The take over of Kennys Cardiology by the UK WH Smith group appears to not have been as complete as first thought. This photo is from the Kennys store at Westfield Southland in Victoria from the weekend. The card display has looked like this for several months. The gaps are not something WH Smith would have allowed to continue – especially in such a high-profile location. I suspect we will hear more about this at some point.
WH Smith and American Greetings (John Sands) have gone into partnership to open 200 discount card shops in the UK to compete with the Card Factory a major discount card retailer over there…… Very interesting.
Jon it will be interesting to see how that model evolves. Right now our card market in Australia is quite different with considerable emphasis still on quality. If we head down the UK road, many will have to rethink their approach.
So has anybody had any news yet ? heard that kennys cardiology traralgon was like this to. But now they have shut down. Has southland shut down too? , i thought whs smith buying kennys an australian owned business would of tryed to boost kennys cardiology brand up and brought it back. Instead they are letting the good trusted australian brand die out so they can bring their own brand in.
Jonna, I was told that the Kennys sale did not proceed as announced, that some businesses were not purchase and not others. Southland, for example, was not sold – I’m told. I was there yesterday … it looked dreadful.
Kenny’s cardiology traralgon has seemed to close down within a day of notice and the lovely girls were left with out jobs abit of a pitty on the kennys brand, it was such a good card shop for our country town. I wonder how long till all of the kennys franchise are all gone
Kenny’s Cardiology in Southland did exactly the same thing as Traralgon. On the 30th April 2015 with no notice, and without paying out the staff they closed up, leaving a bunch of nice girls without jobs and with money owing to them.
I do know the Southland store has closed. I do not know the situation re employees and creditors.
The previous owners of Kenny’s were the most atrocious people to work for. Power freaks, micro managers. They lost so many good staff because of their appalling treatment of them. Third woirld country management here. I am so glad they have gone under. Good riddance to two hopeless retailers with no idea how to run a business effectively