Industry sponsors hungry for action as NRL season kicks off
It's hard to believe it's been 158 days since the Melbourne Storm saluted in the 2012 NRL Grand Final. Tonight at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, the 2013 campaign will begin with the Sydney Roosters hosting the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Thu 07/03/2013 12:00:00 / Read More »Merry Christmas from Current.com.au, see you in 2013!
Merry Christmas from the team at Current.com.au! Today is our last day of regular service before taking a break for the holiday season. We will be back with full coverage of the 2013 International CES from Las Vegas on Monday 7 January 2013.
Thu 20/12/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Mouthing Off - The 2012 Quotes of the Year
Dyson, Apple, Sony, Kenwood, Retravision and Betta all provided fodder for copy writers in 2012 with some interesting, insightful and, at times, incendiary comments.
Wed 19/12/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Top 10 Biggest Retail Stories of 2012
Current.com.au will be taking a look back at the most read stories across our major subjects this week. Our first category is Retail News, which was dominated by one particular group.
Mon 17/12/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Viano brand launches with TV range and cut-price supermarket tablet
Viano has a new range of TVs, home entertainment electronics and an Android tablet. Meanwhile, six former WOW Sight & Sound house brands have been purchased.
Mon 26/11/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Click Frenzy is a good idea but Australia needs our own Black Friday
There's a new push to increase online sales and it's being supported, perversely, by several traditional retailers. Instead of copying America's Cyber Monday, these stores should be cloning the Black Friday sales.
Tue 13/11/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Harvey Norman has investment potential despite loss-making stores increasing
The publicly listed Harvey Norman Holdings Limited has a "solid investment case" despite the year-on-year decline in net profits announced last week, according to RBS analyst Daniel Broeren.
Tue 04/09/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Collapsed retailers the cause and remedy of Gerry Harvey's woes
The closing down sales conducted by the receivers of collapsed retailers have created unprecedented price erosion, leading to a 31.6 per cent decline in Harvey Norman profit. There's optimism, however, as fewer retailers means less competition.
Fri 31/08/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Yamaha talks specialist market, Apple docks, AV sales and retail woes
As Yamaha prepares to launch its new range at IFA in Germany, we spoke to Australian product manager Justin d'Offay about the AV market, the role of specialist dealers, Apple's influence and much more.
Wed 29/08/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »WOW Sight & Sound online superstore launches, with much exclamation!
After WOW Sight & Sound went into administration and the brand was sold to new "bronze presidential" owners, the long awaited, pure-play-online "superstore" has finally launched.
Mon 30/07/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Day 55 of WOW watch, and we're still waiting
It's been almost 2 months since WOW Sight & Sound's new bronze presidential owners were due to launch their online store. No news yet, but UnderCurrent can reveal what the store may soon sell...
Wed 25/07/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Charity driven Buy Nothing New Month divides opinion
This October will be the second 'Buy Nothing New Month', a movement designed to curb consumerism and excessive or unnecessary purchasing. The Current.com.au team debates the merits of such an initiative.
Wed 27/06/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »While WOW's Canberra store is up for sale, we still await relaunch
In addition to handling the voluntary administration of Retravision Southern, KordaMentha is also in process of advertising of WOW assets for sale.
Wed 20/06/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Retravision coverage dominates May's most read stories
Although there was interest in the collapse of Game retail stores, the relaunching of WOW! Sight & Sound and the Design Award finalists, none of these stories could break Retravision's Beatles-esque hold on the Top 5.
Mon 04/06/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Retravision WA and Northern placed 'on hold' by major suppliers
The repercussions from Retravision Southern's voluntary administration are now being felt across the 'business as usual' WA and Northern groups, with several major suppliers placing the two groups on hold.
Wed 23/05/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »WOW Sight & Sound to relaunch with new 'Bronze Presidential' owners
Following the collapse of WOW Sight & Sound earlier in the year, the brand name has been bought by a new company and is set to relaunch as an online-only venture in June.
Tue 22/05/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Collapsed retailer WOW Sight & Sound launches countdown to 'SuperStore' opening
WOW Sight & Sound has relaunched its website with a countdown to what it is calling an "online entertainment superstore", which is due to launch on 1 June 2012.
Mon 14/05/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »WOW Online SuperStore launch delayed
Since coming under new ownership, WOW Sight & Sound was set to be relaunched as an online-only e-commerce store. But 4 days after the expected launch of the new website, a few "hiccups" have caused a delay in the schedule.
Sun 06/05/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Franchisees ready to pounce on upturn, claims Harvey Norman head office
Despite today's announcement of a 24.8 per cent decline in profits from the nine months to 31 March 2012, Harvey Norman said the group's franchisees were in a good position to capitalise on any upturn in the market.
Thu 03/05/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Aggressive discounting blamed for 25% drop in Harvey Norman profits
Harvey Norman Holdings has today announced a profit decline of almost 25 per cent for the nine months to 31 March 2012, compared with the previous corresponding period. Global sales were down 6.7 per cent during this period.
Thu 03/05/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Harvey Norman the source of discounting that led to JB's slide: RBS report
Following JB Hi-Fi's profit downgrade last week, a leading industry analyst has said that the company's weaker than expected profit forecasts were the result of market-wide discounting, led by Harvey Norman.
Mon 30/04/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Your loss is our gain: JB eyes WOW & Dick Smith market share
There have been big changes retail this year, with WOW Sight & Sound going into administration and Dick Smith announcing the closure of 100 stores by February 2014, but JB Hi-Fi is ready to take up that slice of the pie.
