Godfreys Enters Voluntary Administration

Trying2SaveABuck on 30/01/2024 - 21:08
Last edited 30/01/2024 - 22:21 by 1 other user

Vacuum cleaner retail chain Godfreys enters voluntary administration amid 'challenging' economic conditions

Many of you guys might not care about this, but a had a few friends work there over the years always had good things to say about the work culture overall, so felt it needed its own thread.

Godfreys is sadly going into voluntary administration. It is a sad day when 100s of people are going to lose their jobs due to store closures of an almost 100 year old Aussie retailer. It does feel like another one bites the dust as this is becoming more and more common but Godfreys has probably been around since before any of us where born.

I feel sorry for the workers losing their jobs, I hope they find new employment quickly or get a decent package to retire on.

Aussie retail kind of feels like it's going the way of Aussie manufacturing in someways with more and more businesses biting the dust. It's only the big boys surviving, part of me knows that is how a 'free market works but there are human-beings losing their livelihood from this and to me it is a sad day.

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    Aussie retail is fine
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    Aussie retail is dying
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Comments

  • mitty on 31/01/2024 - 12:44
    +2

    Sad, but not at all surprising. There are several local stores and every time I walk by they are empty and the person is sitting there twiddling their thumbs. I’m honestly shocked it’s lasted as long as it did. Sympathies to people who will be forced to look for other work.

  • ytthr on 31/01/2024 - 12:51
    +1

    Godfreys had a poor selection, no Dyson etc.
    Retail is not necessarily dying, Godfreys just did not change with the times.
    I feel sorry for the employees.

  • sproketoctopus on 31/01/2024 - 13:41
    +3

    I bought a barrel vacuum about 6 months ago from Godfreys.

    As said above you can test drive before you buy. They really pushed the Hoover unit, but ended up with a Miele - very happy.

    Salesman was very knowledgeable, did a good price and threw in some bags.

    I might be old fashioned - but that to me is service!

    • ESEMCE on 31/01/2024 - 14:27

      You rate the service despite them heavily pushing you to buy something else?
      That's a massive red flag to me.
      Good service = listen to my requirements and advise the best option to meet my requirements, not completely ignore my requirements and advise the option that best increases your sales commission.

      • OZKap on 01/02/2024 - 20:35
        +1

        Good service = listen to my requirements and advise the best option to meet my requirements, not completely ignore my requirements and advise the option that best increases your sales commission.

        Pure unadulterated conjecture of what you're imagining the sales rep to have said.

        • ESEMCE on 02/02/2024 - 09:42

          Agreed.
          However, it also includes a healthy dose of personal experience in a Godfreys store.

  • trapper on 31/01/2024 - 14:36

    Good salespeople will sell anything.

    • McFly on 31/01/2024 - 14:49
      +2

      True. Also, bad salespeople will sell anything.

  • Cluster on 31/01/2024 - 14:47
    +1

    The most amazing thing in this story is that Godfreys still existed. A whole chain of stores dedicated to selling vacuum cleaners? Why? Just how many vacuum cleaners do people buy? My current model is 10 years old and runs fine.

    • Oofy Doofy on 27/02/2024 - 14:41
      +1

      TBF they mostly sold comsumable items and replacements for worn proprietary parts, or universal parts.

  • gromit on 31/01/2024 - 14:49

    Personally shocked they lasted as long as they have. Everything they sold you could buy cheaper online, the very few times I visited one of their stores ended up purchasing the same item online instead as while I like to support local, I aint doing it when it means $100's of dollars more for the same item. Godfrey's aren't so much a sign of the death of retail, more a sign of a business model for items that people no longer need a store for.

  • eek on 31/01/2024 - 14:50

    Visited Godfreys twice in the last 15yrs. Once for buying a ducted vacuum hose handle for my parents, and recently to buy two 1L bottles of Tineco solution. Staff seemed friendly but the very large shop was completely empty and had 2 sales people standing around doing nothing.

