlets in Brisbane today, CEO Andrew Reitzer promised to "match or beat the price" of its competitors, with Costco singled out and named as a target.
Thu 13/12/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Appliances to be sold at Metcash's new Value Depot warehouse venture
Publicly listed retailer Metcash, owner of the IGA and Mitre 10 chains, will soon open its first Value Depot business supplies warehouse in Eagle Farm, in Queensland.
Thu 06/12/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Masters opens new Sydney store, with a familiar Retravision face
Masters has opened its 24th Australian store in Chullora, Sydney, boasting an appliance section fitted out with a large range of appliances and model kitchens. The new department is also being headed up by a familiar face from Retravision.
Fri 09/11/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Woolworths releases final disappointing Dick Smith sales results
Woolworths Limited has released its sales for the first quarter of the new financial year with Masters and Big W faring well. But for Dick Smith's last stretch with its former owner, sales were down.
Thu 18/10/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Woolworths' hopes of Mastering Ballarat blocked by ACCC
The ongoing difficulty of Woolworths to establish its Masters big box hardware and appliance warehouses in Australia took another turn today when the ACCC confirmed it would oppose its acquisition of a existing competitor in Ballarat.
Thu 04/10/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Masters finally unveils second Sydney store location: Chullora
Woolworths home improvement chain Masters will be opening new warehouses along the Eastern Seaboard over the next few months, including a new store in Sydney, where it has struggled to find suitable locations.
Tue 02/10/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Masters encouraging trade credit card take-up with 5% discount
Woolworths' big box hardware store, Masters, is offering a 5 per cent discount to qualifying tradespeople and builders, provided they pay for their purchases using a special Masters credit card.
Mon 27/08/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Open Letter to Woolworths CEO regarding your appalling recalls record
In light of Woolworths today issuing its FIFTH product recall notice this year on its Abode brand, we demand the CEO takes action to protect its consumers from serious injury.
Fri 10/08/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Masters has a cracker as Woolworths releases yearly sales results
Woolworths Limited released its yearly sales results today, posting a 4.7 per cent increase in sales across the group. While Big W only climbed by 0.5 per cent, Masters saw an increase in sales of almost 25 per cent.
Mon 23/07/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Just like Costco, Masters stays on-brand with talk of "competition"
Following the opening of Masters' new store in Canberra this week, the company's COO has spoken positively about its offering, but would not be drawn on comments made by her competitors at Costco regarding pricing.
Fri 20/07/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Costco looks forward to healthy competition with Masters
The head of Costco Australia has welcomed the opening of a Masters store around the corner from Costco in Canberra, saying it will be good for competition and consumers. But, he said, Costco's prices are "better and sharper".
Fri 20/07/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Masters takes on Costco in Canberra
Woolworths' dedicated home improvement retailer Masters has opened a new shopfront in Canberra's Majura Park shopping precinct, almost a year to the day after Costco opened its doors around the corner.
Wed 18/07/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Masters takes hardware and appliance shopping online
After forecasting the arrival of a "transactional website" in April this year, Masters has quietly launched a new online shopping option on its website.
Fri 29/06/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »GAF Control boss lashes out at rumours, swears the company is in good shape
GAF Control MD Stuart Foley has hit out today at ex-employees spreading rumours and gossip about the state of his company. In this exclusive interview, Foley attacks those individuals and gives assurances to his business partners.
Thu 21/06/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »'We're all struggling' claims Retravision member on way to crisis meeting
"We're in a recession" - that's the message from Peter Anderson, proprietor of Andersons Electrical, a member of the Retravision Southern group in rural Victoria.
Fri 18/05/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Masters sales up 30%, online sales coming soon
Woolworths has released its third quarter sales results, with Masters reporting a sales jump of almost 30% and a website in the works. While Dick Smith posted a slight decrease in sales, the retailer was largely ignored in the results report.
Mon 23/04/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Our five biggest stories from our biggest ever month
March 2012 was a record month for Current.com.au, with our highest ever number of unique views and page visits. From here on, at the start of each month, we'll look back on what the most read stories were from the previous month.
