Gerry Harvey
Executive chairman, Harvey Norman Holdings
Executive chairman, Harvey Norman Holdings
LAST year was a grim time for many Australian retailers and Gerry Harvey believes there is more of the same to come.
The billionaire purveyor of home furniture, white goods and electronics has suffered at the hands of reduced consumer spending and the inexorable shift to online sales.
While initially rallying against internet shopping and calling for GST to be applied to all purchases made overseas, Harvey has since shifted his stance and embraced the online channel.
His company's collection of big-box stores spans the country, offering everything from furniture and white goods to consumer electronics and appliances. Through his retail empire, Harvey manages to influence a sizeable proportion of domestic discretionary spending.
While watching other retailers fall by the wayside, Harvey's self-professed strategy is to be “the last man standing”, helped to some extent by his company's large real estate portfolio.
His influence on Australian retailing and increased interest in online sales allows him to maintain his position in this year's list.
