Inside story on Narta's bid to set minimum advertising prices
Eight months after applying for authorisation to set minimum advertising prices on selected Beko appliances, the ACCC rejected The Narta Group's proposal. Here is the story of how that decision was made.
Mon 13/05/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Narta's first Retravision branding campaign focuses on fighting spirit
Retravision will soon launch a branding campaign built around "great stores" run by "great people" that are "as local as you", as explained by West Australian boxing champion Danny Green in a new television commercial.
Tue 07/05/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »OP/ED: Narta talks openly about the first 30 days of Retravision
In this special guest post, Narta chief operation officer Michael Jackson outlines the progress of Retravision since coming under the Narta banner on 1 April 2013.
Thu 02/05/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »ACCC denies Narta the right to fix Beko advertising prices
A proposal by Narta to fix advertising prices of Beko appliances has been quashed by the ACCC as it would present "a significant public detriment". Narta had wanted to set minimum pricing on Beko products for its members.
Thu 11/04/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Retravision reveals new network: 241 stores gone in less than a year
After a tumultuous year, a raft of store closures and a move to the Narta buying group, Retravision now has a confirmed network of 24 stores. Largely based in WA, Retravision's presence is roughly one tenth what it was one year ago.
Tue 09/04/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Beko Australia explains product recall situation to Narta members
This letter details Beko Australia's response to product recall dramas locally and in the United Kingdom. The veracity of the letter has been authenticated.
Tue 02/04/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Beko blames dangerous product coverage on leaky lawyers
Beko Australia has blamed recent negative media coverage linking its products to the deaths of 11 consumers in the United Kingdom on a law firm creating a smear campaign to enhance any future litigation payout.
Tue 02/04/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Miele previews Generation 6000 to Australian retailers in Germany
Miele has invited a select group of key Chartered Agents to Germany this week to preview the next Generation 6000 series of cooking appliances, due in Australia from the fourth quarter of this year. Current.com.au looks at the range...
Thu 28/03/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »5 things Leading Appliances must do from Day 1
The new Leading Appliances group will officially come into being on Monday 1 April 2013 (Easter Monday). Here are five things they need to do be successful.
Tue 26/03/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Betta offers consumers $7,000 worth of Beko appliances
Betta Home Living is offering the chance to win $7,000 worth of Beko appliances in a new promotion endorsed by former cricketer Matthew Hayden. To win, consumers need to pitch their favourite family recipe to the former Test opener.
Mon 11/03/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Ilve to launch first refrigerator range and open supply to The Good Guys
Ilve will be catering to more customers with more products in 2013, including supply to The Good Guys to replace Clive Peeters and a new refrigeration range so consumers can purchase the complete kitchen from one brand.
Thu 07/03/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Three Beko cookers withdrawn from sale, though not recalled
Narta members have been advised to immediately cease selling three Beko freestanding electric cookers and remove them from shelves due to a fault in the supply cord.
Wed 27/02/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Panasonic New Zealand set to leave Narta buying group
Panasonic's New Zealand subsidiary is set to leave the Narta buying group in order to focus on the "individual needs" of its retailers. Despite the change, the Australian business is still committed to Narta according to MD Steve Rust.
Mon 25/02/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »OP/ED: Leading Appliances working round the clock to transition Retravision
In a special guest post, one of the managers working to transition Retravision stores to Leading Appliances clarifies several misconceptions and explains the work the Leading Edge Group is doing to meet the 1 April 2013 deadline.
Fri 22/02/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »After 84 years with Retravision, Cairns now has a Betta option
William and Leonie Kennedy, owners of a Retravision store that has operated for over 80 years in Cairns, and their daugher Janelle have completed the transition to Betta Stores Limited.
Thu 21/02/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Leading Appliances on track to launch with almost 80 members
Leading Edge's new Leading Appliances team has been meeting with former Retravision members and suppliers as the buying group prepares to integrate almost 80 stores before the 1 April 2013 deadline.
Thu 07/02/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Leading Edge unveils 'Leading Appliances' brand for homeless Retravision members
The Leading Edge Group has unveiled its new 'Leading Appliances' division, complete with a new logo, for the retailers left homeless after the sale of the Retravision brand to Narta late last year.
Thu 07/02/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Leading Edge looks to experienced heads for Retravision transition team
The Leading Edge Group has begun assembling the team that will manage the transition of former Retravision members into the new Appliances division of the diversified buying group.
Mon 04/02/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Narta called out by ACCC for attempts to fix prices
Narta has come under fire from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, with the watchdog aiming to block Narta's attempts to set minimum advertising prices across all its member stores.
Mon 21/01/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Myer joins Narta to improve product range and to access special deals
Myer has joined its fierce department store rival David Jones as a member of the Narta buying group. Other members of Narta include Winning Appliances, JB Hi-Fi, Betta Home Living and Bing Lee.
Mon 21/01/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Kambos unveils its first ex-Retravision WA franchisee
The former Retravision store at Osborne Park, Perth, in Western Australia, is the first to be unveiled as a new member of the Kambos franchise system.
