Michael Hill Jeweller Explained

Michael Hill International Limited
Type:	Public
Traded As:
Trade Name:	Michael Hill Jeweller
Foundation:	in Whangārei, New Zealand
Industry:	Retail
Products:	Jewellery
Location:	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Num Locations:	300 (June 2024)
Brands:	Michael Hill, Emma & Roe
Key People:	Michael Hill (Founder President) Emma Hill (Chairman) Daniel Bracken (CEO)
Revenue:	$489 million NZD (30 June 2011)^[1]
Homepage:	(AU) (NZ) (CA)

Michael Hill International Ltd. is a speciality retailer of jewellery. As of June 2024, it operates 300 stores in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.^[2] The company employs approximately 2,600 permanent employees.^[3] Its headquarters are in Brisbane, Australia.

History

The company started in 1979, when Michael Hill and his wife, Christine, opened their first store in the New Zealand town of Whangārei. A unique retail jewellery formula that included dramatically different store designs, a product range devoted exclusively to jewellery and almost saturation levels of high impact advertising elevated the company to national prominence.^[1]

The company expanded to 10 stores by 1987, the same year it listed on the NZX. Also in this year, Michael Hill Jeweller expanded into Australia, opening four stores.^[4]

In 2000, Michael Hill Jeweller had 40 stores in New Zealand, including 12 in Auckland.^[5]

In 2002, the company expanded into Canada, opening its first stores in Vancouver, British Columbia.^[6] Michael Hill now has a presence in five Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.^[1] In September 2008, the company entered the United States market by acquiring 17 stores in Illinois and Missouri from Whitehall Jewelers.^[1] By mid-2013 over 60% of overall sales were from Australia, only 20% from New Zealand, with the rest from North America.

Emma Hill, the daughter of Michael Hill, succeeded him as chairperson after the November 2015 annual general meeting.^[7]

In April 2018, Michael Hill closed their nine remaining stores in the US.^[8]

In April 2023, Michael Hill announced it would acquire Australian jewellery chain Bevilles and its 26 stores for .^[9]

Michael Hill watches

In late 2006, following a five-year trial, the company launched its own brand of watches under the Michael Hill name, phasing out all but the Citizen brand of watches by the middle of 2007. By mid-2008, only Michael Hill-brand watches were available in the company's stores.^[10]

Timeline

• 1979: Michael Hill opens his first store in Whangarei, New Zealand.^[11]
• 1981: Michael Hill began manufacturing his own jewellery in house.^[11]
• 2006: The Michael Hill Watch Collection was launched.
• 2009: The Michael Hill Charms Collection was launched.^[12]
• 2010: Michael Hill announced the closure of eight stores in the United States.^[13]
• The company announced it was in a $40m NZD dispute with the Australian Taxation Office.^[14]
• 2013: Michael Hill announced a new global brand, including bridal products and other jewellery which was more feminine.^[15]
• 2014: Sales in Australia were described as "lacklustre" due to Australian economic performance.^[16] The company settled its dispute with the Australian Taxation Office.
• 2015: The company opened a store in New York City in April 2015.^[17] Australian sales improve after poor performance in that market during 2013–2014.^[18] Sir Michael Hill moved to a new role of Founder/President, as his daughter Emma became Chairman.^[19]

External links

• Michael Hill Jeweller
• Michael Hill Jeweller listing on the New Zealand Stock Exchange

Notes and References

1. Web site: Michael Hill International Annual Report 2009. Michael Hill International . 5 May 2010. 2010.
2. Web site: Ignacio . Celene . 2024-07-19 . Michael Hill expects higher sales in Australia, Canada . 2024-07-20 . Inside Retail Australia . en-US.
3. Web site: Michael Hill Annual Report 2018.
4. Book: Hill, Michael . Michael Hill (entrepreneur)

   . Michael Hill (entrepreneur) . Bryan Staff . HELLO – Michael Hill Jeweller . . 1994 . New Zealand . 978-0-670-86033-3.

5. Web site: New Zealand Store Locations . michaelhill.co.nz . Michael Hill Jewellers . https://web.archive.org/web/20001204210000/http://michaelhill.co.nz/page2.html . 4 December 2000.
6. Book: Hill, Michael . Michael Hill (entrepreneur)

   . Toughen Up: What I've learned about surviving tough times . Michael Hill (entrepreneur) . 2009 . Random House . New Zealand . 978-1-86979-046-2 . 203–204 .

7. News: Harris . Catherine . Following in dad's footsteps . . 15 August 2015 . C15.
8. Web site: 2018-04-12 . No buyers for Michael Hill's failed US stores . 2022-08-09 . Newsroom . en-AU.
9. Web site: Adams . David . 2023-04-20 . Family-run Bevilles cashes out for $45 million as Michael Hill takes ownership of jewellery retailer . 2023-04-21 . SmartCompany . en-AU.
10. Web site: Michael Hill buys into US. 31 January 2009. 6 May 2010 .
11. Web site: Michael Hill Company History . Michael Hill International . 5 May 2010 . 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100602085008/http://www.michaelhill.com/#CompanyHistory . 2 June 2010 . live .
12. Web site: Michael Hill News . Michael Hill International . 5 May 2010 . 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100602085008/http://www.michaelhill.com/#News . 2 June 2010 . live .
13. Web site: Michael Hill scales back US operation . NZPA . 8 June 2010 . 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101209234434/http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/3785705/Michael-Hill-scales-back-US-operation/ . 9 December 2010 . live .
14. Web site: Michael Hill in trans-Tasman tax dispute. 1 January 2016.
15. News: Michael Hill plans US bridal range. Stuff.co.nz. 30 October 2013. 1 January 2016. Laura. Walters.
16. Web site: Slag Aussie sales hit Michael Hill. Stuff. 8 January 2015 . 1 January 2016.
17. Web site: Michael Hill opens New York store. Stuff. 29 April 2015 . 1 January 2016.
18. Web site: Aussie market picks up for Michael Hill jewellery. 13 October 2015 . 1 January 2016.
19. Web site: Michael Hill takes new founder president role within the jewellery chain. The National Business Review. 1 January 2016.