Home appliance stores under one name

Press, 24 June 1981, Page 15

Home appliance stores under one name

Wilson Neill Appliances, in amalgamating its stores, has taken a major step to be recognised as a leader in the home appliance industry in the South Island. The group has 20 stores throughout the South Island. In Christchurch, there are seven stores, all formerly under the name of Sedley Wells. ’ , . . . • The Christchurch area ' manager for Wilson Neill Appliances, Mr- Duncan Fuller, said Sedley Wells, Ltd, was taken over by his company in 1979 7 although it had continued to operate under its established Christchurch name until this year. In Timaru, Tasman Electric, Ltd, was the outlet for, Wilson Neill with five stores. In Dunedin, Kelvinator House served as the outlet for Wilson Neill. The Invercargill operation, established in 1979, traded under the name of Wilson ■Neill Appliances. In November, 1980. a general manager, Mr- Michael Coburn, was appointed to act for the entire group of stores.

Six months’ later the final step was taken and the trading companies of Sedley Wells, Ltd, Tasman Electric, Ltd, and Kelvinator House joined with Invercargill under the common banner of Wilson Neill Appliances. “Before this, we all had tended to do our own thing in each area and there was little co-ordination between the stores. It was virtually impossible to do national advertising,” Mr Fuller said. One big advantage as a result of the change, Mr Fuller said, is that Wilson Neill can now buy collec- ' tively for the stores. “.It means we can buy in large quantities and pass the savings on to the consumer,” he said. The company has subsequently coined the slogan, “The Price-fighters.” The main office for the company in Christchurch is at 501 Wairakei Road. As well as administrative functions, this office also has a service depot and bulk purchasing facilities. Wellard Industries, an associated company of Wilson

Neill Appliances, is also housed in this complex.

Wellard manufactures the Farfisa and Kimball electronic organs under licence for Wilson Neill.

The Wilson Neill Appliance stores at Riccarton, New Brighton and Bishopdale specialise in music, with- a •large range of sheet music, instruments and electronic organs. The firm has a policy of allowing ’ prospective buyers to. have any organ demonstrated in the home before buying. The company also has a Fisher and Paykel franchise. Wilson Neill Appliances stocks the Leonard range of goods, including washing machines, refrigerators and freezers. In addition, the company stocks all brands of colour televisions. A feature of the centre in Wairakei Road is the drive-in service depot.

Mr Fuller said ’that the depot had proved very popular because of the cost saving to the customer. “The initial call-out fee for a serviceman is getting expensive and many people

now prefer to bring the goods direct to the depot,” Mr Fuller said. He estimated this would be a saving of about.Slo. Country' people, in particular, find’this-service fits in ideally' with their needs. If prior arrangement was made .with the service manager, Mr Fuller said, it would be possible to have the item repaired in one day'. The company has sixvehicles for servicing and more than 20 repairmen.

The shops in town act as receiving depots for smaller units but, Mr Fuller stressed, these shops would not accept items such as refrigerators and freezers. In the near future, the company has plans to extend its range of goods in the High Street store to include a video-centre. Mr Fuller said they' would deal in al! the major brands of video'cassette recorders.