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THE MARKET
TheAustralianDepartment Storemarket is an ever-
evolving and highly competitive industry that
requires a strong product offer across a broad range
of categories and the ability to adapt to the continual
changing needs of the Australian customer.
Myer is a market leader in Australian retailing
and is continually transforming to better serve its
customers and their needs. Myer trades in a very
aggressivemarket and is in direct competitionwith
high-end retailers as well as discount retailers.
Myer’s ability to appeal to a broad market, from
high-end fashion and glamour cosmetics to daily
home and electrical needs, has been the driving
point for Myer’s success in the department store
industry. Myer commits itself to making shopping
easy and convenient but also a fun and exciting
experience.
Myer has a larger number of stores nationally
than any other department store chain inAustralia,
and its goal for the near future is to increase the
number to 80. This would make Myer’s
representation in the market twice as big as its
nearest competitor’s.
ACHIEVEMENTS
The development and recognition of team
members has been a primary focus at Myer over
the past 14 months. Creating an environment that
provides team members with the opportunity to
grow and developing a culture focused on
rewarding performance is an important part of
Myer’s strategy for growth.
The reintroduction of the Myer Graduate
Program and the 25-year club were quickly
implemented by the newmanagement team.
The Myer 25-year club recognises the retailer’s
long serving and loyal team members who have
made an invaluable contribution to Myer. In 2007,
Myer welcomed 120 newmembers, taking the total
number to 2200.
The Myer Graduate Program was officially
reinstated in December 2006 with 14 Myer team
members. The Graduate Program allows
participants to work across four different areas of
the business over a year. On completion,
participants are placed in a role with Myer.
TheManagement Development Programis open
to teammembers with strong leadership skills who
see themselves as future Myer Customer Service
and Selling Managers and eventually Operations,
Merchandise or Store Managers.
Over the past few years Myer team members
have been finalists in the National Retail
Association’s Young Retailer of the Year Awards,
which recognise excellence in retailing, highlighting
the focus on developing team members to achieve
their potential.
Local Area Marketing has been strongly
embraced by Myer stores across the country.
Stores raise the Myer profile in their communities
by organising their own activities while building
relationships with key local suppliers and
customers.
HISTORY
With a history that spans over 100 years, Myer is a
name synonymous with Australian retailing. The
Myer story dates back to 1899 when SidneyMyer,
a penniless Russian immigrant, opened the first
Myer Drapery store in Bendigo, Victoria, with the
support of his brother Elcon. Its success led to the
opening of a second store in Bendigo in 1908.
In 1911 Sidney Myer bought a drapery store in
Bourke Street, Melbourne. This was an era of
dramatic change in retailing and the Myer store
embraced this changing climate, incorporating
strategies such as mass buying, aggressive selling
and powerful advertising. Previously unheard of
full-page advertisements of bargain sales,
impressive window displays and huge crowds
became commonplace at Myer.
Sidney Myer continued to purchase properties
on either side of his Bourke Street establishment.
By1914 theBourkeStreet buildingwas eight stories
high, becoming the largest retail outlet in the
country.
Sidney now began the national expansion of
the business, setting up stores first in Adelaide
and then later across Australia.
In1983Myer acquiredGraceBrosHoldingsLtd.
The merging of these two retailing giants in 1989
saw the birth of Australia’s biggest department
store group. In 2004 the Grace Bros stores were re-
branded to Myer.
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