Michael Hill Jeweller

The company started in 1979, when Michael Hill and his wife, Christine, opened their first store in the New Zealand town of Whangārei. A unique retail jewellery formula that included dramatically different store designs, a product range devoted exclusively to jewellery and almost saturation levels of high impact advertising elevated the company to national prominence.

The company expanded to 10 stores by 1987, the same year it listed on the NZX. Also in this year, Michael Hill Jeweller expanded into Australia, opening four stores.{{Cite book | last = Hill | first = Michael | authorlink = Michael Hill (entrepreneur) |author2=Bryan Staff | title = HELLO – Michael Hill Jeweller | publisher = Penguin Books | year = 1994 | location = New Zealand | isbn = 978-0-670-86033-3}}

In 2000, Michael Hill Jeweller had 40 stores in New Zealand, including 12 in Auckland.{{cite web |title=New Zealand Store Locations |url=http://michaelhill.co.nz/page2.html |website=michaelhill.co.nz |publisher=Michael Hill Jewellers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001204210000/http://michaelhill.co.nz/page2.html |archive-date=4 December 2000}}

In 2002, the company expanded into Canada, opening its first stores in Vancouver, British Columbia.{{cite book |title=Toughen Up: What I've learned about surviving tough times |last=Hill |first=Michael |authorlink = Michael Hill (entrepreneur) |year=2009 |publisher=Random House |location=New Zealand |isbn=978-1-86979-046-2 |pages=203–204 |url=http://www.randomhouse.co.nz/books/michael-hill/toughen-up-what-ive-learned-about-surviving-tough-times-9781869790462.aspx }} Michael Hill now has a presence in five Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. In September 2008, the company entered the United States market by acquiring 17 stores in Illinois and Missouri from Whitehall Jewelers. By mid-2013 over 60% of overall sales were from Australia, only 20% from New Zealand, with the rest from North America.{{Citation |title = Michael Hill profit up 10 per cent |author = Fairfax NZ Ltd |date = 17 February 2006 |url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/financial-results/9050400/Michael-Hill-profit-up-10-per-cent |accessdate = 17 August 2013}}

Emma Hill, the daughter of Michael Hill, succeeded him as chairperson after the November 2015 annual general meeting.{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Catherine |title=Following in dad's footsteps |work=The Press |date=15 August 2015 |page=C15}}

In April 2018, Michael Hill closed their nine remaining stores in the US.{{Cite web |date=2018-04-12 |title=No buyers for Michael Hill's failed US stores |url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/page/no-buyers-for-michael-hill-fails-to-find-buyers-for-us-stores |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=Newsroom |language=en-AU}}

In April 2023, Michael Hill announced it would acquire Australian jewellery chain Bevilles and its 26 stores for {{AUD|45 million}}.{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=David |date=2023-04-20 |title=Family-run Bevilles cashes out for $45 million as Michael Hill takes ownership of jewellery retailer |url=https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/mergers-and-acquisitions/michael-hill-bevilles-family-owned/ |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=SmartCompany |language=en-AU}}

In late 2006, following a five-year trial,{{Citation| last = McKenzie-Minifie| first = Martha| title = Diamonds are this jeweller's best friend| newspaper = The New Zealand Herald| location = New Zealand| date = 25 August 2006| url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/michael-hill-international-ltd/news/article.cfm?o_id=113&objectid=10397936| accessdate = 5 May 2010}} the company launched its own brand of watches under the Michael Hill name, phasing out all but the Citizen brand of watches by the middle of 2007.{{Citation| last = Drinnan

| first = John| title = Jeweller counting on own watches| newspaper = The New Zealand Herald| location = New Zealand| date = 13 October 2006

| url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/michael-hill-international-ltd/news/article.cfm?o_id=113&objectid=10397936| accessdate = 5 May 2010}} By mid-2008, only Michael Hill-brand watches were available in the company's stores.{{cite web| title = Michael Hill buys into US

| date=31 January 2009| url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/592785| accessdate = 6 May 2010 }}

