Retail icon Rick Hart has been welcomed back to the Narta group with his new retail venue, Kitchen HQ, while the future of the WA electrical chain bearing his name remains in the hands of the Clive Peeters receivers.
Narta managing director, Kay Spencer, told Appliance Retailer that she was looking forward to having Hart and his extensive experience within the European cooking category back in the buying group.
“Rick’s been a stable and forceful person in the industry and has added great value to the growth in the cooking market at specialist top end,” said Spencer.
“He has a vision to take it to the next stage and the market is ready for this to occur. We wish him well and Narta members welcome him back with great enthusiasm.”
Hart himself said he was pleased to be back after leaving the Clive Peeters business late last year.
“I am looking forward to resuming my relationships within Narta. I have had such a strong relationship with the group over the last 10 years, albeit my time with Clive Peeters was not quite as close as when it is your own business,” Hart said.
In a statement released by Spencer, Europa Investments WA, trading as Kitchen HQ, is the latest member to join the group.
“Kitchen HQ is being introduced to the West Australian market by principals Rick Hart and Nick Kirby to provide an elite and unique contemporary retail showroom specialising in premium kitchen and home appliances, with a particular and extensive focus on cooking, kitchen and laundry appliances.
“Rick Hart is regarded as one of Australia’s most prominent appliance retailers, who introduced kitchen and cooking products to traditional retail stores in the 80s and has maintained a high profile in that sector of the industry for more than 25 years.
“Nick Kirby was, from June 2003, general manager for the Rick Hart operation in Western Australia, a position he occupied for some six years, following a career spanning more than 18 years in electrical appliance retailing.”
Suppliers supporting the new Kitchen HQ business in Osborne Park, which is due to open by the end of June, include Smeg, ILVE, Asko, Fisher & Paykel, St George, Scholtes, De’Longhi, Sub-Zero, V-Zug and Qasair.