By James Wells

SYDNEY: Clive Anthonys has announced it has all but confirmed the locations for its first two stores in Sydney which will open from July next year.

Clive Anthonys director of sales – Bruce Coulson told Current.com.au the two sites that have been identified but not confirmed, will be 2,500 square metres in size and will replicate the company’s store at Mermaid Waters on the Gold Coast.

According to Coulson, the Mermaid Waters renovation provided an increase in the number of computers on display as well as a larger range of plasma and LCD products.

"Mermaid Waters is a 10-year old store and prior to the renovation was a little tired. It was a difficult renovation as we stripped the store as we continued to trade. Sales actually increased during the re-fit as a lot of the consumers were caught up in it," he said.

A 70 per cent share of Clive Anthonys was purchased by fellow Narta member JB Hi-Fi for $24.15 million on 5 August, 2004.

JB Hi-Fi CEO Richard Uechtritz reported a 5.5 per cent decline in Clive Anthonys sales for the financial year ending 30 June, while JB Hi-Fi stores recorded 7.1 per cent comparable store growth.

“Clive Anthonys did not trade to expectations in 2006, however we are confident of having an improved FY07,” Uechtritz said in his presentation to shareholders.

“There are no current plans to open additional Clive Anthonys stores this year, however [we] will bring Clive Anthonys to Sydney in July 07.”

Clive Anthonys currently operates six stores in south-east Queensland at Andrews, Capalaba, Carseldine, Labrador, Mermaid Waters and Mt Gravatt. At this stage, the only New South Wales store is located at Tweed Heads, near the Queensland border.

The retailer has also recently changed its slogan from ‘We’ll Beat Any Price’ to ‘Ask for a Discount’.

Coulson said the slogan features in a new series of advertisements which feature 15-second and 30-second executions.

"Clive heads up the new advertisements which will have more of a wider appeal as we role out stores. What we were running was good for an operation of just six stores."

Coulson would not confirm speculation from sharemarket analysts that JB Hi-Fi plans to expand the Clive Anthonys brand nationally.