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RETAIL PROFILE: HARVEY NORMAN NEW ZEALAND
Harvey Norman New Zealand
opens new and improved Blenheim store on the South Island
Harvey Norman has opened a new store in Blenheim, New Zealand, the most populous town in the Marlborough region in the northeast of the South Island.
Located within 5km of the former Blenheim store site, the new freehold property was strategically acquired, planned and established to serve a growing customer base, materially increasing store size and enhancing the product range on the sales floor.
At more than double the previous store’s size, the new Blenheim store leverages bright and open spaces to provide customers with a diverse range of computers, electrical, furniture and bedding products. The store displays quality fixtures and fittings, showcasing the standard for Harvey Norman retail stores. The increased size has also allowed staff numbers to grow by approximately 10%.
Replacing two separate warehouses that were located offsite from the previous store, the new store has an on-site warehousing function, granting same-day goods collection for customers with a dedicated customer pickup area. The warehouse was designed utilising company initiatives for improved staff and customer safety.
Warehouse storage capacity has increased by almost 300%, with a four high racking system to ensure safe and efficient product storage.
Harvey Norman is pleased with the successful store move within Blenheim as it not only maximises growth potential but enhances the product offering, customer service and local community engagement.
With 131 car parking spaces in front of the store, customers enter via the home furnishings shop floor with large windows offering natural light. The furniture and bedding departments are both around 2.75 times larger than the former site, expanding display opportunities for brands and improving customer choice.
The AV/IT shop floor is accessed through the rear of the home furnishings shop floor. The computers department footprint is approximately 1.75 times larger than the previous site and the electrical department is more than 1.5 times the floor area, while small appliances is approximately 2.5 times larger.
Harvey Norman Blenheim electrical proprietor – appliances, cooking and audio visual, Brogan Blackler said customers are delighted that a store of this magnitude has come to Blenheim, offering an extended range and variety.
With close to 1,000 different products on offer, the electrical department provides ample space for optimal display of appliances and electrical goods, compared to the previous store which was limited to around 500 electrical products.
“Customers are enjoying accessing the kitchen area as it presents a design that can easily be visualised in one’s own home. The enhanced display opportunities have provided growth for categories including premium big screen TVs,” Blackler said.
“In the former store, there were only three 85inch TVs on display, and we sold three to five units per year. The new store showcases eight 85-inch TVs plus one 98-inch TV, and we sold five units in the opening month alone.”
Harvey Norman is pleased with the successful store move within Blenheim as it not only maximises growth potential but enhances the product offering, customer service and local community engagement.
Moving forward, Harvey Norman New Zealand is continuing to make strategic investments to boost its business model, including the opening of two new stores in the Christchurch area by the end of 2024.
