Magnet Mart was a Canberra-based chain of hardware stores that was locally owned and operated until 2011, when it was purchased by
Woolworths. At its peak it operated five large hardware stores and employed approximately 400 people around
Canberra
Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...
and southern
New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
in Australia. The first store with the Magnet Mart name was opened in 1985 in
Queanbeyan
Queanbeyan ( ) is a city in south-eastern New South Wales, Australia, located adjacent to the Australian Capital Territory in the Southern Tablelands region. Located on the Queanbeyan River, the city is the council seat of the Queanbeyan-Pale ...
, although stores which later became Magnet Marts were opened as the Paul's Home Centres in
Phillip in 1972 and
Belconnen
Belconnen () is a Lands administrative divisions of Australia#Australian Capital Territory, district in the Australian Capital Territory in Australia. The district is subdivided into 27 divisions (suburbs), sections and blocks. As at the , the ...
in 1976. A large 13,500 m
2 store in
Gungahlin
Gungahlin () is a Lands administrative divisions of Australia#Australian Capital Territory, district in the Australian Capital Territory, one of the fastest growing regions in Australia. The district is subdivided into suburbs, sections and blo ...
opened in 2002. A large store was also opened in
Griffith
Griffith may refer to:
People
* Griffith (name)
* Griffith (surname)
* Griffith (given name)
Places Antarctica
* Mount Griffith, Ross Dependency
* Griffith Peak (Antarctica), Marie Byrd Land
* Griffith Glacier, Marie Byrd Land
* Griffith Ridge, ...
in the
Riverina
The Riverina ()
is an agricultural list of regions in Australia, region of south-western New South Wales, Australia. The Riverina is distinguished from other Australian regions by the combination of flat plains, a climate with significant seaso ...
region in 2005. This store was sold to
Bunnings
Bunnings Group Limited, trading as Bunnings Warehouse or Bunnings, is an Australian hardware and garden centre chain. The chain has been owned by Wesfarmers since 1994, and has stores in Australia and New Zealand.
Bunnings was founded in Per ...
in August 2006. Magnet Mart formerly operated stores in Gungahlin, Phillip, Queanbeyan,
Bowral and
Goulburn
Goulburn ( ) is a regional city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, approximately south-west of Sydney and north-east of Canberra. It was proclaimed as Australia's first inland city through letters patent by Queen Victor ...
.
Magnet Mart television advertisements feature prominently in Canberra and feature the many misadventures of the "Magnet Mart Guy" (played by actor Brendan Sloane). The slogan "Always cheaper cheaper Oi!" and its accompanying jingle were part of a well-known advertising campaign shown during the eighties and nineties.
Until 2006 Magnet Mart's slogan was "The Challenge Keeps us Cheaper", until it was replaced by "Better Prices, Better People". In January 2008 advertising was relaunched, ditching "Magnet Mart Guy" for a couple and their neighbor, Gus. The new slogan "Start Smart" (with Magnet Mart) was adopted. In 2009 the "Magnet Mart Guy" returned to accompany the Start Smart slogan and has worked to reinforce the branding.
In 2011, the remaining stores were bought by
Woolworths and converted to
Home Timber & Hardware stores.
References
External links
Magnet Mart web site
Companies based in Canberra
Retail companies of Australia
1980 establishments in Australia
2011 disestablishments in Australia
{{Canberra-stub