    • pharkurnell on 31/01/2024 - 15:00
      +1

      and had 2 sales people standing around doing nothing.

      thats most stores in many shopping centers these days… I wonder how so many stay open at all.

      • gromit on 31/01/2024 - 15:06

        money laundering?

  • jonkvh on 31/01/2024 - 15:05

    On my second Wertheim. People above diss it as a brand, but I have had it clean up carpets better than commercial vacuums. The stores selling style was really modelled on Kirby vacuum style selling but with much more finesse.

  • prinsenhof on 31/01/2024 - 16:18
    +3

    I was trying to figure out which of the two stores had lost their drug shipments on the NSW coastline, it was between Godfreys and this furniture store that kept on expanding even though they never had any customers in the 10 years i've been walking by.

    Guess it was Godfreys

  • happydude on 31/01/2024 - 16:54
    +10

    Boomers and above have wanted actual service and advice.

    By contrast, Gen Z don't want to talk to anyone. They have already researched the product they want and just want it as quickly and cheaply as possible.

    The expert service and advice model doesn't work anymore. The cohort wanting that is getting smaller, and the profit margin in spending 20 - 30min going through different models with someone doesn't stack up. Low margins, high volume is the key now. Besides, you can learn more than the sales person in 15 min on the google.

    • eek on 01/02/2024 - 10:26
      +4

      So true! Like walking around a JB Hifi or Good guys etc about to drop $4K on a fridge and washing machine. No, I don't want any advice from the sales person! Just want them to match the lowest price I've found if they can't beat it. Don't try and sell me the in-house extended warranty and I want to try and negotiate free delivery as well :D It is still handy to be able to check out the items in person, like fridges, to feel the handles, pull drawers, so worth shopping with that retailer with a brick and mortar store front.

  • cute as duck on 31/01/2024 - 16:55
    +1

    I always scratched my head how they even existed and how it was possible for them to have so many physical stores. Never once did I step foot into any of their stores or visited their website in my life.

    For a short period in my childhood, I thought they sold bowling bowls.

  • treeman on 31/01/2024 - 17:05

    I'd agree to the fact it is dying but I still see shops popping up left right and centre and people who love going to the shops and I must admit I enjoy it to a certain extent although I rarely buy much if anything.

  • Ryballs on 31/01/2024 - 18:35

    Godfrey's have been on their last legs for ages. Nobody wants to go to a separate store for each type of item anymore, that's why places like JB, TGG, HN are popular and places like Godfrey's are dying. While it has declined since the good ol' days in 2000s, I wouldn't declare the Aussie retail sky is falling quite yet.

  • DiscoJango on 31/01/2024 - 22:07

    I used to walk into a godfreys store every now and then just to see if anything had changed. Nope, boring, ugly stores that had random crappy over priced vacuums that seemed to target senior citizens. Im surprised they lasted this long. I do remember the floating bouncy ball from when i was young tho.

    • Davo1111 on 01/02/2024 - 10:27

      I'm not sure the vacuum industry is exactly bustling with new products

  • pinchies on 31/01/2024 - 23:00

    I'd rather pay extra for an expert opinion (e.g. choice) or get a free one (e.g. youtube) than need to pay extra for the opportunity to be able to try a product personally in store and/or speak to a salesperson for their opinion. So I'm not surprised.

    I also think Dyson have an excellent product range — simply calling them overhyped is a weak justification to not provide the cashed up consumer the option.

  • MeesusEff on 31/01/2024 - 23:09
    +1

    Just sent my Tineco in for a warranty job 2 weeks ago, lucky I kicked myself to do it as they said they weren't taking in any more service jobs.

    Shame, they were the exclusive sellers of certain Tineco ranges

  • scooba on 01/02/2024 - 00:14

    When you see where Godfreys headquarters is located, it's very telling.

    Poor buggers, just after Christmas and new year.

    Very sad.

    • jonkvh on 01/02/2024 - 07:26
      +3

      Where is the HQ?

      • scooba on 01/02/2024 - 22:09
        -1

        Don’t you have the internet?

