By Patrick Avenell
There are 63 launch members of the new Leading Appliances group, representing all six states and the Northern Territory. Queensland, with 23 members, is the most prominent region, while there is only a solitary member in Australia’s biggest city, Sydney.
On 1 January 2012, when Current.com.au last audited Retravision member stores, there were 289 outlets. Over the 16 months since, 226 stores have either joined other buying groups — Betta Home Living and Bi-Rite electrical most prominently — or closed.
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On a state-by-state basis, Leading Appliances has the following representation:
Queensland — 23
New South Wales — 12
South Australia — 9
Western Australia — 8
Victoria — 6
Tasmania — 3
Northern Territory — 2
Australian Capital Territory — 0
Notes on the Members:
-Sydney’s only Leading Appliances store is Rozelle Electronics World in Sydney’s inner-west. Capital city stores in general are sparse, with only two in Brisbane (West End and Springwood), one each in Hobart (CBD) and Perth (CBD) and none in Adelaide, Melbourne, Darwin or Canberra.
-Although there is only one Perth store, all eight West Australian members are located in the southwest media market, meaning Western Australia provides the biggest opportunity for Leading Appliances to quickly grow its brand.
-Only one suburb or town in Australia has two Leading Appliances stores: Charters Towers, around 140 kilometres southwest of Townsville, in Queensland. These two Leading Appliances are 290 metres apart.
-40 of the 63 members include ‘Leading Appliances’ in their trading name. This will help build the brand in wider regions and enhance business between stores. A good experience at one Leading Appliances store will result in consumers trusting other outlets.
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