Gerry Harvey is boss to more than 20,000 people around the world but showed how down to earth he is during a visit to Wollongong on Thursday.
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The Harvey Norman boss was at the Warrawong store to speak to staff in every department and was open to discuss everything from economics to horse racing and online shopping.
He spoke of how well stores in countries such as Ireland and Slovenia had recovered after the Global Financial Crisis and even fielded a question from a customer about greyhound racing and the Dapto Dogs.
He said as far as the Wollongong store was concerned, as well as others from around Australia, New Zealand, Asia and further afield, the business and all its franchisees were constantly trying to do things better. “In big regional centres like Wollongong, Newcastle and Canberra we want the best store in that town. We want the best quality people working for us who are really concentrating on the customer all the time. It is the sum total of all the little things in retail that makes you good.”
Mr Harvey said he was now 76 and had been involved in business in Wollongong for more than 50 years. “We first came to Wollongong in the early 60’s and opened a store here and we have had a number of stores over the years. This one (Warrawong) has been here now for 30 years. I think it was 1964 that we opened our first store. We have always had a store in Wollongong,” he said.
Mr Harvey has watched Wollongong closely for 52 years and seen it go through its ups and downs but he has always tried to deliver consistency in product and service. “I am very proud of this store”.
He was interested in hearing about the arrival of cruise ships at Port Kembla and the opening of the iAccelerate facility. He was also aware of Myer’s decision not to renew its lease in Wollongong and David Jones plans to redevelop that space. He said Myer would still have a major presence at Shellharbour.
Mr Harvey said the Illawarra was clearly diversifying and as a result was becoming a stronger and more resilient economy. He said it was also diverse culturally and doing many great things as it continued to evolve as the major regional centre it is.
“I think Wollongong’s future is rosier than it has ever been. There are a lot more things happening..than has ever happened,” he said.
“And the diversity is much greater than it ever was. That will only increase and get better and better.”
I think Wollongong’s future is rosier than it has ever been.
- Gerry Harvey
The Harvey Norman boss has always kept his eye on the big picture and retail and has always been actively involved in online shopping as well as the in-store experience.
Reports this week that department stores are experiencing some of the fastest growth in online sales which could soon account for 10 per cent of all retails sales he said it depended how you defined retail.
“I first opened our first online site in 1999,” he said.
“We are now getting very big growth online. It is a big growth area but off a very small base in department stores and at Harvey Norman.”
Mr Harvey said people were doing a lot more research online as well but many still wanted to come in-store to see products first hand.
“It is just part of the total mix as far as we are concerned. We have to be online and we have to have a good website,” he said.
Mr Harvey said the eight week election campaign how slowed business a little but came on the back of the best year in eight years for the company in Australia.
“We are into July now and ahead of last year at the moment,” he said.
“And we have high expectations for the year ending June 2017.”
Mr Harvey said his other connection with the Illawarra was having hundreds of horses race at Kembla Grange over the years.
Unfortunately his international schedule for running the business is so full he rarely gets to race meetings in any location.
“I got to the Magic Millions every year because we own the Magic Millions,” he said.
“But I am about to turn 77 and I have more on my plate now than I have ever had in my life. But it gives me a lot of pleasure to see people doing well. And if you have had a part in their development...you think that is good.”
Gerry Harvey’s arrival
He is one of the most respected businessmen in Australia with a global network of retail outlets but what was clear when Gerry Harvey visited Harvey Norman’s Warrawong store on Thursday is how in touch he is with all his employees.
Mr Harvey is known to everyone as Gerry and he spent hours walking through every department during his visit to talk to as many of his Wollongong team as he could find as they begin to celebrate the store’s 30th year.
He walked in so quietly and casually in his own unassuming style that anyone customer not taking a close look at who it was could have been excused for not noticing it was the man behind the Harvey Norman name himself.
He acted just like a member of the community going up to staff working in their respective departments and starting a conversation.
At one stage many long term employees ,who have worked for the company in Wollongong for 20 to 30 years, were gathered together by the franchisees from various departments.
For onlookers it could have looked like a family reunion and that is the best way to describe what happened mid store as they all reminisced about the evolution of the business over the last three to five decades.
Franchisee Mark Martin said it was fantastic to have Mr Harvey in the store on Thursday and it was great to see him spend time gathered among many staff.
“We all appreciate it as franchisees,” Mr Martin said.
“It is just so wonderful to have a boss who is so approachable and so down to earth. And one you can feel so relaxed around.”