Wed 04/04/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Masters to go online with appliances in coming months
Woolworths has given Current more details on its online plans for Masters, which form part of a larger "multi-option retail" strategy, saying "customers who shop both online and in store are amongst our most valuable customers".
Thu 08/03/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Woolworths muscles in to purchase Masters.com.au domain name
It took repeated offers from Woolworths to purchase the Masters.com.au domain name from the small Sydney business that used to own it.
Thu 08/03/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Dick Smith fell, but how the mighty Masters has risen for Woolworths
Despite issuing grim sales figures for its failed Dick Smith electronics brand, Woolworths has found success elsewhere, reporting stellar sales for its home improvement/appliance retail offering, Masters. And there are plans to go online too...
Fri 02/03/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Masters, Big W & Dick Smith take on Costco in Canberra's Majura Park
Costco is set to go up against new large-format Masters, Big W and Dick Smith stores over the coming months, as Woolworths expands its presence in Canberra's Majura Park retail precinct. Current takes a look at the new contenders.
Tue 07/02/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Bunnings sales are up, but Masters is seeing bigger growth
The Bunnings hardware chain saw a 6.8% increase in sales over the last six months, but the retailer was outstripped by its biggest competitor, Masters, which posted a 16.4% jump in sales figures over the same period.
Thu 02/02/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Dick Smith announces resilient sales while Masters powers on
The Australian-based Dick Smith Electronics has recorded solid sales for the first six months of the 2012 financial year, while the Masters rollout will continue throughout the upcoming calendar year.
Tue 31/01/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Masters set to tread the boards in NSW with new store opening
To add to the five stores it has across Victoria and Queensland, Masters will open a new warehouse in Narellan next week, with Barry O'Farrell himself set to officiate the opening.
Fri 02/12/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Masters explodes out of the blocks but Dick Smith under formal review
Sales in Woolworths' five new Masters stores are "well ahead of budget", according to Woolworths Limited CEO Grant O'Brien, who outlined the reasons for placing Dick Smith under strategic review.
Wed 02/11/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »"We have to work harder for every dollar" - Dick Smith quarterly sales down
Woolworths Limited released its quarterly sales results today, with the company posting losses for its consumer electronics divisions in Australia and New Zealand.
Thu 27/10/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Woolworths opening four new Masters, or 'McMasters', in Queensland
Masters has today announced opening dates for four new Queensland stores as it ramps up its ambitious big box store rollout. Two of these stores contain in-house McDonald's restaurants.
Wed 05/10/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Masters roll-out already a success and Woolworths strengthens hardware offer
Woolworths will spend up to $100 million rolling out its Masters big box outlets during the 2012 financial year, with the MD saying the first store is already a "resounding success".
Tue 27/09/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Bosch talks up Masters appliance offering
One of Masters' launch appliance brands is Bosch. We asked the German supplier why it has chosen to go partner with Woolworths' ambition hardware retail venture. Also, we list all the appliance brands currently being sold in the new store.
Wed 07/09/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Bunnings talks competition with Masters
As Masters prepares to open its first store in Melbourne next month, Current.com.au talks to one of its key competitors about the changing home improvement retail landscape and shifts in online trends.
Tue 23/08/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Masters Home Improvement to have "integrated" online offering
The Masters Home Improvement chain is coming to Australia, and with it will come a dedicated online sales portal that will be integrated with the bricks and mortar offering.
Fri 19/08/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Masters of the house - home improvement retailer boasts appliance offering
Australia's newest home improvement retailer Masters will open its first store in the Melbourne suburb of Braybrook next month, with a product offering that will include appliances.
Thu 18/08/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Masters Home Improvement set to neighbour with Costco Canberra
Woolworths' new hardware retail chain, known as Masters Home Improvement, will be playing neighbours with Costco Canberra when it opens next year. The store is also set to offer appliances in amongst the hardware aisles.
Wed 03/08/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »
