By Claire Reilly

After announcing plans to enter the small appliances, whitegoods and cooking categories, JB Hi-Fi has launched its new JB Hi-Fi Home website, which is set to accompany the roll-out of four trial bricks and mortar stores in Queensland.

With the familiar branding, yellow colour scheme and starburst signage of the existing JB Hi-Fi website and stores, the microsite has sections dedicated to categories including Fridges & Freezers, Washers & Dryers, Cooking, Vacuums & Floor Cleaners, Dishwashers, Heating & Cooling, Small Appliances and Coffee Machines. The site also has a Home Entertainment section, which links back to the standard JB Hi-Fi website.

Brands on offer include familiar names in smalls such as Breville, Sunbeam, Kenwood and Tefal, as well as major appliance manufacturers such as Bosch, Fisher & Paykel, LG and Narta-exclusive brand Beko. There are also a number of higher-end brands including Ilve and Smeg.

To coincide with the launch, the site is offering free delivery to metro areas for a limited time. At launch, the site only delivers to the Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne Metro areas, as well as the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. More delivery areas are "coming soon" according to the site.

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In an interview with Current.com.au, the CEO of JB Hi-Fi, Terry Smart, said the website would be launched as a full transactional offering to complement the bricks and mortar stores that were being trialled in Queensland.

“That’s just part of what you need to do in this whole space,” Smart said of the JB Hi-Fi Home website. “We have a very successful online business with JB Hi-Fi and it just makes sense to leverage the internet and our online site for appliances as well.”

Following the conversion of the four Queensland stores owned by JB (which were formerly Clive Anthonys-branded shopfronts), two more Queensland stores are to be unveiled next year. Pending the success of this trial, JB Hi-Fi plans to launch more Home stores next year.

However, Smart said the company was going to take its time to assess the new venture.

“I think you’ve got to allow 6 months for these things to really be clear on the opportunity,” he said.