Latest news with #MattHarray
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Auckland department store Smith and Caughey's unveils final window display
Soon to close Auckland department store Smith & Caughey's has unveiled it's final Queen Street window display after 145 years. The curtains were pulled back at 3:30pm on Thursday, where a projector played a slideshow of images commemorating the iconic store's heritage and people. It accompanied another window display that was revealed on Wednesday, which reflects on Smith & Caughey's origins. Smith & Caughey's historical window display showing store's history. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel About a dozen staff members came outside together to watch the display unveiling. Smith & Caughey's acting chief executive Matt Harray was approached by RNZ, but declined to comment. It comes as the department store's closing date was moved forward to 4pm Sunday, after originally being set to shut its doors on 31 July. "It is with a heavy heart that we announce our official closure, 4pm Sunday 15 June 2025. Until then, we welcome you instore for one last shop, a friendly chat and perhaps a shared memory or two," said Smith & Caughey's on social media. The post went on to say that the final Smith & Caughey's Queen Street window display, "shines a light on the rich history of our business, and our people". Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel The store had announced in May that it intended to close, with 98 staff being made redundant. Smith & Caughey's closed its Newmarket store last year and had reduced its Queen Street store to one floor. At the time, the company cited increased competition from new shopping malls, continued economic uncertainty and low consumer confidence and spending power has contributed to their closure. Smith & Caughey's also said many city office workers were continuing to work from home post-Covid. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel They said the city centre has also faced significant disruption and change in the form of ongoing roadworks and the slow progress of CRL causing traffic congestion. The company said a large decline in foot traffic on Queen Street and an increase in parking costs had caused an impact, forcing the "heartbreaking" closure of the entire business. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel "We are acutely aware that this has been a difficult and uncertain time for our staff and today's announcement is a deeply emotional one for all the team, our suppliers and our loyal customers," Harray said at the time in a statement. "Our intention has always been to address the business challenges so that Smith & Caughey's can continue. Every attempt has been made to achieve this and every feasible option investigated, no stone left unturned. "However, it's sadly clear it is no longer viable for us to keep the doors open." Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Auckland department store Smith & Caughey's unveils final window display
Soon to close Auckland department store Smith & Caughey's has unveiled it's final Queen Street window display after 145 years. The curtains were pulled back at 3:30pm on Thursday, where a projector played a slideshow of images commemorating the iconic store's heritage and people. It accompanied another window display that was revealed on Wednesday, which reflects on Smith & Caughey's origins. Smith & Caughey's historical window display showing store's history. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel About a dozen staff members came outside together to watch the display unveiling. Smith & Caughey's acting chief executive Matt Harray was approached by RNZ, but declined to comment. It comes as the department store's closing date was moved forward to 4pm Sunday, after originally being set to shut its doors on 31 July. "It is with a heavy heart that we announce our official closure, 4pm Sunday 15 June 2025. Until then, we welcome you instore for one last shop, a friendly chat and perhaps a shared memory or two," said Smith & Caughey's on social media. The post went on to say that the final Smith & Caughey's Queen Street window display, "shines a light on the rich history of our business, and our people". Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel The store had announced in May that it intended to close, with 98 staff being made redundant. Smith & Caughey's closed its Newmarket store last year and had reduced its Queen Street store to one floor. At the time, the company cited increased competition from new shopping malls, continued economic uncertainty and low consumer confidence and spending power has contributed to their closure. Smith & Caughey's also said many city office workers were continuing to work from home post-Covid. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel They said the city centre has also faced significant disruption and change in the form of ongoing roadworks and the slow progress of CRL causing traffic congestion. The company said a large decline in foot traffic on Queen Street and an increase in parking costs had caused an impact, forcing the "heartbreaking" closure of the entire business. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel "We are acutely aware that this has been a difficult and uncertain time for our staff and today's announcement is a deeply emotional one for all the team, our suppliers and our loyal customers," Harray said at the time in a statement. "Our intention has always been to address the business challenges so that Smith & Caughey's can continue. Every attempt has been made to achieve this and every feasible option investigated, no stone left unturned. "However, it's sadly clear it is no longer viable for us to keep the doors open." Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
1News
21-05-2025
- Business
- 1News
Smith & Caughey's to close its doors after 145 years