        • jonkvh on 01/02/2024 - 22:31

          Why don't you tell me?

          • scooba on 01/02/2024 - 22:54
            -1

            @jonkvh: Hmmmm, methinks you already know.

            But why take my word for it?

  • BuDWiZe on 01/02/2024 - 08:34

    heh went in there and grabbed a robot vac at xmas so i didnt have to get it at HN
    shame to hear they are struggling as i got decent service and questions answered there

  • Rear CreviceEruption on 01/02/2024 - 09:10
    +3

    With the majority of income servicing housing mortgages or paying rent, it is no wonder retail is dying. Who has money to buy things nowadays? I guess a lot of people on Ozbargain probably do, because they have the time to spare looking for deals, and apparently the money to shop for deals.

    But when I see poor looking students in cheap/old clothes walking out of the supermarket with nothing but a $1 bag of oats and a discounted bag of old potatoes, I'm pretty sure I know what's going on around Australia. For some portions of the population, this is unprecedented.

  • zoro02 on 01/02/2024 - 09:49

    Any business that don't seek continuous improvements, adopt to changes, have no one to blame but themselves being too comfortable in their own little world.

    The last time I bought a vacumn bag was 20 years ago, since then it's bagless and much cheaper offers from HN, JB and even K-mart etc. Like majority here agrees, Godfrey did not have the advantage of easi accissible location, price or service offerings.

  • PleasureMe on 01/02/2024 - 10:27

    I actually walked past a Godfreys store yesterday and saw 4 workers standing around with nothing to do because the store was completely empty, no customers. I thought to myself, how is this store still surviving. And then bam, next day i read this.

    • Plasma on 02/02/2024 - 10:38

      I was at a Master's the day before Woolworths announced they were closing the business. Same things, empty store, staff wandering around aimlessly.

  • The Wololo Wombat on 01/02/2024 - 11:33

    Massive failure to adapt. Where is Godfrey's online? Why is Godfrey's not usually the cheapest place to buy Dysons? Where is their expanded product range? I mean… if they have these things, I've never head of it.

    • dcash on 02/02/2024 - 10:37

      Where is Godfrey's online?!? It's literally their name dot com dot au!

      • The Wololo Wombat on 02/02/2024 - 13:47

        Sure… but I'm an avid deal hunter and I've never heard of it… or had a reason to go there.

  • whatgift on 01/02/2024 - 11:45
    +2

    I never had a good experience in their stores and not surprised or disappointed they’re gone. They push customers towards overpriced bag models that were designed to make them money in consumables in the long run. Their salespeople reminded me a lot of Harvey Norman’s, with similar tactics that are not at all about helping the customer.

    Edit: not sure if retail is dying - it needs to be relevant to current society, and not reflecting the sales tactics that the younger generations can see right through. JB Hifi is an example of how to be successful in retail, both in offerings and experience.

  • Brianqpr on 01/02/2024 - 14:54

    Ultimately an outdated business model with no diversity. You can assess and choose such products online and order from many retailers. There's simply no need to visit a store. Also with the rise in popularity of bagless vacs that was another of their revenue streams gone.

  • DJR9000 on 01/02/2024 - 16:03
    +3

    never set foot in the place, surprised they lasted this long - dinosaur business model catering to boomers.

    My wife said her family had a vacuum from godfrey's when they were growing up - the one that could lift a bowling ball - she was afraid to use it as her mum kept on going on about how powerful it was, lol. Her mum was worried the vacuum might slip and pull someone's scalp off or something. Misplaced anxiety much?

    Another tough lesson in business - adapt or die. E.g. hello, heard of this thing called ecommerce/online shopping guys? diversification into adjacent product ranges and service offerings to get people in the door? Sales training that isn't bait and switch products based on commission/store profit? Maybe thinking about how to be relevant to anyone under 55?