Fri 27/04/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »WOW Sight & Sound now offloading everything, including an in-store ATM
WOW Sight & Sound receiver Ferrier Hodgson has commenced selling the fixtures and fittings within the remaining stores, with consumers able to make cash bids on virtually anything inside the stores.
Mon 26/03/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »In defence of 'price gouging'
COMMENT: Consumers are wrong to accuse suppliers of price gouging while Government MPs should stop adding to retailers' woes and start acting to help them through the economic downturn.
Fri 23/03/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »JB Hi-Fi Commercial picks up two WOW employees, expands into WA
JB Hi-Fi has picked up two new recruits from the collapse of WOW Sight & Sound for its Queensland Commercial Division, as well as two new recruits for its Gift Card and its new WA Commercial businesses.
Wed 14/03/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Receivers preventing suppliers from reclaiming WOW stock, $25m owed
WOW Sight & Sound's receivers are refusing to let suppliers owed money after the collapse of the retailer reclaim their stock, preferring to sell it off at discount prices in order to raise funds for the NAB, which is owed around $25 million.
Fri 09/03/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »WOW Sight & Sound clearance sale proves to be slight and stale
WOW Sight & Sound's much-hyped clearance sale is not going well, with consumers queueing for they thought would be huge savings only to be disappointed by the size of the discounts.
Thu 08/03/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »WOW Sight & Sound online shop closed, gift cards invalid, refunds terminated
The receivers of WOW Sight & Sound have shut down the company's online store and made a series of changes to the company's gift card and warranty policies.
Wed 07/03/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »'I could buy them, but I don't want to': Harvey talks down failed competitors
Following the release of Harvey Norman's profit results yesterday, Gerry Harvey has spoken about the difficulties the consumer electronics retail sector is facing, some of which have proven too much for the company's competitors.
Thu 01/03/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Start sweating sponsors: the NRL is back!
What do WOW Sight & Sound, Harvey Norman, Telstra, Vodafone, De'Longhi, Kenwood and Trend Micro have in common? They all love their rugby league!
Thu 01/03/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »$200 million later, Harvey Norman's saturation marketing strategy questioned
Harvey Norman has been significantly increasing its advertising spend at it seeks to gain market share during a period of depressed consumer spending, with a leading analyst today saying inefficiencies are becoming evident.
Thu 01/03/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Things we loved about WOW!
One of the things we loved most about WOW was its innovating marketing, which was not often seen outside its native Queensland.
Wed 29/02/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »WOW! I did not see that coming: looking back at the failed retailer
Back in 2008, Current.com.au met with the head office team at WOW! Sight & Sound. Everything was very rosy back then, but a look at the past four years reveals cracks in the facade.
Tue 28/02/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »BREAKING NEWS: WOW! Sight & Sound goes into receivership owing $29m
The Queensland-based electronics store WOW! Sight & Sound has gone into receivership, due to "declining sales and profitability" and $20 million of bad debt.
Mon 27/02/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Portable DVD Player recalled due to overheating risk
The ACCC has issued a recall notice for the VUE 10.1-inch Portable DVD Player, sold nationally at WOW Sight & Sound, due to overheating batteries that could present a "potential burn hazard".
Wed 22/02/2012 12:00:00 / Read More »Harvey Norman v Good Guys v JB and the rest: Guide to clicks and mortar
Harvey Norman yesterday took its long-awaited e-plunge - find out how its offer compares to The Good Guys, Betta, Dick Smith, Retravision, Appliances Online, JB Hi-Fi, Bing Lee and WOW Sight & Sound.
Thu 24/11/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Harvey Norman, Vodafone, Sanyo and Kenwood gear up for mass market coverage
The start of the NRL season tonight means the start of blanket coverage for the clubs' sponsors. Once again, the CE industry is well represented, with Trend Micro, WOW and Hisense also involved.
Fri 11/03/2011 12:00:00 / Read More »Imation restructures distribution: Ingram out, Avico in
Based on a mutual agreement, Ingram Micro will stop distributing Imation products to consumer channels by the end of this week.
Tue 14/12/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »Consumers to be wowed this Christmas: leading retailer
The boss of one of Australia's leading TV retailers has predicted a bumper Christmas fuelled by the plethora of TV promotions floating around this season.
Thu 11/11/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »WOW in "good condition" as parent company SSI Group sells assets to pay banks
Despite sharing a parent company and directors in the form of the SSI Group, it is business as usual for WOW Sight & Sound while the defunct Zone commercial property business is sold by receivers.
Mon 08/11/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »'150% behind 3D,' declares cashed-up retailer
One of the retail powerbrokers attending yesterday's Sony Bravia launch event took some time out from inspecting the new models to declare his total support for the 3DTV revolution.
Wed 24/02/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »WOW! Massive expansion plan announced
WOW Sight & Sound has this morning sent a clear message of intent to its retail rivals, announcing a goal of 25 new stores by 2013. This will take WOW's total store count to 40. The move will be funded in part by a NAB cash injection.
Thu 28/01/2010 12:00:00 / Read More »JB and WOW gearing up for Christmas at new stores
Home entertainment retail specialists JB Hi-Fi and WOW Sight & Sound are both celebrating first Christmases in recently opened stores. The bosses of both stores agree on what products will be hot this Christmas.
Mon 30/11/2009 12:00:00 / Read More »Retail group very happy with new PS3 and new price point
The retail director of one of the country's biggest consumer electronics retailers has given his stamp of approval to Sony for introducing a new PlayStation 3 model with a new price structure.
Mon 24/08/2009 12:00:00 / Read More »More details about WOW's Victorian invasion
WOW Sight & Sound has today announced further plans for its expansion into the southern states.
Mon 01/09/2008 12:00:00 / Read More »
