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Home  History
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2010 2009 December - Smiths City Porirua opened its doors on Thursday the 10th December, taking the Smiths brand back into Wellington (the last store closed in 1991). December - The Store Revamp for Powerstore Max, on Moorhouse Ave was completed. August - LVM Rotorua closed it doors. The lease has expired on the premises and in the current climate recommitting to another three years is not the right business decision. Smiths City Te Ngae continues to support existing LVM customers & the wider Rotorua community . August - Powerstore Timaru Opened the doors at the new Stafford Street site on the 28th of August. The New store is located within the old Smiths City site on Stafford Street. July - The New Smiths City Timaru Store opened. The New Store looks superb, the modern colour schemes & layout of the displays do real justice to the product and merchandising skills of the Timaru staff. On opening day the Timaru public came out in droves (190+ queuing at the door at 10:00am), proving once again Smiths City is a trusted New Zealand brand with the best deals.
2008
2007 2006 - March - confirmed the purchase of North Island retailer, Meikles Limited, a trading and finance operation based in the Bay of Plenty. Stores are located in Whakatane, Rotorua, Kawerau, Opotiki. L V Martin purchased Star Appliances in Rotorua and rebranded to L V Martin. Furniture Concepts moved from its Ferrymead, Christchurch base to the Armson Heritage Building in Moorhouse Avenue, Christchurch.
- June - Smiths City Greymouth moved to larger premises.
- September - Smiths City Mosgiel moved to larger premises in Anderson Bay, Dunedin. Smiths City opened a new store in Palmerston North. Powerstore moved to more modern premises in Timaru. Alectra successfully completed the renovation and upgrade of the RT&T site in Rangiora now branded as Alectra Building Supplies.
- December - Smiths City relocated to larger premises in Queenstown. Powerstore completed the purchase of Dunedin appliance retailer, Selectrix, enabling it to move to superior premises in Dunedin.
2005 - January - L V Martin moved the Lambton Quay store to larger premises in Willis Street, Central Wellington.
- June - the company acknowledges the passing of D R Smith one of the founding members of the Smith family for Smiths City Market Limited. Smiths City Properties Limited sold the L V Martin Ngauranga Gorge, Wellington property, and will stay on site with a long term lease.
- The company commenced a complete redevelopment of the RT&T site in Rangiora, North Canterbury.
- October - Smiths City Properties Limited purchased the Watts Road, Christchurch, property to house the Alectra Services division. Smiths City Riccarton moves into new 44,000 sqft premises at the Bush Inn Centre, Christchurch.
- December - Smiths City opened a small format store (approx 650 sqm) in Kaikoura. The property company on sold the Watts Road, Christchurch, site and will stay on site with a long term lease.
2004 - July - Smiths City Group transferred trading of its shares to the NZSX.
- The company completed a successful refurbishment and expansion of the Smiths City Oamaru store increasing sales in the area significantly.
- October - the company received a favourable binding ruling in regard to the settlement of a tax dispute relating to the 2003 tax year.
- November - the company purchased 80% of L V Martin & Son Limited, a Wellington based retailer of appliances and electronic products, consisting of four retail stores located in Lower Hutt, Ngauranga Gorge, Lambton Quay and Coastlands.
- December - an additional L V Martin store was opened in Porirua. A special one off dividend payment was made to shareholders in recognition of the tax resolution achieved earlier in the year.
2003 - February - next stage of Smiths City Colombo Street, Christchurch, major redevelopment involving the refurbishment of the new office areas and development of the new Despatch area.
- March - Alectra Invercargill move into brand new purpose built workshop. Commercial have officially moved into their premises in Kotzikas Place, Christchurch.
- June - the Group Administration offices, as part of the redevelopment of the Smiths City Colombo Street site, completed and moved into the first floor above the new Sports department. The Non Retail division consisting of Smiths City Commercial, RT&T and Southern Furniture combined with Alectra Services to come under the one brand name of Alectra.
- August - alterations and extension to the Powerstore Richmond store complete. The three storey Bicycle Business building demolished and removed as part of the Colombo Street, Christchurch redevelopment.
- November - Smiths City Group Limited listed on the NZAX. Smiths City Wanaka moves into much larger premises. The company also opened a stand alone top end furniture store branded Furniture Concepts in Ferrymead, Christchurch.
- December - Grand Opening of the Smiths City Colombo Street major redevelopment and rebuild.
2002 - Purchased South Island retail assets of Rockgas and Gasfit thus giving access to a rapidly growing market of gas appliances and gas water heating.
- February - revamped and extended Smiths City Queenstown into two storey trading store.
- May - moved Smiths City Invercargill into new larger premises; also opened new Powerstore in Northwood, Christchurch.
- July - extensions complete in Smiths City Nelson enabling an increase in range of products. Upgrade of Powerstore Max, Christchurch, incorporating a new computer and technology department.
