Main stream vendors from across Australia poured into Homebush this week for the inaugural Harvey Norman Global Electrical Franchise Conference which director David Ackery described as a “big success”.

Some vendors even struck a special bottle of wine for the occasion with a hint on the bottle of how business can be done with the retail giant who is currently investing millions into training and education.

“We are not going to give away any secrets but we have significantly improved our education process” said Ackery.

Among the vendors attending were Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, LG, Sharp, and several new Chinese brands including Hisense and Changhong Electric with their Celestial brand which came about following a recommendation from Gerry Harvey according to Changhong executives at the show.

In the appliance market Samsung, Miele, LG and Mitsubishi along with several other leading had major stands at the expo.
In the home theatre and sound market Convoy showed two new home theatre kits which are being sold exclusively through Harvey Norman. The Company also ran Monster workshops for attending Harvey Norman Franchisees who praised the concept as a mean of “meeting and greeting senior management from vendors who primarily deal with Harvey Norman on a national level”.

Melbourne based Convoy who primarily sell their Jamo and Marantz home theatre kits through Harvey Norman turned up for the occasion with a “twin wine pack” with a specially printed label Musical Chairs, Wee Blanc de Blanc HN. Proof on the label was 17% Volume Rebate.

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On the back of the label were several tips and hints for dealing with Qualifi.  (See label)

Michael Henriksen the Managing Director of Qualifi said “The wine was a bit of fun. The packs have already become a collector’s item” he said.

“The event has been well worth while as it allows us to display specific products that we have developed for the mass retailer market from the likes of Jamo and Marantz. The attach rate inside Harvey Norman is growing because of good training”.

Geoff Mathews a director at Convoy said “We have developed several Harmon Kardon products specifically for the Harvey Norman group and this works well for both us and them”.

Panasonic chose the occasion to show their new range of appliances including a highly popular massage chair which wil retail for over $5,000. Some Harvey Norman franchisees that we spoke to at the show said they welcomed the new Panasonic addition “Consumers need something to handle economic stress” they said