digiDirect leaders gathered at the company’s Sydney headquarters to participate in the 2024 Leaders Conference held over two days in September.
The conference commenced with a review of digiDirect’s digi25 Strategic Plan by general manager, Haig Kayserian (below), featuring key data showing progress on four targeted pillars for growth – staff, customers, revenue and profits.
digiDirect founder and managing director, Shant Kradjian and group general manager, Sina Clayton (below) addressed the upcoming opportunities for a collaborative approach between digiDirect and Booktopia, recently acquired by Kradjian.
Former CEO of Australian retail brands, Godfreys and Barbeques Galore, John Hardy was the keynote speaker at the conference. He shared moments of his journey as an Australian retail leader.
John Hardy & Haig Kayserian.
The purchasing and marketing teams shared how digiDirect would focus on visual merchandising in 2024-25 to deliver an enhanced in-store retail experience.
digiDirect photo and video department manager, George Graoroski, computer, mobile, gaming and streaming department manager, George Jabbour digiMarket division manager, Luke Goldsworthy and digiSeconds division manager, Paul Clayton, delivered upcoming growth plans for feedback from participants.
George Graoroski of digiDirect (centre) with the Canon team.
“The 40 participants in this Leaders Conference manage our extended staff of around 150. These conferences provide us an imperative opportunity to connect with them at a higher-level than the day-to-day, reflect on our strategies and tactics, and commit to the next 12 months on the same page,” Kayserian said.
“The acquisition of Booktopia and what this might mean for digiDirect created an atmosphere of palpable excitement and heightened ambition from the get-go at this year’s conference.”
As part of the conference schedule, participants toured Booktopia’s state-of-the-art Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) to see the facility’s robots, automated conveyor systems and pick-pack machines, while developing an understanding of what awaits digiDirect and its customers ahead of their future move into the CFC.
Go-karting experience with Sony.
Key suppliers were also part of the conference schedule. A continental breakfast with Fujifilm provided an opportunity for digiDirect leaders to learn more about their continued progress with the camera brand. Canon then catered lunch with a mobile pizza van, after the companies reflected on their joint achievements of the past year and outlined future opportunities.
Paella cooking experience with Nikon.
The digiDirect team joined Sony for a go-karting experience at Sydney’s Moore Park, followed by a dinner to celebrate digiDirect’s 19th birthday. Nikon hosted participants at the Sydney Fish Market for a paella cooking and tasting experience, which was a unique team building opportunity.
digiDirect leadership team members.
“I thank our suppliers for their active and appreciated participation in the conference, as well as my colleagues, Shant and Sina for backing this important initiative, as well as the team which helped put the event together, led by our customer excellence manager, Narine Andriasian,” Kayserian said.
“It was a fitting way to celebrate 19 years in business for digiDirect and congratulate our founder, Shant on adding another iconic Australian retail brand to his impressive portfolio with the acquisition of Booktopia.”
Reflecting on the digiDirect journey, founder and now CEO of Booktopia, Kradjian said, “It has been an unbelievable journey. I am privileged to be working with a great team who have helped bring my digiDirect dream to life, and we’re just getting started.”