- September - Christchurch Distribution moved to larger more accessible premises in Blenheim Road. Southern Furniture, the manufacturing arm of the Group, moved into Kotzikas Place, Christchurch, where they will combine with the Commercial division once complete.
- October - saw commencement of Stage I of the Smiths City Colombo Street, Christchurch enormous redevelopment.
- December - opening of newly relocated Smiths City Alexandra store.
2000 - January - purchased Rangiora Timber & Trellis rebranded as RT&T.
- April - moved Smiths City Mosgiel to a bigger site.
- August - opened Powerstore in Dunedin.
- November - moved Smiths City Ashburton to a new purpose built bigger site and opened a new purpose built Smiths City mega store in Northwood, Christchurch.
- Total Group sales passed $150million for the first time.
1999 - Purchased Rices three sites in Invercargill and Gore - rebranded as Powerstore.
1998 - 80 Year Anniversary.
- October - 31st saw the end of the Scheme of Arrangement.
- Paid dividend to shareholders - the first in 10 years.
1997 - December - purchased the retail trading arm of Southpower - rebranded Powerstore appliance retail stores consisting of eight stores in Christchurch, Nelson, Richmond and Blenheim regions.
1994 - March - 17th (St Patricks Day) Smiths City Group Limited was released from receivership - being the first publicly listed company in New Zealand to recover from receivership.
1993 - September - Five Year Scheme of Arrangement for completion 31 October 1998 agreed by meetings of creditors (becoming capital noteholders).
- October - High Court approval granted for the Scheme of Arrangement.
- November - South Island trading operations of Smiths City (Southern) Limited released from receivership.
1991 - May - 1st Smiths City Group Limited placed in receivership. 14th Receivers sold North Island Smiths City to Brinkleys and Noel Leeming Television Limited.
- August - new trading company, Smiths City (Southern) Limited, was formed to operate South Island stores.
1990 - Trading became more difficult and a number of North Island stores were closed. New Board of Directors appointed in March 1990 (being Bill Revell, Chairman; Ian Farrent; Tim Rattray; John Holdsworth; Craig Boyce). Smith family connection on Board of Directors severed. Further Group reconstruction July 1990-March 1991 with significant reduction in store numbers, assets and debt.
1988 - Group reconstructed in March 1988 into two chains - Smiths City Limited selling homewares and Smiths DIY Limited selling builders supplies and sports goods. Noel Leemings chain remained separate.
1987 - October - the company purchased Smith & Brown Limited, with 50 stores selling furniture, floorcoverings and home appliances throughout New Zealand. This purchase was completed within days of the stock market crash occurring and recession setting in.
1986 - Purchased the publicly listed company Irvin & Stern Limited, an Auckland based chain of seven stores selling furniture, flooring and home appliances located in the northern half of the North Island.
1985 - Purchased Hopwood Weymss Bendall Company Limited, builders merchants of Blenheim, Picton and Kaikoura, four stores. Purchased Coles (Nelson) Limited with five stores retailing furniture, flooring and appliances.
1983 - Purchased 80% of Noel Leeming Television Limited.
1980 - Purchased Tuckers Limited, builders merchants of Ashburton.
1979 - Purchased the Garden City Motors site in Colombo Street and built a new hardware building. Purchased 40% share in George Anderson Smiths City Market Limited.
1977 - Purchased Paterson & Barr Limited of Dunedin.
1974 - Added top deck to car park building in Dundas Street.
1972 - Smiths City Market Limited floated as a public company.
1969 - Open Builders Drive Thru and parking building of two floors. Auction rooms were transferred to 119 Montreal Street with new Builders Bulk Store.
1968 - Demolition of Auction rooms and building of Builders Drive Thru and parking building in Dundas Street. Purchased Frame Services Limited to manufacture upholstery frames.
1963 - Sucklings Shoes cafeteria buildings in Colombo Street on the north side of Dundas Street were bought and added to the shop frontage.
1961 - A block of shops on Colombo Street on the north side of Dundas Street bought and added to the shop frontage.
1953 - Smiths City Market Finance Limited was registered and commenced business financing the hire purchase requirements of Smiths City Market Limited’s customers.
1947 - Shares in Auto Bodies Limited purchased. The company was renamed Dundas Trading Company trading as furniture auction rooms with the upholstery factory at the rear together with a farm gate construction department.
1938 - Smiths City Market Limited was registered as a private company.
1933 - Horse sale ring building built at 550 Colombo Street and farmers sale yards closed.
1920 - Lease of farmers sale yards in St Asaph Street take over and livestock and farm implements sold.
1918 - Henry Cooper Smith purchased 550 Colombo Street, Christchurch (formerly Ward & Company City Brewery) and commenced business trading as the City Market. The business was initially involved with auctioning of grain and product. The livestock and general goods but gradually expanded its product range to include retailing of new and used furniture and hardware lines.
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