By James Wells
Winning Group CEO John Winning has used the launch of his new appliance showroom to send a message to his competitors: we are entering a phase of “new retail” that is not based on either online or offline retailing.
“For me this is a pretty special experience. Over the past eight years, I have become well known for online retailing and now I am trying to take part of that passion with me and rub off on to this type of retail,” Winning said in a speech to guests last night.
Reflecting on a conversation he had with national online retailing association founder, Paul Greenberg, Winning emphasised that we are entering a new era of retailing.
“There is no such thing as online retail and offline retail, it is just ‘new retail’ and it is about raising the bar and giving a better experience, whether that be online through convenience or in a store.
“This is new retail and it is about giving a better experience to the customer whether it be online or offline and that’s what we keep striving for,” he said.
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Winning Appliances CEO David Crane provided an insight into the company’s online and offline operations, and the role suppliers play in the process.
“Our business is not a short term vision — for us it is a long term goal,” he said. “Nothing happens without the partnership with our suppliers, so when they are looking for opportunities we hope that we are the first people they come to.
“We’re proud and fortunate that last year was an exceptional year, not only online but also for bricks and mortar retailing for Winning Appliances and Appliances Online, but from our standpoint if we are going to deliver the best customer shopping experience in the world, which is our goal, then we need them and they need us and together this is an absolutely perfect marriage.
“Online complements what we do, our research shows that when someone buys a refrigerator they’re happy to do the research online, and then potentially purchase online. The majority want to research online and then come in, touch, feel, see, experience and that’s what we can make a reality for our customers.
“This complements Appliances Online very well and if it is enjoyable for them to come shopping, if they want to spend $500 or an awful lot more, then we can cover those bases.”