JB Hi-Fi CEO Richard Murray has spoken about the company’s strategy in the home appliance market, outlining a focus on retailing innovative products that combine technology and style.

A key concern highlighted in the company’s annual financial results released earlier this week was the move towards the ‘connected home’.

“As customers move towards the ‘connected home’, JB Hi-Fi will continue to be seen as the destination for expert advice from passionate knowledgeable staff,” Murray said.

Appliances that connect to the internet are becoming more widespread, for example Smart TVs and wireless multiroom speakers while some still remain novel, such as Samsung’s Wi-Fi enabled washing machine. Further, recent research suggests tech savvy consumers believe that adoption of the Internet of Things — houseware items ‘talking’ to other things over the internet — is not far off.

Murray believes we are currently “at a tipping point where in-home automation is taking off” and this technology will evolve as internet speeds increase and confidence around security improves.

“Ten years ago you needed a multi-thousand dollar home automation system. Now, from the front door to the back and everywhere in between can do it yourself.”

Murray said it was possible that JB Hi-Fi Home could help grow the overall size of the appliance market thanks to its high traffic locations providing an opportunity to introduce customers to new innovative products.

The JB Home strategy is to promote high-end appliances, an alternate tactic to the value or price focused approach of JB Hi-Fi as a consumer electronics retailer.

Murray said that JB Hi-Fi encourages customers to think about innovation and is a keen supporter of technology and suppliers that make innovative products.

Another priority for JB Hi-Fi Home is retailing products that add design elements to the home that people are proud of.

For example when asked what his favourite appliance was at the moment, Murray named Breville’s the fully automatic manual coffee the Oracle, saying it looks good and “there is something about the romance of making coffee the old way.”