  • Crownanchor on 01/02/2024 - 18:14
    +1

    There was a time in the 80s when Godfreys was selling other products, such as Fridges with a very large range, and also I found an 80s ad where Godfreys was selling sewing machines. It seems they went back to just vacuum cleaners only and never dared to try different markets.

  • qwijibo on 01/02/2024 - 19:01
    +1

    I can't remember the last time I bought something from a bricks and mortar store (aside from groceries).

    It's all amazon and aliexpress.

  • gstfree on 02/02/2024 - 00:39

    I hope it can be sold and restructured, and keep the name. I appreciate Godfrey brand name.

  • R4 on 02/02/2024 - 00:50
    +2

    "Aussie retail is dying"

    No. It's changing and evolving but not dying. Ultimately, we live in a wealthy, advanced Western economy and consumers are always going to want to buy stuff - and someone will want to sell it to them.

    "It's only the big boys surviving"

    Maybe but plenty of small retailers still going okay. In the small town that I live in that's in the hills to the East of Perth, there's plenty of small retailers. A chemist closed a few years ago but there's several others still operating. The butcher, baker and newsagent all busy. There's a florist, travel agent, cafes, an independent shoe shop, pubs, restaurants, a beautician - all been there for years. We have a shop that only sells cheese and it's going gangbusters - and it's expensive - so much so that they recently moved to bigger premises. This is a middle of the road town - not wealthy, not poor. So, some small retailers my be struggling but many aren't.

  • Peon on 02/02/2024 - 01:21

    Not surprised…but now who can I call to help me with a dust filter for a Hoover Max Extract Pressure Pro model 60?

  • Arkmech on 02/02/2024 - 09:48

    Godfrey literally was like the Nokia of smartphones. My local store was always empty. Too bad the business didn't innovate or diversify.
    Had a strong brand name and the 100 years of history which is rare but you can't rely on that for just 1 product line with rising costs, rent and competition. They should have seen the signs with Dick Smith.

    • Imitation on 02/02/2024 - 10:59
      +1

      I wonder if Kogan is interested.

  • dcash on 02/02/2024 - 10:34

    Good riddance! I found their staff extremely rude and would only sell you precisely what they wanted to sell you, no matter what you asked for. They also did a Kogan and bought the rights to use the brand name Hoover, and then re-badged cheap Chinese crap with the Hoover name. Zero respect.

  • foursaken on 02/02/2024 - 10:48

    Godfreys and other companies that operate on the basis of an "exclusive distribution model" are done, and anyone with half a brain could have seen this coming as soon as Amazon appeared.

  • ribze1 on 02/02/2024 - 12:57
    -1

    Kept on life support via the previous Liberal Government's hand outs.

  • gryphn on 02/02/2024 - 13:03

    In 1993 these guys totally scammed my immigrant parents on a $600 Wertheim.
    That was the first time and the last time anyone in our family shopped with Ausvac/Godfrey's.
    Whilst not a lot they probably missed on 12-15k of business over the last 30 years.

  • bdl on 02/02/2024 - 19:26

    Brokeliness is next to Godfreyness

  • furyou on 02/02/2024 - 22:08
    -1

    every successful oz co migrates to the us/uk. that's what sux.

  • bp2000 on 02/02/2024 - 22:20

    All this negativity. Remember that most of the world is carpeted. One day an Aussie brick and mortar retailer will sell all the vacuum cleaners to clean those carpets.

  • Herbse on 03/02/2024 - 00:31
    +1

    I want cheaper items - all purchases come from overseas
    I want more pay - all the jobs go overseas
    I want more money for my holiday rentals - more people holiday overseas
    I want more money for my properties - more buyers come from overseas

    How could this happen to Australia??

  • mitty on 03/02/2024 - 07:51

    There's a big JB Hi Fi on Warrigal Rd near Chadstone at some homemaker place. I've been there several times, every time the place is just about empty. Same with one in Blackburn/Nunawading. Surely that can't be profitable. I'm not saying JB is going to go bust, but with the prevalence of online shopping, the days of big retail presences have to be numbered for businesses to remain profitable.

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