Tue 18/12/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Bi-Rite offering Retravision stores central accounting
Privately-owned Brisbane-based electrical retailer and Narta member, Bi-Rite Electrical, is continuing to offer Retravision stores central accounting after recently growing to 102 stores nationally.
Tue 20/11/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Leading Edge forms new Appliance Group to house Retravision migrants
Leading Edge managing director, Tony Middlebrook, has announced that his $320 million buying group is creating a newly formed Appliance Group to accommodate the new Retravision stores.
Fri 16/11/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Retravision Northern members to lobby for vote on sale at AGM
Retravision Northern members and interested parties will meet on Friday 30 November 2012 for their annual general meeting at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.
Fri 16/11/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Retravision tells stores "there is no need to panic"
Retravision Western CEO Paul Holt has told the 180 stores within the group "there is no need to panic" and they should all focus on preparing their stores for Christmas trading.
Fri 16/11/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Retravision explains "orderly wind down" of business to stores
Retravision has sent a letter to all 180 stores explaining the next stages of the "orderly wind down" of the business and the transfer to new retail groups.
Fri 16/11/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Retravision CEO tells retailers: "We want an orderly transition"
Retravision CEO Paul Holt says he is seeking an "orderly transition" for the 180 stores to new buying groups following the decision to wind down the existing business and transfer the brand to Narta by April 2013.
Tue 13/11/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Betta could grow to 200 stores with Retravision additions
The chief executive officer of Betta Home Living, Graeme Cunningham, has predicted that his group could grow to 200 stores as several Retravision stores seek a new retail brand.
Fri 09/11/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Retravision stores to be offered multiple Narta member companies
The executive chairman of Narta, Kay Spencer, has estimated that up to 70 Retravision stores could join the group across the Betta, Kambo's, Bi-Rite and Retravision brands.
Thu 08/11/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Dorsett Retail acquires Retravision assets and joins Narta
The Dorsett Retail Group purchased Retravision Western's Electsales commercial business and its company owned Cannington store two days before joining the Narta group yesterday.
Thu 08/11/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Kambo's officially unveils its new franchise system with six launch members
Peter "Kambo" Kambouris is the Australian consumer electronics industry's latest franchisor, having revealed that he has signed on six former West Australian Retravision members as new franchisees in his group.
Thu 08/11/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »BREAKING: Retravision tells 180 stores to find new home
Retravision Western has announced it will shift its brand to Narta and move stores into either the Narta or Leading Edge buying groups from April 2013, saying it cannot "support a stand-alone national or state business model" for the brand.
Wed 07/11/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »UPDATED: Retravision concedes brand is unworkable in the East (infographic)
The collapses of Retravision's Southern and New South Wales buying groups over the last decade have taken an insurmountable toll on the brand name across the Eastern Seaboard, CEO Paul Holt has conceded.
Wed 07/11/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Keith Bowden Electrical in administration after almost 50 years of business
Keith Bowden Electrical, a consumer electronics and appliance retailer and Narta member based in St Marys in South Australia, has gone into administration. This store had been trading since 1965.
Fri 28/09/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Betta celebrates a big boost in income and a happy year with NARTA
The Betta Stores Retail Group released its yearly results yesterday, announcing a 60 per cent increase in income and the highest return to members since 2006 - all thanks to its association with NARTA, according to the CEO.
Tue 18/09/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Winning acquisition motivated by PowerBuys' small appliance sales volume
The Winning Group's purchase of the McKnights business was motivated by a desire to increase the stores online small appliance sales via the PowerBuys website.
Tue 28/08/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Betta confirms defections of 40 Retravision stores across Australia
The relaunched electrical and home retailer Betta Home Living has confirmed that 40 stores have defected from Retravision, including the former chairman, Ian Ray.
Mon 06/08/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Videopro explains its double threat TV advertising drive
Brisbane-based retailer Videopro's new national above the line TVC campaign has been designed to offer a double threat, promoting bricks and mortar sales in its native Queensland and online sales throughout the rest of Australia.
Tue 24/07/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Appliances Online CEO hits out at discounting rivals
John Winning, the founder of Appliances Online and the CEO of Winning Appliances and BigBrownBox, has hit out at the discounting strategy of his rival retailers, including several NARTA stablemates.
Thu 03/05/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Retravision QLD members leave for Betta pastures, online growth ahead
Several former Retravision Queensland members left that buying shortly before the unification announcement to join Betta Electrical. This is one of several revelations in an exclusive interview with Appliance Retailer magazine.
Tue 10/04/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Introduction of Beko part of retail business model evolution: Narta
Narta executive chairman Kay Spencer has outlined the business strategy behind the introduction of the Beko brand into the Australian market which will be available exclusively to members of her buying group from this month.
Mon 09/01/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Narta announces office relocation
Industry buying group Narta will be moving to new premises later this week. The new office is still in Pyrmont, New South Wales, down the road from its current location.
Wed 23/11/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Beko launches in Australia, exclusive to Narta
Turkish appliance brand Beko held its Australian launch today, with 62 products in 6 categories set to be sold in Narta stores from January 2012. MD Michael Goadby said the brand was well placed to succeed in Australia.
