By Patrick Avenell
Retravision Southern and Retravision Northern are currently in advanced discussions to form an East Coast super group capable of rivalling the more organised groups on the Eastern Seaboard.
Since the collapse of Retravision New South Wales, and the division of the remaining New South Wales stores between the Northern and Southern operations, the two east coast Retravisions have struggled to combat the joint threats posed by online retailing and the more powerful, national buying groups.
Retravision WA, which has just over 60 stores in its network, has not been part of these merger discussions, with one insider saying that it’s been so hard getting the three to talk, that it was best not to include WA at all.
Current.com.au understands that in previous merger discussions, Retravision WA has been particularly bullish in its approach to a merger. If Retravision Northern and Southern were to form a single entity it would represent over 220 members, meaning the balance of power would significantly shift from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific.
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One man who would speak on the record was former national chairman and current Retravision Southern director Ian Ray, proprietor of Ian Ray Electrics in Swan Hill, Victoria.
“We are in discussions at the moment with Northern but it’s down the track a little yet,” Ray said. “We’ll do due diligence on each other and see that it’s a purposeful thing to do. It’s certainly a shame that we haven’t joined Retravision as one right throughout, including Western Australia, but if it’s the right thing to do we’ll do it, if it’s not we won’t go ahead with it.”
Speaking specifically about Retravision WA, Ray said the formation of a single, national Retravision was a possibility, but only after the formation of the proposed East Coast super group.
“We haven’t had any dialogue with Western as yet. If it [the North-South merger] happens, we’ll concentrate on getting the East Coast as one for a start and then move on.
“It’s going to be down the track — we’re doing all the necessary exploration of each other before we make a decision about what we do.”
Ray said the imminent departure of Retravision Southern CEO Tim Cockayne, who will leave the company on 23 December 2012, will not have any effect on these discussions.
Retravision Northern and Retravision WA were contacted for comment.