AR RETAIL PROFILE
The Harvey Norman team including Peter Hearne (middle) when the first store opened in Swords, Ireland in 2003.
Harvey Norman Swords television display in 2003 featuring CRT TVs.
Harvey Norman acknowledges 20 years of business in Ireland
H
BY JAMES WELLS
arvey Norman recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Irish business. Harvey Norman Ireland CEO, Tim Hannon told Appliance Retailer it was important to recognise the people that had worked for the business over the last two decades. “There are still 13 people who started with us 20 years ago that are still working for us, and this is significant when you consider that only 50 to 60 staff started with us all those years ago. We now have 1,400 staff across the 18 stores – 16 stores located in southern Ireland and two in Northern Ireland. “The reason why Harvey Norman has been successful is the company culture of giving people autonomy and letting them have a say in how it is run. It is also about being given the freedom to try new ideas to help find a way to make things better. “We often talk about the origins of Harvey Norman and how Gerry started selling vacuum cleaners door to door and how the business has grown from there.
Harvey Norman Ireland recently hosted a 20-year service dinner for staff who have been with the business since opening and some of the management team.
16
Appliance Retailer December 2023
Yes – we are part of this global company and have a global framework, but we are empowered and given the opportunity to directly meet the needs of our local customers – and it is clear that the Irish people love that.” Hannon believes there are few differences between Australian and Irish consumers within the Harvey Norman retailing environment. “Technology and appliances are fairly universal these days – and consumers are always looking for the latest tech. We have also seen that energy efficiency is becoming more important when it comes to purchasing appliances. There are some differences in the style of product in furniture and bedding with a more traditional style common.” The use of marketing is just as prevalent in the Irish market with the Harvey Norman brand echoing regularly across broadcast media – particularly radio. “In terms of promotion, how we market and where we market – we are taking the best of what’s being done across Harvey Norman globally and then executing it in Ireland. We work across all media types and have excellent partners in all the major media companies. We use newspapers, radio and television as well as digital. We have started doing more with LED outdoor signage and this has been used at a number of Irish rugby and football matches this year,” he said. The most recent Harvey Norman store opened in Ireland was Fonthill in Dublin in July 2022 and prior to this Galway and Sligo were opened during Covid. “If you look at the revenue from the business from back in 2018 to 2022 – we doubled our revenue which is a great achievement and something our teams should be incredibly proud of,” Hannon said. Competitors in the Ireland market including Currys, DID Electrical, Powercity as well as stores from the Expert and Euronics buying groups.
