By James Wells
BRISBANE: BSR general manager, Ian Brown has confirmed that South Australian retailer Truscotts has joined the newly formed retail group and will remain attached to the BSL business which purchased the Adelaide store for $22.68 million in 2004.
“Truscotts have committed themselves to become members of the unidentified Betta Buying Associates group. We are also working closely with the business to assist them with their payroll," Brown told Current.com.au
Last month, Dr Christopher Starrs and his wife Janine Starrs – an Adelaide-based private investment family – purchased the Truscotts business from BSL receiver, PriceWaterhouseCoopers. The Starrs have since employed John Protheroe as general manager of the business.
“This is a completely new culture at BSR where the relationship between the group and the retailers is one of cooperation. The priority for BSR is our retailers and our suppliers and we will do anything to assist them with a comfortable, profitable and easy existence.”
Brown has confirmed that all licensing agreements have been sent out and an undisclosed number of contracts have been received back from all states.
“We are looking at maintaining our membership and we are also looking at attracting retailers from other groups.”
“I believe our growth is from within our existing retailers and expanding their business. My goals in relation to growth is exposure to square metres on the showroom floor,” Brown said.
Brown believes new stores including the Cranbourne store in Victoria, the Kawana store on the Gold Coast and the Townsville store in far north Queensland are an example of the group’s successful new business development strategy.