Smiths City - will it be the next 'Dick Smith'?

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#2904147 19-Apr-2022 23:18

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/retailer-smiths-city-set-to-be-sold-seven-stores-to-close/GFQW2OPWNCA4K235OOMAS7DA54/

So, almost 2 years on since Smiths City was sold, anyone know how they are doing now? I have 0 shops near me (nearest one is in Tauranga). Any Geekzoners live near a local one, and how are they doing post-lockdowns etc? Has their rebrand helped at all?

One positive thing is I found their website quite easy to navigate, but the range of products they sell (either Asus or Acer laptops, for example - pick your brand!) is quite limited in some areas.

Goosey

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#2904158 20-Apr-2022 06:14

Pretty decent brand refresh including store livery and the way they pitch their advertising (showing the use rather than showing the want)... (im in south island)

https://www.smithscity.co.nz/store-locations

quickymart

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#2904164 20-Apr-2022 07:28

I agree, the refresh was long overdue. How are they doing customer/sales-wise though? That's the important thing.

Rikkitic

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#2904181 20-Apr-2022 08:43

They opened a store in Hastings awhile back. It was empty every time I went past it. After a few months it disappeared without a trace.

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#3268300 5-Aug-2024 11:38

Well, this is something different, looks like they've opened a new shop in Auckland:

https://www.smithscity.co.nz/store-locations/wairau-park-outlet-store

Is this a permanent thing?

waikariboy

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#3268302 5-Aug-2024 11:43

used to shop there for things i needed. but now they got rid of being to get items on a HP and you need a gem or qcard i stop shopping there, there is not point imho. I find it interesting that get a item on HP is pretty much dead, everything is GEM or QCARD which i consider a credit card.

Balm its gone!

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richms

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#3268316 5-Aug-2024 12:47

waikariboy:

used to shop there for things i needed. but now they got rid of being to get items on a HP and you need a gem or qcard i stop shopping there, there is not point imho. I find it interesting that get a item on HP is pretty much dead, everything is GEM or QCARD which i consider a credit card.

That is because compliance to do HP or finance inhouse is so difficult now because of all the lending rules, that its easier to just subcontract it out to a third party.

Richard rich.ms

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#3268319 5-Aug-2024 12:52

quickymart:

Well, this is something different, looks like they've opened a new shop in Auckland:

https://www.smithscity.co.nz/store-locations/wairau-park-outlet-store

Is this a permanent thing?

That is the old Danske Mobler store.

They moved out a couple of years ago.

Given that thet have painted the store I guess it is going to be long term.

John

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#3268361 5-Aug-2024 15:30

Tangentially related due to the thread subject, but "Furniture Zone" moved into the old Dick Smith building in Whakatane. It has subsequently closed and is currently vacant. They pulled the Furniture Zone sign down, revealing the old Dick Smith one (with his face!). It makes me smile when I see it.

everettpsycho

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#3268421 5-Aug-2024 19:50

We purchased a dryer from the new store in hornby. It was nice in there, felt more open and airy than the old Colombo street store with a smaller more target range of stock.

That said we only went there because we had a shed load of airpoints from our credit card which meant we got what we wanted for almost none of our actual money changing hands.

quickymart

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#3268422 5-Aug-2024 19:56

I might go to the Wairau Valley one on the weekend to have a look. Hopefully it's not the same tired furnishings from the 80s (or 5-years-ago technology) and they've got something more modern to offer.

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quickymart

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#3286797 26-Sep-2024 21:56

Almost two months later, I've been insanely busy so unable to go in and see what it's like - will try for this weekend, but has anybody been into the Wairau Valley branch yet and had a look around?

trig42

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#3286920 27-Sep-2024 08:50

quickymart:

Well, this is something different, looks like they've opened a new shop in Auckland:

https://www.smithscity.co.nz/store-locations/wairau-park-outlet-store

Is this a permanent thing?

Maybe. They used to have a full store not far away from there, but it only lasted a year or so.

I'd say they've got a cheap lease on something (there's a lot of space along there, and have been a few come and go Hannahs/No1 Shoes was not far from that spot and didn't last very long).

quickymart

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#3406393 22-Aug-2025 11:46

More closures happening, down to 11 stores now (from a peak of 35):

https://archive.ph/6dy7L

Maybe it really will become the next Dick Smith?

quickymart

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#3406394 22-Aug-2025 11:47

trig42:

Maybe. They used to have a full store not far away from there, but it only lasted a year or so.

I'd say they've got a cheap lease on something (there's a lot of space along there, and have been a few come and go Hannahs/No1 Shoes was not far from that spot and didn't last very long).

Finally got to walk past it a few weeks ago. It's quite a way off the main shopping drag, and when I went past (just before 6 o'clock on a Thursday night) it was closed. It seems to have weird opening hours and days according to a sign on the door, no late night either that I could see.

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