24 | H&J Smith REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT - SOUTHLAND H&J Smith - Southland’s iconic store T T Richard Loader The flagship H&J Smith store in Invercargill. From its humble roots as a small Invercargill drapery and clothing store established by brother and sister Helen and John Smith back in 1900, H&J Smith has progressively taken its rightful place as Southland’s iconic department store. Still owned and operated by the Smith family, successive generations have taken their turn to hold the mantle of responsibility, each casting their own magic on the unique department store shopping experience, and growing the family business. There are now some 500 permanent and part time employees across a group of businesses that includes three H&J Smith stores — the flagship store in Invercargill, a smaller fashion store in Gore, and a smaller department store in Queenstown. There are also two Mega Mitre 10 Stores; one in Invercargill and the other in Queenstown, with a Laser Electrical Store in Invercargill completing the group’s diversity. Fourth generation descendent Jason Smith has led the family business as Managing Director since 2013, after taking over from his father. Proud to have the opportunity to lead the business into the future, Jason says one of his directors once said the Smiths are a family in business, running a family business. “That has been part of our mantra and part of what we do. It’s looking after the business with a family focus. When you look at the number of people we employ it’s a large responsibility for a lot of families.” Jason offers that the nature of the department store is to curate a good range of things that suit the customer. “It’s about providing the quality of product and service our customers need both now and into the future. “We have many visitors from different places who come in and enjoy the H&J Smith shopping experience and what we have to offer, predominantly because it’s a large offer with plenty of variety, interesting products and good sensible service.” Reflecting on what has got the business through the good times and the more challenging, Jason has no doubt it is the people that make the difference. “It’s the care they take with our customers, selecting the products, marketing and then selling our products, and standing behind what we sell. “Customer service is critical and people are still social people, still interested in people interaction. There’s something about the tactile nature of the products we sell that make people want to come shopping.” Jason suggests that the department store is quite a special shopping environment and the ‘people meeting’ aspect is often overlooked. “People like spending time with other people. They like to shop together and talk together, particularly at Christmas time. “There’s a magic to the noise level — it’s a vibrancy of people being together in a safe, warm and happy shopping environment that is open to them and allows them to enjoy merchandise, talking with our team and fellow customers, and we hope seeing something they like and buying it.” Jason was on the Southland Regional Development Strategy (SoRDS) initiative to help grow the population of Southland and part of the team looking at inner city development that has led to the revitalisation of Invercargill’s CBD. “The market will continue to grow locally with the Invercargill Central development when it opens in June this year. It presents competition for us but we’ve never shied away from that. “What we’re looking to do is provide the products and services that our customers are looking for into the future. “People look to us for a high quality of product and service and that’s what we will continue to do. In these times it’s also about feeling safe and comfortable in a shopping environment. “ Our intention is to ensure people feel welcome in our stores, we have great products to sell them and we’re happy to give them great service.” “It’s looking after the business with a family focus. When you look at the number of people we employ it’s a large responsibility for a lot of families.” ABL are proud of providing the construction service for the H&J Smith Department Store redevelopment. Specialists in Commercial Construction invercargill@abl.co.nz dunedin@abl.co.nz queenstown@abl.co.nz christchurch@abl.co.nz 146 Otepuni Ave. Ph 03 216 9143 72 Willis Street. Ph 03 474 1392 Industrial Place. Ph 03 442 7235 504 Blenheim Road. Ph 03 341 2160 Invercargill: Dunedin: Queenstown: Christchurch: Phone: 03 211 5110 115 North Road, Invercargill or visit: www.abequipment.co.nz WE SELL, RENT & SERVICE: • Material Handling & Floorcare Equipment • Construction Equipment • Forestry & Environmental Equipment PROUD TO SUPPLY H&J SMITH LTD
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