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The Whitford Story Of Retail In Sydney

Announcement posted by Whitfords Home Appliances 30 Aug 2016

Whitfords of Five Dock, Sydney’s iconic home applicance specialist , started their retail story in 1922 in a small grocery shop attached to their residence. After just a few years, in 1926 and much enthusiasm, personal service and hard work, serving their local community, they built a large Corner Store with a Butcher shop and residences attached.

 

In these early days Whitfords stocked groceries, fruit and vegetables and a range of haberdashery, as well as a milk bar and lolly counter, which attracted the children on their way home from school. In the early 1940s George Whitford branched into sales of Speedwell cycles and BSA and Harley Davidson motorcycles. This was a successful enterprise and also established the hire of bicycles and had over 100 bikes on hire; all this was carried out at the rear of the corner store.

 

The arrival of the third generation into the Business in the 1950s of George, John and sister Frances assisted the expansion of another enterprise, a Real Estate Business of George A Whitford & Sons. The Real Estate business in those days was so different to today, as there was little or no bank finance ,and the arrival of migrants keen to establish their homes in the Five Dock area. George Whitford and family were able to provide a lifeline by organising their finance via insurance companies and private second mortgages; the rest is now history.

 

With the Real Estate Business selling the homes it was apparent that there was a need in the local area to provide a Home Appliance Store, and in 1955 Whitfords Home Appliances was established at 167 Great North Rd, Five Dock (next door to the Commonwealth Bank) as a family enterprise with third generation family selling refrigerators, washing machines and stoves also jugs, kettles, irons and toasters. With the advent of television in 1956 Whitfords Home Appliances was well established to meet the growing needs of the Community.

During this busy period all three children married and started their own families, with eight children between them providing a fourth generation of the Whitford family. All descendants to date of the original George and Frances( have worked at Five Dock and assisted in the family business.

 

In the 70s, 80s and 90s, other branch Stores at Wentworthville, Burwood and Birkenhead Pt, as well as a large warehouse and commercial sales outlet at Concord, all enabled the Whitford Home Appliance brand to become a well known and trusted place to shop.

As time passed John and his wife Janet and their three children, Andrew, Belinda and Peter have developed Whitfords Home Appliances to be a truly great family business which is respected for personal service, experienced and dedicated staff and customer satisfaction at all times.

 

Whitfords are one of Sydney's few independent and family owned electrical home appliance stores now also selling on the World Wide Web, delivering Australia wide. For more information please go to http://www.whitfordshomeappliances.com.au .