Michael Hill Jeweller

Michael Hill International Ltd. is a speciality retailer of jewellery in North America and Oceania. As at 30 June 2018, it operates 312 stores in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The Group employs approximately 2,600 permanent employees.[3] The company's headquarters are in Brisbane, Australia.

Michael Hill International Limited
Michael Hill Jeweller
TypePublic
ASX: MHJ
NZX: MHJ
IndustryRetailing
Founded1979 (1979) (Whangarei, New Zealand)
HeadquartersBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
Number of locations
304 (as at December 2019)[1]
Area served
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States
Key people
Michael Hill (Founder President) Emma Hill (Chairman)
Daniel Bracken (CEO)
ProductsJewellery
BrandsMichael Hill, Emma & Roe
Revenue$489 million NZD (30 June 2011)[2]
Websitewww.michaelhill.com.au (AU)
www.michaelhill.co.nz (NZ)
www.michaelhill.ca (CA)
www.michaelhill.com (US)

History
Michael Hill and family in front of their first store

The company started in 1979, when Michael Hill and his wife, Christine, opened their first store in the New Zealand town of Whangarei. A unique retail jewellery formula that included dramatically different store designs, a product range devoted exclusively to jewellery and almost saturation levels of high impact advertising elevated the company to national prominence.[2] The company also received several international awards for window-dressing from renowned brands such as Bulova, Olympic and Omega.[4]

The company grew steadily, expanding to 10 stores by 1987, the same year it listed on the NZX. Also in this year, Michael Hill Jeweller expanded into Australia, opening four stores in four weeks.[5]

In 2002, the company expanded into Canada, opening its first stores in Vancouver, British Columbia.[4] Michael Hill now has a presence in five Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.[2] In September 2008, the company entered the United States market by acquiring 17 stores in Illinois and Missouri from Whitehall Jewelers.[2][6] By mid-2013 over 60% of overall sales were from Australia, only 20% from New Zealand, with the rest from North America.[7]

Emma Hill, the daughter of Michael Hill, succeeded him as chairperson after the November 2015 annual general meeting.[8]

Michael Hill watches

In late 2006, following a five-year trial,[9] the company launched its own brand of watches under the Michael Hill name, phasing out all but the Citizen brand of watches by the middle of 2007.[10] By mid-2008, only Michael Hill-brand watches were available in the company's stores.[6]

Timeline
Michael Hill Jeweller at the Chadstone Shopping Centre
Michael Hill Jeweller at the Upper Canada Mall
  • 1979: Michael Hill opens his first store in Whangarei, New Zealand[11]
  • 1981: Michael Hill began manufacturing his own jewellery in house.[11]
  • 2006: The Michael Hill Watch Collection was launched.[10]
  • 2009: The Michael Hill Charms Collection was launched.[12]
  • 2010: Michael Hill announced the closure of 8 stores in the United States.[13]
  • The company announced it was in a $40m NZD dispute with the Australian Taxation Office.[14]
  • 2013: Michael Hill announced a new global brand, including bridal products and other jewellery which was more feminine.[15]
  • 2014: Sales in Australia were described as "lacklustre" due to Australian economic performance.[16] The company settled its dispute with the Australian Taxation Office.
  • 2015: The company opened a store in New York City in April 2015.[17] Australian sales improve after poor performance in that market during 2013–2014.[18] Sir Michael Hill moved to a new role of Founder/President, as his daughter Emma became Chairman.[19]

References
  1. 2020 Half Year Report
  2. Michael Hill International (2010). "Michael Hill International Annual Report 2009" (PDF). Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  3. "Michael Hill Annual Report 2018".
  4. Hill, Michael (2009). Toughen Up: What I've learned about surviving tough times. New Zealand: Random House. pp. 203–204. ISBN 978-1-86979-046-2.
  5. Hill, Michael; Bryan Staff (1994). HELLO – Michael Hill Jeweller. New Zealand: Penguin Books (NZ) Ltd. ISBN 978-0-670-86033-3.
  6. "Michael Hill buys into US". Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  7. Fairfax NZ Ltd (17 February 2006), Michael Hill profit up 10 per cent, retrieved 17 August 2013
  8. Harris, Catherine (15 August 2015). "Following in dad's footsteps". The Press. p. C15.
  9. McKenzie-Minifie, Martha (25 August 2006), "Diamonds are this jeweller's best friend", The New Zealand Herald, New Zealand, retrieved 5 May 2010
  10. Drinnan, John (13 October 2006), "Jeweller counting on own watches", The New Zealand Herald, New Zealand, retrieved 5 May 2010
  11. Michael Hill International (2010). "Michael Hill Company History". Archived from the original on 13 February 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  12. Michael Hill International (2010). "Michael Hill News". Archived from the original on 13 February 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  13. NZPA (2010). "Michael Hill scales back US operation". Archived from the original on 13 February 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  14. "Michael Hill in trans-Tasman tax dispute". Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  15. Walters, Laura (30 October 2013). "Michael Hill plans US bridal range". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  16. "Slag Aussie sales hit Michael Hill". Stuff. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  17. "Michael Hill opens New York store". Stuff. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  18. "Aussie market picks up for Michael Hill jewellery". Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  19. "Michael Hill takes new founder president role within the jewellery chain". The National Business Review. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
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