Tue 22/11/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »90 years later, Whitfords is expanding and going online
The Whitfords store in Sydney has been in the family for almost a century. Next month, a new showroom will be opened and the retailer will commence online trading.
Mon 21/11/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »2nds World launches new online sister company: Savvy Appliances
Factory seconds retailer 2nds World has started a new online store, called Savvy Appliances. In a departure from the "Tiny ding, huge savings" theme of its bricks and mortar stores, Savvy Appliances promotes itself as retailer of first run products.
Thu 10/11/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »The Kambo decision: the big fish swims east to a new pond
The news today that Peter "Kambo" Kambouris had left Retravision WA to join the Sydney-based Narta buying group may have been a surprise to his former group's CEO, but it wasn't to others in the industry.
Tue 04/10/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Former Narta and Sony pro now running Nikon sales
After 17 years with Sony and 4 with Narta, David Allen is the new national sales manager at Nikon Australia. Allen sat down with Current.com.au to talk about his goals for the camera brand.
Tue 10/05/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »BSR Group explains new Betta marketing programme
Current.com.au spoke with Julieanne Worchurst, BSR Group's newly appointed group marketing manager, to better understand how the national marketing programme will supplement the local area market.
Thu 21/04/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Better deal for Betta members: CEO reassures industry and members
BSR CEO Graham Cunningham has assured franchisees the Narta deal will result in more staff at head office, one order book for suppliers and no 'double clipping'.
Wed 02/03/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Betta joins Narta group
The Betta chain of electrical stores has announced it will be joining Narta, Australasia's largest independent buying group.
Wed 02/03/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Narta told to consider becoming global buying group
The closing speech of the 2010 Narta conference by recently retired Fisher & Paykel chief executive officer, John Bongard, has recommended the group consider a global future in the USA, UK and Europe, with membership outside Australasia.
Fri 03/09/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »GfK confirms the TV market is in decline
In what has been described as a 'big wake-up call', GfK has confirmed that the Australian TV market is in "freefall".
Thu 02/09/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »Leading physicist fears Moore's Law may fade after 2020
Michio Kaku, a leading futurist has told the 2010 Narta conference that even though computers may be 1,000 times more powerful and cheaper in 2020, the fundamental physics theory, Moore's Law, may have a finite life.
Wed 01/09/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »How traffic congestion can be solved and Australia's busiest state capital
Guess which of the three mainland Eastern State capitals has the worst traffic? The answer might surprise you, and help you add some extra value to your next GPS sale.
Tue 31/08/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »Narta MD says group faces biggest challenges in 20 years
Narta MD Kay Spencer says her group is facing the biggest challenge in the last 20 years and recommends retailers adding value through service and high end products to avoid commoditisation and irrelevance.
Tue 31/08/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »Narta chairman reveals strong growth for buying group
Narta chairman John Wipfli has opened the buying group's 2010 conference by revealing a record year of purchases and sales and performance ahead of the market, but with substantial challenges ahead.
Tue 31/08/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »Narta 2010 conference prepares for the future
Over 150 retailer and supplier industry delegates have assembled in Sorrento in the south of Italy for the beginning of the 2010 Narta pre-IFA seminar concluding with the world's largest consumer electronics show in Berlin at the end of the week.
Mon 30/08/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »Rick Hart returns to Narta
Retail icon Rick Hart has been welcomed back to the Narta group with his new retail venue, Kitchen HQ, while the future of the WA electrical chain bearing his name remains in the hands of the Clive Peeters receivers.
Wed 16/06/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »Whirpool launches 90 prizes in 90 days promotion
Whirlpool Australia has just announced a new consumer promotion where it is giving away 90 prizes over 90 days across four major retail groups, 360 major prizes in total.
Mon 04/05/2009 12:00:00 / Read More »Frank Garonzi and Peter Drummond join Narta board
Former JB Hi-Fi general manager, Frank Garonzi, and Appliance Connexion chairman, Peter Drummond, have been appointed to the board of the Narta Group.
Wed 25/02/2009 12:00:00 / Read More »Samsung flies in Aussie retailers for IFA Berlin
Samsung Electronics is hosting a number of high profile Australian retailers from major buying groups at the world's largest consumer electronics fair - IFA - in Berlin this week.
Fri 29/08/2008 12:00:00 / Read More »Australia's leading audio brands are revealed for the ERAs
Australia's top five audio brands have been revealed in the lead up to the Electrical Retailing Awards (ERAs) with a nationally-representative panel of retailers currently casting votes to determine this year's Best Audio Supplier category winner.
Wed 19/03/2008 12:00:00 / Read More »Dyson up for an ERA again — floorcare finalists announced
With just three weeks to go until the 2008 Electrical Retailing Awards, the five floorcare finalists have been announced. Dyson, the defending category winner, is again in the running.
Fri 07/03/2008 12:00:00 / Read More »Ken Lee farewelled in Sydney service
The electrical retail industry has paid tribute to Bing Lee co-founder and chairman, Ken Lee at a Sydney service yesterday with high profile colleagues joining in farewelling one of New South Wales' most successful appliance retailers.
Wed 06/02/2008 12:00:00 / Read More »