• 1979: Michael Hill opens his first store in Whangarei, New Zealand.{{cite web |url=http://www.michaelhill.com/#CompanyHistory |title=Michael Hill Company History |author=Michael Hill International |accessdate=5 May 2010 |year=2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602085008/http://www.michaelhill.com/#CompanyHistory |archivedate=2 June 2010 |url-status=live }}
• 1981: Michael Hill began manufacturing his own jewellery in house.
• 2006: The Michael Hill Watch Collection was launched.
• 2009: The Michael Hill Charms Collection was launched.{{cite web |url=http://www.michaelhill.com/#News |title=Michael Hill News |author=Michael Hill International |accessdate=5 May 2010 |year=2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602085008/http://www.michaelhill.com/#News |archivedate=2 June 2010 |url-status=live }}
• 2010: Michael Hill announced the closure of eight stores in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/3785705/Michael-Hill-scales-back-US-operation |title=Michael Hill scales back US operation |author=NZPA |accessdate=8 June 2010 |year=2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209234434/http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/3785705/Michael-Hill-scales-back-US-operation/ |archivedate=9 December 2010 |url-status=live }}
• The company announced it was in a $40m NZD dispute with the Australian Taxation Office.{{Cite web|title = Michael Hill in trans-Tasman tax dispute|url = http://www.3news.co.nz/business/michael-hill-in-transtasman-tax-dispute-2012091911|accessdate = 1 January 2016}}
• 2013: Michael Hill announced a new global brand, including bridal products and other jewellery which was more feminine.{{Cite news|title = Michael Hill plans US bridal range|url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/business/9342570/Michael-Hill-plans-US-bridal-range|newspaper = Stuff.co.nz|date = 30 October 2013|access-date = 1 January 2016|first = Laura|last = Walters}}
• 2014: Sales in Australia were described as "lacklustre" due to Australian economic performance.{{Cite web|title = Slag Aussie sales hit Michael Hill|url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/64796486/australian-slowdown-hits-jeweller-michael-hill|website = Stuff| date=8 January 2015 |accessdate = 1 January 2016}} The company settled its dispute with the Australian Taxation Office.
• 2015: The company opened a store in New York City in April 2015.{{Cite web|title = Michael Hill opens New York store|url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/68137974/michael-hill-jewellers-opens-in-new-york|website = Stuff| date=29 April 2015 |accessdate = 1 January 2016}} Australian sales improve after poor performance in that market during 2013–2014.{{Cite web|title = Aussie market picks up for Michael Hill jewellery| date=13 October 2015 |url = http://www.jewellermagazine.com/Article.aspx?id=5452|accessdate = 1 January 2016}} Sir Michael Hill moved to a new role of Founder/President, as his daughter Emma became Chairman.{{Cite web|title = Michael Hill takes new founder president role within the jewellery chain|url = http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/michael-hill-takes-new-founder-president-role-within-jewellery-chain-b-182580|website = The National Business Review|accessdate = 1 January 2016}}

File:Michael Hill - first NZ store.jpg|alt=Michael Hill and family standing outside the entrance of their first jewellery store|Michael Hill and family in front of their first store

File:Michael hill in Chadstone Shopping Centre 2017.JPG|Michael Hill Jeweller at the Chadstone Shopping Centre

File:Michael Hill Jeweller Upper Canada Mall 2012.jpg|Michael Hill Jeweller at the Upper Canada Mall

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.michaelhill.com Official Website]

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{{NZX 50 companies}}

{{Retailers in New Zealand}}

Category:Companies based in Brisbane

Category:Companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange

Category:Companies listed on the New Zealand Exchange

Category:Cross-listed companies

Category:Jewellery retailers of Australia

Category:Jewellery retailers of Canada

Category:Jewellery retailers of New Zealand

Category:New Zealand companies established in 1979

Category:Retail companies established in 1979

Category:Watch brands

Category:Clock manufacturing companies of Australia

Category:Watch manufacturing companies of Australia