Auckland department store Smith & Caughey's has made the 'heartbreaking decision' to close its doors by the end of July after 145 years. The move to close the flagship Queen St store and its online offering follows the latest consultation process with staff about its ongoing viability. Its closure will result in 98 redundancies. On May 29 last year, the store initiated a staff consultation proposal regarding the potential closure of all retail operations in early 2025. This included prominent department stores in Queen St, Newmarket, and online. It cited a range of external factors that created the "perfect storm" for the retailer, including increased competition with the march from the main street to new shopping malls; continued economic uncertainty; low consumer confidence and spending power; and city office workers continuing to work from home following the Covid-19 pandemic. The Queen St store was downsized to a single floor in February, while its Newmarket store was closed last year in a bid to save the business. 'We are acutely aware that this has been a difficult and uncertain time for our staff and today's announcement is a deeply emotional one for all the team, our suppliers and our loyal customers,' acting chief executive Matt Harray said today in a statement. 'Our intention has always been to address the business challenges so that Smith & Caughey's can continue. 'Every attempt has been made to achieve this and every feasible option investigated, no stone left unturned. However, it's sadly clear it is no longer viable for us to keep the doors open.' Harray said changes made last year to improve the company's financial position did not come to fruition. 'This is a heartbreaking decision, and our attention right now is on our staff.' A final 'End of an Era' sale will commence at the Queen St retail store on Wednesday, May 28. The online store will close on May 30, 2025.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Smith & Caughey's announces closure of Queen Street and online stores
Smith & Caughey's closed its Newmarket store last year and reduced its CBD store to a single-floor format. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi After 145 years in business, Auckland department store Smith & Caughey's has announced it will close on 31 July. In a statement posted to social media, Smith & Caughey's said 98 staff would be made redundant when the Queen Street retail and online stores close. Smith & Caughey's closed its Newmarket store last year and reduced its CBD store to a single-floor format due to financial difficulties . The company cited increased competition from new shopping malls, continued economic uncertainty and low consumer confidence and spending power has contributed to their closure. Smith & Caughey's also said many city office workers were continuing to work from home, post-Covid. They said the city centre has also faced significant disruption and change in the form of ongoing roadworks and the slow progress of CRL causing traffic congestion . The company also said a large decline in foot traffic on Queen Street and an increase in parking costs had caused an impact, forcing the "heartbreaking" closure of the entire business. "We are acutely aware that this has been a difficult and uncertain time for our staff and today's announcement is a deeply emotional one for all the team, our suppliers and our loyal customers," acting chief executive Matt Harray said. "Our intention has always been to address the business challenges so that Smith & Caughey's can continue. Every attempt has been made to achieve this and every feasible option investigated, no stone left unturned. "However, it's sadly clear it is no longer viable for us to keep the doors open." The online store will close on 30 May. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
21-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Smith & Caughey's closing for good - almost 100 staff lose jobs as rescue bid fails
Smith & Caughey's acting chief executive Matt Harray said it was a 'heartbreaking decision'. 'We are acutely aware that this has been a difficult and uncertain time for our staff and today's announcement is a deeply emotional one for all the team, our suppliers and our loyal customers,' said Harray. 'Our intention has always been to address the business challenges so that Smith & Caughey's can continue. 'Every attempt has been made to achieve this and every feasible option investigated, no stone left unturned. 'However, it's sadly clear it is no longer viable for us to keep the doors open. 'While we all hoped that the changes we made to the business in the latter part of 2024, including reducing and curating the Queen St offering and closing the Newmarket store, would allow for an improvement in the financial position of the company, unfortunately this has not been the case. 'This is a heartbreaking decision, and our attention right now is on our staff.' Harray told the Herald that while the new-look, ground-level Queen St store had started well in February, sales dropped in the following weeks. 'Unfortunately, the foot traffic on Queen St is significantly lower than it was this time last year. We find that when we've got a promotion, we can definitely get people in, but outside of promotional times, that's when we're struggling and obviously we can't be on discount all the time.' Harray said there were several factors behind the fall in foot traffic -a major reason was the economy. 'I also think the sheer amount of roadworks surrounding our store currently is really putting people off,' he said. 'I think the perceived level of safety in the city centre is also putting people off. I don't think people realise that the city centre is actually a better place to be than it was 12 months ago.' He said he had regular meetings with authorities including Auckland Transport. Their response? 'Very little.' Smith & Caughey's first announced a proposal to potentially close in May 2024, citing factors that created a 'perfect storm'. As well as competing with new shopping malls and the lagging economy, many city workers are continuing to work from home post-Covid. Shoppers have also faced increased parking costs, ongoing road works and the slow progress of the planned City Rail Link (CRL), according to the company. Harray believed that with investment, Queen St could become an important high-end main street retail precinct again. 'But it's going to take a long time... we're five or 10 years away. 'You go over to Europe, and even Australia, and you just see how vibrant these main streets are, and then you see ours here ... it's just not the same.' Harray, 41, started at Smith & Caughey when he was 15 and his mother was a lingerie buyer for the company. Other than two years when he was in London, it's the only place he has worked. 'Smith & Caughey's is a New Zealand retail institution, not just Auckland. 'It's incredibly upsetting to know that a department store like us will no longer be around. A department store has a very important place to play in the retail scene as we've seen around the world, but it is very difficult times. 'I'm really sad personally that this is the end of the legacy of Smith and Caughey's.' Harray said the Smith & Caughey's board would now determine the future of the historic Queen St building, and whether it would be sold or developed. 'The board are going to investigate what happens next after we've closed.' The board was also investigating options for the Newmarket building. Harray said he was 'gutted' for his staff. 'They're so loyal to us, and so many of them have told us that they want to be here to the end to help support us through this transition.' Smith & Caughey's will launch a final 'end of an era' sale next Wednesday. The online store will close on Friday next week, followed by Queen St by the end of July at the latest.
