You can’t say you have done shopping in Melbourne if you have not been to Myer. And No, I am not saying that hyperbolically or making any exaggerated statement.
Strategically
located at the most central part of the town, Myer is one of the largest
department stores in Melbourne, housing both affordable and upscale brands,
from casual Hush Puppies footwear, luxurious Hugo Boss watches, Australian
Aesop skincare products, to British high fashion Jimmy Choo fragrances.
But
what intrigued me the most are not those dainty European cakes at its 3rd
floor Brunetti café, nor the occasional clearance sale that gives the feverish
shopper’s adrenaline a rush.
It
is the humble origin of Myer and its founder that made me pause and appreciate
the beauty of Melbourne, and those classic tales of migrant success occurred in
this relatively young city at the Southern Hemisphere.
The
story of Sidney Myer, the founder of the Australia’s largest chain of
department stores, is one of the most inspiring success stories amongst all.
1. The Genesis: an underwear-wrapper at Flinders Lane
A Jew
and a Russian migrant, Simcha Myer Baevsk (as he was originally known)
emigrated to Melbourne when he was 21-year-old, following the footsteps of his
elder brother Elcon Myer. Penniless and with little knowledge of English, the
Myer brothers commenced their humble working life in an underclothing factory at Flinders Lane, Melbourne.
Myer
then moved on to be a door-to-door salesman, pushing cart of products across the
town, persuading traditional homemakers and modern fashionistas to give a
chance to his exquisite laces and elegant stockings.
2. A natural salesman with an astute
marketing brain
Shortly
a year later in 1900, Myer took the bold step and established the first Myer
store, a drapery store in Bendigo. The
business turned out to be a thriving success, thanks to Myer’s natural talent
as a salesman and his innovative way of marketing. Myer designed and created
visually enticing in-store displays, and fully utilized his advertising prowess
to capture the loyalty of his female patrons.
The
business boomed, and within a short few years, a Myer at Bourke Street Mall
began its business and quickly became the icon of Melbourne’s fashion and
style.
3. A true leader
It
is undeniable that Myer was an exceptionally gifted and visionary entrepreneur. But
Myer was more than just that.
He was a true leader, a person of strong moral fortitude who received great respect
and admiration from his employees.
The
Australian Great Depression in 1930s saw the sudden surge of unemployment and
severe economic downturn. Myer retrenched not a single of his employee. All
staff, including himself, suffered pay cuts.
For
the unemployed and homeless, Myer financed a Christmas banquet for 10,000 at
the Royal Exhibition Building, gave a present to each child, and personally
waited on his guests.
4. Charity and philanthropy efforts
The
Melbourne University, Children’s Hospital, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the
Shrine of Remembrance (just to name a few) are beneficiaries of Myer’s charity
and philanthropy efforts.
Sidney
Myer died suddenly at the age of 56 in 1934. He left a fortune of around $1
million (a very large sum of money at that time), one-tenth of which was directed
to a charitable trust to exist in perpetuity- the Sidney Myer Fund.
The
Myer store today remains a great place to shop. However, being a public listed
company and a shareholder-driven commercial enterprise, the Myer store slowly
loses the personal touch a family business could offer under the leadership of the
man Sidney Myer.
Yet
Myer will forever mean more than just a name of a department store; it is a
symbol of hope to the foreign migrants, a constant reminder of what the true
Melbourne can offer to every hopeful soul with big dreams.
Location:
314-336 Bourke St
, Melbourne
Trading
Hours:
Mon -Wed,
Sat: 9 am to 7 pm
Sun:
10 am to 7 pm
Thu –
Fri: 9 am – 9 pm
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