Guthrie Bowron
Founded | 1896; 128 years ago (1896) in Dunedin, New Zealand |
---|---|
Founders | Henry Guthrie, George Bowron |
Headquarters | Auckland , New Zealand |
Area served | New Zealand |
Products | Paint, wallpaper, flooring, curtains and blinds |
Website | guthriebowron |
Guthrie Bowron is a franchise of New Zealand home improvement stores established in 1896.[1][2] It sells a range of home decorating supplies, including paint, wallpaper, flooring, curtains and blinds.[1]
There are 51 Guthrie Bowron stores around New Zealand, including five in Auckland.[1]
History
Private company (1896-1963)
The Guthrie Brown company was established in 1896 in Dunedin man Henry Guthrie. George Bowron later came on as a business partner, and the pair travelled around the South Island selling a range of products.[3]
In the mid-1920s, the company started importing what were the base ingredients for paint at the time: lacquer, varnish, lead and linseed oil.[3]
In 1932, the company became an agent for Dulux Paints; it opened a wallpaper store in Christchurch a short time later.[3]
Public company (1963-1971)
Guthrie Bowron became a publicly listed company in 1963.[3]
By 1969, it had 18 branches around the country selling a range of paint and wallpaper.[3]
Dulux Paints ownership (1971-1992)
In 1971, Guthrie Bowrown was purchased by ICI NZ, the owner and manufacturer of Dulux Paints.[3]
The Masterton franchisee opened in 1973.[2] The Waitara, Taranaki store opened as Bedfords Colour Centre about the same time, before becoming a Guthrie Bowron store 49 years later.[4]
In 1985, the brand had 34 outlets.[3]
Management ownership (1992-2005)
A group of senior managers took over the company in 1992.[3]
There were 50 Guthrie Bowron stores in 1999.[5]
Waterman Capital (2005-2014)
Private equity firm Waterman Private Capital acquired the paint store brand in May 2005.[6][7] It relaunched the brand to incorporate other forms of home decorating, such as curtains, blinds and flooring.[8] The franchise otherwise continued as normal.[9]
Guthrie Bowron recorded an 8% increase in wallpaper sales between 2011 and 2012, and a 18% increase between 2012 and 2013. The company said wallpaper was becoming a fashion item, and many home decorators were using it to create a feature wall rather than using throughout the entire room.[10]
Waterman trialed a new format in 2012, with a flagship company store at Sylvia Park in Mount Wellington, Auckland.[11]
Management ownership (2014-)
Waterman sold Guthrie Bowron through another management buy-out in 2014.[8][11]
In 2015, many franchises had been operating for two decades and the business model was profitable.[2]
In 2016, Guthrie Bowron had 42 stores.[12]
In February 2017, some franchisors told the National Business Review they were concerned about the recent closures of new format stores in Sylvia Park, Silverdale, Auckland and Christchurch.[11] A unspecified number of franchisors called for greater mandatory disclosure provisions.[13]
Guthrie Bowron stores were required to close during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand in 2020. The Timaru store reported being very busy when it reopened in late April.[14] The store in Te Awamutu reported being "busy as" as in July, despite the local Bunnings and Warehouse Stationery stores closing due to falling revenue.[15]
Global supply chain shortages affected Guthrie Bowron stores in 2021, including manufacturers not being able to source raw materials.[16]
Guthrie Bowron came second to Resene in the painting and home decorating category of the Reader's Digest customer service survey in 2021.[17] It ranked first in the home furnishing category of the Canstar Blue customer satisfaction award in 2021;[18] it came seventh in the same category in 2022.[19]
Sponsorships
Guthrie Bowron stores have sponsored several public projects, including:
- the renovation of Nelson Rowing Club in 2020.[20]
- a mural in Blenheim's Wairau Hospital paediatric ward in 2020.[21]
- the revamp of the Whangārei Art Museum in 2021.[22]
- a community project to remove graffiti from Te Kowhai township in 2022.[23]
References
- ^ a b c "Guthrie Bowron". guthriebowron.co.nz. Guthrie Bowron.
- ^ a b c OSullivan, Patrick (7 November 2015). "Stepping up to a challenge". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Hawke's Bay Today.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "About Guthrie Bowron". guthriebowron.co.nz. Guthrie Bowron.
- ^ Ockhuysen, Stephanie (1 February 2020). "A proud father and grandfather: the family man side of a stubborn but passionate community board chairman". stuff.co.nz. Taranaki Daily News.
- ^ "Then as Now". Marketplace Media. Hardware Journal. 18 December 2019.
- ^ Parker, Tamsyn (6 July 2010). "Super Fund gives $30m boost to smaller firms". New Zealand Herald. APN News & Media.
- ^ O'Neill, Rob (15 May 2011). "Waterman in Working In". Stuff. Stuff.
- ^ a b "Waterman Sells Guthrie Bowron". Waterman Private Capital. 5 December 2014.
- ^ Cully, Paul (20 January 2021). "Explainer: What private equity investment would mean for New Zealand Rugby". Stuff. Stuff.
- ^ Harvie, Will (10 August 2013). "Wallpaper makes a comeback". stuff.co.nz. The Press.
- ^ a b c Scherer, Karyn (24 February 2017). "More franchisees claim to have been duped". National Business Review.
- ^ "New colour for a consolidating category". hardwarejournal.co.nz. Marketplace Media.
