If Binglee.com.au Bigw.com.au colesonline.com.au homeshop.com.au ( woolworths) ....... can successfully go online whats Gerry Harvey complaining about?
There's a big reason why Harvey Norman can't do the same.
Businesses like Coles, Woolworths, and Myer all operate company owned stores, so cannibalising their store profits through online isn't a big deal, because the money still ends up in the same place.
But Harvey Norman is very different, with each department in each store being individually franchised. If the Harvey Norman online store was to start taking business away from the physical stores, it would hurt the franchisees who are mainly small business owners like the rest of us.
If you were a Harvey Norman franchisee would you be happy to see your profits eaten away by a company owned website taking advantage of overseas GST exemptions?
With all due respect to people on this forum, Gerry Harvey has probably forgotten more about retail and marketing than the rest of us could ever hope to know. You don't build a business worth over $3b without being a little bright.
PS. It's funny how people are ranting on these forums about why domain rules should be changed and be brought into line with overseas rules, but when some wealthy retailers do the same for their industry you start attacking them...
