Guthrie Bowron is a franchise of New Zealand home improvement stores established in 1896.[1][2] It sells a range of home decorating supplies, including paint, wallpaper, flooring, curtains and blinds.[1]
| Founded | 1896 in Dunedin, New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Founders | Henry Guthrie, George Bowron |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | New Zealand |
| Products | Paint, wallpaper, flooring, curtains and blinds |
| Website | guthriebowron |
There are 51 Guthrie Bowron stores around New Zealand, including five in Auckland.[1]
History edit
Private company (1896-1963) edit
The Guthrie Brown company was established in 1896 in Dunedin man Henry Guthrie. George Bowron later came on as a business partner, and the pair travelled around the South Island selling a range of products.[3]
In the mid-1920s, the company started importing what were the base ingredients for paint at the time: lacquer, varnish, lead and linseed oil.[3]
In 1932, the company became an agent for Dulux Paints; it opened a wallpaper store in Christchurch a short time later.[3]
Public company (1963-1971) edit
Guthrie Bowron became a publicly listed company in 1963.[3]
By 1969, it had 18 branches around the country selling a range of paint and wallpaper.[3]
Dulux Paints ownership (1971-1992) edit
In 1971, Guthrie Bowrown was purchased by ICI NZ, the owner and manufacturer of Dulux Paints.[3]
The Masterton franchisee opened in 1973.[2] The Waitara, Taranaki store opened as Bedfords Colour Centre about the same time, before becoming a Guthrie Bowron store 49 years later.[4]
In 1985, the brand had 34 outlets.[3]
Management ownership (1992-2005) edit
A group of senior managers took over the company in 1992.[3]
There were 50 Guthrie Bowron stores in 1999.[5]
Waterman Capital (2005-2014) edit
Private equity firm Waterman Private Capital acquired the paint store brand in May 2005.[6][7] It relaunched the brand to incorporate other forms of home decorating, such as curtains, blinds and flooring.[8] The franchise otherwise continued as normal.[9]
Guthrie Bowron recorded an 8% increase in wallpaper sales between 2011 and 2012, and a 18% increase between 2012 and 2013. The company said wallpaper was becoming a fashion item, and many home decorators were using it to create a feature wall rather than using throughout the entire room.[10]
Waterman trialed a new format in 2012, with a flagship company store at Sylvia Park in Mount Wellington, Auckland.[11]
Management ownership (2014-) edit
Waterman sold Guthrie Bowron through another management buy-out in 2014.[8][11]
In 2015, many franchises had been operating for two decades and the business model was profitable.[2]
In 2016, Guthrie Bowron had 42 stores.[12]
In February 2017, some franchisors told the National Business Review they were concerned about the recent closures of new format stores in Sylvia Park, Silverdale, Auckland and Christchurch.[11] A unspecified number of franchisors called for greater mandatory disclosure provisions.[13]
Guthrie Bowron stores were required to close during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand in 2020. The Timaru store reported being very busy when it reopened in late April.[14] The store in Te Awamutu reported being "busy as" as in July, despite the local Bunnings and Warehouse Stationery stores closing due to falling revenue.[15]
Global supply chain shortages affected Guthrie Bowron stores in 2021, including manufacturers not being able to source raw materials.[16]
Guthrie Bowron came second to Resene in the painting and home decorating category of the Reader's Digest customer service survey in 2021.[17] It ranked first in the home furnishing category of the Canstar Blue customer satisfaction award in 2021;[18] it came seventh in the same category in 2022.[19]
Sponsorships edit
Guthrie Bowron stores have sponsored several public projects, including:
- the renovation of Nelson Rowing Club in 2020.[20]
- a mural in Blenheim's Wairau Hospital paediatric ward in 2020.[21]
- the revamp of the Whangārei Art Museum in 2021.[22]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Guthrie Bowron". guthriebowron.co.nz. Guthrie Bowron.
- ^ a b c OSullivan, Patrick (7 November 2015). "Stepping up to a challenge". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Hawke's Bay Today.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "About Guthrie Bowron". guthriebowron.co.nz. Guthrie Bowron.
- ^ Ockhuysen, Stephanie (1 February 2020). "A proud father and grandfather: the family man side of a stubborn but passionate community board chairman". stuff.co.nz. Taranaki Daily News.
- ^ "Then as Now". Marketplace Media. Hardware Journal. 18 December 2019.
- ^ Parker, Tamsyn (6 July 2010). "Super Fund gives $30m boost to smaller firms". New Zealand Herald. APN News & Media.
- ^ O'Neill, Rob (15 May 2011). "Waterman in Working In". Stuff. Stuff.
- ^ a b "Waterman Sells Guthrie Bowron". Waterman Private Capital. 5 December 2014.
- ^ Cully, Paul (20 January 2021). "Explainer: What private equity investment would mean for New Zealand Rugby". Stuff. Stuff.
- ^ Harvie, Will (10 August 2013). "Wallpaper makes a comeback". stuff.co.nz. The Press.
- ^ a b c Scherer, Karyn (24 February 2017). "More franchisees claim to have been duped". National Business Review.
- ^ "New colour for a consolidating category". hardwarejournal.co.nz. Marketplace Media.
- ^ Lord, Simon (27 February 2017). "NBR opens regulation debate again". Franchise New Zealand Magazine. Franchise New Zealand.
- ^ Mohanlal, Samesh (28 April 2020). "South Canterbury businesses pleased to be back". stuff.co.nz. Timaru Herald.
- ^ Mather, Mike (20 July 2020). "Bunnings, Warehouse Stationery closures double hit for Te Awamutu". stuff.co.nz. Waikato Times.
- ^ Harris, Catherine (30 April 2021). "Home renovators beware – shipping delays may lead to paint supplies drying up". stuff.co.nz. Stuff Business.
- ^ "Reader's Digest Quality Service Awards". scoop.co.nz. Reader's Digest. 22 November 2021.
- ^ Barratt, Nicole (3 March 2021). "NZ's Top Home Furnishing Store Revealed: Guthrie Bowron". Canstar Blue.
- ^ Pitchers, Bruce (13 April 2022). "Harrisons Curtains & Blinds: Best in Home Furnishings". Canstar Blue.
- ^ "Olympian rower Emma Twigg helps renovate Nelson club". Nelson Mail. Stuff. 5 October 2020.
- ^ Hart, Maria (22 October 2020). "By children, for children: School art project brightens the walls at hospital ward". stuff.co.nz. Marlborough Express.
- ^ Czerwonatis, Julia (18 December 2021). "Immersive Whangārei virtual reality exhibition to lure visitors to revamped Art Museum". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Northern Advocate.
- ^ Rolleston, Te Aorewa (27 March 2022). "Graffiti and dumping hit road a sore spot for Te Kowhai locals". Waikato Times. stuff.co.nz.