- ^ Lord, Simon (27 February 2017). "NBR opens regulation debate again". Franchise New Zealand Magazine. Franchise New Zealand.
- ^ Mohanlal, Samesh (28 April 2020). "South Canterbury businesses pleased to be back". stuff.co.nz. Timaru Herald.
- ^ Mather, Mike (20 July 2020). "Bunnings, Warehouse Stationery closures double hit for Te Awamutu". stuff.co.nz. Waikato Times.
- ^ Harris, Catherine (30 April 2021). "Home renovators beware – shipping delays may lead to paint supplies drying up". stuff.co.nz. Stuff Business.
- ^ "Reader's Digest Quality Service Awards". scoop.co.nz. Reader's Digest. 22 November 2021.
- ^ Barratt, Nicole (3 March 2021). "NZ's Top Home Furnishing Store Revealed: Guthrie Bowron". Canstar Blue.
- ^ Pitchers, Bruce (13 April 2022). "Harrisons Curtains & Blinds: Best in Home Furnishings". Canstar Blue.
- ^ "Olympian rower Emma Twigg helps renovate Nelson club". Nelson Mail. Stuff. 5 October 2020.
- ^ Hart, Maria (22 October 2020). "By children, for children: School art project brightens the walls at hospital ward". stuff.co.nz. Marlborough Express.
- ^ Czerwonatis, Julia (18 December 2021). "Immersive Whangārei virtual reality exhibition to lure visitors to revamped Art Museum". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Northern Advocate.
- ^ Rolleston, Te Aorewa (27 March 2022). "Graffiti and dumping hit road a sore spot for Te Kowhai locals". Waikato Times. stuff.co.nz.
External links
- Official website
- v
- t
- e
- 3 Guys / Gubays
- Big Fresh
- Countdown
- Foodtown
- Four Square
- FreshChoice
- New World
- New World Fresh Collective
- Night 'n Day
- Pak'nSave
- Price Chopper
- Self Help
- SuperValue
- The Warehouse
- Woolworths
- Bunnings
- Carters
- ColourPlus
- Godfreys
- Guthrie Bowron
- ITM
- Kings Plant Barn
- Lightingplus
- Mitre 10
- NZ Safety Blackwoods
- Palmers Garden Centre
- PlaceMakers
- Resene ColorShop
- Arthur Barnett
- Ballantynes
- D.I.C.
- David Jones
- DEKA
- EziBuy
- Farmers
- Haywrights
- H & J Smith
- Kirkcaldie & Stains
- Kmart Australia
- Smith & Caughey's
- The Warehouse
- Athlete's Foot
- Barkers
- Bendon Lingerie
- Connor
- Cotton On
- Cotton On Body
- Cotton On Kids
- Country Road
- Dotti
- Dr. Martens
- Factorie
- Foot Locker
- Glassons
- Goldmark
- Hallenstein Brothers
- Hannahs
- H&M
- Huffer
- Hype DC
- Jacqui E
- Jay Jays
- Johnny Bigg
- Just Jeans
- Maher Shoes
- Max Fashions
- Merchant 1948
- Mi Piaci
- Michael Hill Jeweller
- Nike, Inc.
- NOVO Shoes
- Number One Shoes
- Partridge Jewellers
- Pascoes
- Peter Alexander Sleepwear
- Platypus Shoes
- Portmans
- Postie
- Rivers
- R. M. Williams
- Rodd & Gunn
- Rubi
- Shoe Clinic
- Smith's Sports Shoes
- Stewart Dawsons
- Strandbags
- SUBTYPE
- Sunglass Hut
- Supré
- Tarocash
- Timberland
- Under Armour
- Walker & Hall
- Witchery
- yd.
- Zara
- Borders
- Icebreaker
- JB Hi-Fi
- JD Sports
- Kathmandu
- Macpac
- Mountain Designs
- Nike
- Paper Plus
- R&R Sport
- Rebel Sport
- Smiggle
- Stirling Sports
- Take Note
- Torpedo7
- Toy World
- Typo
- Under Armour
- Unity Books
- Warehouse Stationery
- Whitcoulls
- Briscoes
- Freedom Furniture
- Harvey Norman
- Lincraft
- Living & Giving
- Nick Scali Furniture
- Nood Furniture
- Smiths City
- Spotlight
- Stevens
- Sunny's Variety Stores
- Big Barrel
- Birds Liquorsave
- Black Bull Liquor
- The Bottle O
- Duffy & Finn's
- Glengarry
- Henry's Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Liquor Centre
- Liquor King
- Liquor Spot
- LiquorLand
- Merchants Liquor
- The Mill
- Super Liquor
- Thirsty Liquor
- The Trusts
- Village Wine & Spirits
- West Liquor
- Boost Juice
- BurgerFuel
- Burger King
- Carl's Jr.
- Coffee Club
- Domino's Pizza
- Donut King
- Dunkin' Donuts
- Georgie Pie
- Hell Pizza
- Jesters Pies
- KFC
- Krispy Kreme
- Lord of the Fries
- Mad Mex Fresh Mexican Grill
- McDonald's
- Noodle Box
- Oporto
- Pie Face
- Pita Pit
- Pizza Hut
- Subway
- Taco Bell
- Texas Chicken
- Winner Winner
- Zambrero