00:30Hello, I'm James McMirovich and I'm here at the Harvey Norman store in Maryhill, an Australian
00:40chain that's become part of the British scenery. I'm here with Lachlan Mann who is the Managing
00:44Director. So tell us a bit about Harvey Norman first of all, tell us about the brand.
00:48Yeah sure, so we've been around since 1982, we've got over 300 stores around the world
00:53and we're really proud that in Maryhill we've got our first flagship store in Great Britain.
00:59What was the central ethos of it when it first started?
01:02So Harvey Norman was created by Ian Norman and Gerry Harvey in 1982 and they're all about
01:07great value, big brands and great customer service.
01:10Who was Harvey?
01:11Gerry Harvey is one of the founders and still our Chairman and he'll actually be in the
01:16store this Saturday.
01:17Oh okay, so it is very much a family industry then?
01:20So definitely, we're a founder led organisation, we are a public listed company but it's really
01:26good that we're still led by Gerry.
01:28And what is it about Maryhill that persuaded you to bring it here?
01:31So we love the population density, the West Midlands region has over 5 million people,
01:36it's similar market size to New Zealand where we have 46 stores and Ireland where we have
01:4016. We really like how dense the population is because from a logistics standpoint we
01:46can get to all those people in not a very big distance at all and then secondly to that
01:50what we really like about the West Midlands is the vibrancy of the diversity, the different
01:56people with different tastes support our massive range of appliances and furniture
02:00and bedding.
02:01Well this is it, we've had a chance to have a quick walk around and see what there is
02:04but it's very much centred on the house and the home isn't it?
02:07Yeah it sure is, so we focus on lifestyle, technology and innovation. So if you're after
02:12a lounge, if you're after a bed, if you're after a big screen TV, the latest in cooking
02:16appliances, latest from Apple, laptops, all that kind of great stuff you can come and
02:22shop with us.
02:23High end appliances as well.
02:24It's everything, so whether you're looking for a £19 kettle or you're looking for the
02:28latest in Dolce & Gabbana kettles from Smeg for £5.99, we've got you covered.
02:34How many jobs have been created by this store opening?
02:36Yeah great question, we're very very proud that we're supporting over 75 locals with
02:40just our first store alone.
02:42Is this the first store in the UK or just within the West Midlands area?
02:45So this is the first store in Great Britain, we've currently got two stores in Northern
02:49Ireland, one of which is furniture and bedding and the other one is furniture, bedding, electrical
02:53and computers as well, both in Belfast.
02:56It's quite a landmark occasion opening up today isn't it here?
02:58It's fantastic, the centre management have been fantastic to deal with and over the first
03:02three days of trade we've been very very appreciative of the great people who have been coming in
03:07to check out our store.
03:08I'm assuming there's been a good reaction to it as well?
03:10It's been brilliant, we've been very very humbled. We thought we'd build and create
03:14a flagship store in the area and the people are loving it.
03:18And you've actually revived part of the Murray Hill Centre as well because this used to be
03:20the depot.
03:21Yeah, so you know what, there's so many people coming in telling their stories about how
03:24they used to shop with Debenhams which is great and hopefully they'll stay with Harvey
03:28Norman now that we're in the same building.
03:51So what's your first impressions Harvey, what's it like?
04:14Very nice indeed, it's nice to see the store open again after we've closed for so long
04:19It seems very well laid out, very bright, good range of stock, the staff seem very friendly
04:25and helpful as well, they don't crowd you at all, they ask you a thing and then they
04:31go away.
04:32Was that your view as well?
04:33Absolutely yes, very nice people here, I think they've got a good atmosphere in the store.
04:38How much did you know about Harvey Norman before it opened up?
04:41Absolutely nothing.
04:42It's also the first store in the UK as well, it's an Australian chain.
04:46Oh I didn't realise that.
04:49It must say something about this area that they thought let's bring it here?
04:52Well I think so, I mean it's quite a popular area with Mary Hill Centre, you do get quite
04:57a lot of the bigger stores coming here, as long as Debenhams did for quite a few years.
05:03Were you regularly using Debenhams in the past?
05:06Yes.
05:07And do you think you'll be coming here more often because it's a sensory overload isn't
05:11it?
05:12It is, I think we probably would for the electrical equipment certainly, we don't often buy chairs
05:17and beds and things like that but definitely electrical equipment.
05:19If you need a hoover or a kettle?
05:20Oh what do you think of a hoover then?
05:22And as well as that there's also Dolce & Gabbana equipment as well.
05:26I haven't seen that!
05:47So what was your impression of the store when you walked in?
05:55Lovely layout, it's very easy to find what you're looking for, very clean.
06:01Very bright, very Stafford balcony.
06:04Very new effects basically?
06:05Yeah.
06:06How much did you know about Harvey Norman before you walked in?
06:09Was it literally just you walked in and you thought that was it?
06:12Yeah that was it, I'd not really heard much about Harvey Norman before.
06:17Well I'll tell you, it's an Australian chain, it's the first ever store in the UK by Harvey
06:24Norman.
06:25Yeah we could see that it was a flagship store.
06:28And it's here in the Merrihill Centre, what does that say about them bringing it to the
06:31Merrihill Centre?
06:32Hopefully it'll bring more football as well, bring more shops to the centre.
06:37Yeah it gives people the opportunity to open flagship stores in Bristol as well.
06:42And I realise that you're here just browsing, but is there anything in particular that's
06:45caught your eye?
06:47The fridge that you can write on and the Woodfire Ninja stuff, it's not very often you can see
06:54stores like this.
06:55Did you see the Dolce & Gabbana?
06:56I did, I actually tagged it on Facebook.
07:01It would look good in your house wouldn't it?
07:02Yeah.
07:03Yeah it would, yeah.
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