JB Hi-Fi
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAn Australian and New Zealand retailer specialising in consumer electronics, home appliances, entertainment software and related products.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
JB Hi-Fi is the principal retail brand of JB Hi-Fi Limited, an Australian publicly listed retailer serving consumers in Australia and New Zealand. The business began in 1974 in Keilor East, Melbourne, when John Barbuto established a store focused on music and specialist hi-fi equipment. Its early identity was built around enthusiast-oriented audio products, physical entertainment media and a value-conscious retail format. The brand name and store concept later expanded beyond specialist hi-fi into a broad assortment of consumer electronics and household technology. Barbuto sold the business in 1983 to Richard Bouris, David Rodd and Peter Caserta. Under their ownership, JB Hi-Fi developed from a single-store operation into a multi-store chain in Melbourne and Sydney. By 2000, the business had grown to ten stores and reported turnover of approximately A$150 million, after which a majority interest was sold to private equity. JB Hi-Fi subsequently became a public company, listing on the Australian Securities Exchange in October 2003. Expansion through acquisitions and new stores broadened the company’s geographic and category reach. In 2004, JB Hi-Fi acquired a 70% interest in Queensland-based Clive Anthonys. In 2006, it purchased New Zealand electronics chain Hill and Stewart. JB Hi-Fi later introduced stores under its own name in New Zealand, while the Hill and Stewart outlets were ultimately closed in 2010. The group’s most consequential expansion came in 2016, when it announced the acquisition of The Good Guys, an Australian home-appliance retailer, for A$870 million. The transaction added a major appliance business to the group and materially increased its presence in Australian appliances as well as consumer electronics. JB Hi-Fi’s retail proposition combines competitive pricing, a deliberately informal store environment and a wide range of branded technology products. Its stores are associated with hand-drawn signs, employee-written product reviews and relatively simple, low-cost visual merchandising. This presentation has helped distinguish the brand from more polished or department-store-style competitors and supports an image centred on value, accessibility and product enthusiasm. The company’s assortment has changed substantially over time. Physical software—including music CDs, DVDs and video games—was historically important, but by 2020 software represented only a small share of sales compared with hardware categories such as televisions, mobile phones and computers. The group also operates The Good Guys stores in Australia, giving it a separate but complementary retail identity in appliances and home technology. As of June 2024, the wider group was reported to operate 330 stores across Australia and New Zealand: 205 JB Hi-Fi and JB Hi-Fi Home stores in Australia, 19 JB Hi-Fi stores in New Zealand and 106 The Good Guys stores in Australia. In September 2024, JB Hi-Fi acquired a 75% stake in E&S Trading, a kitchen and bathroom specialist, extending the group further into home-improvement-related categories. In February 2025, it launched a retail media network with Retail MediaWorks, adding advertising and shopper-marketing services to its commercial activities. The brand remains active and publicly traded. Its principal business is retailing consumer electronics, appliances, computers, telecommunications products, entertainment products and associated services through physical stores and online channels. Its competitive positioning is best described as mass-market, value-led and product-focused rather than luxury or specialist-only. The company’s Australian and New Zealand footprint, its integration with The Good Guys and its continued movement toward hardware, appliances, digital commerce and retail media define its current strategic profile.
History
JB Hi-Fi was founded in 1974 by John Barbuto in Keilor East, a suburb of Melbourne. The original business concentrated on music and specialist hi-fi equipment, establishing the product-led and enthusiast-oriented identity that remained associated with the brand as it diversified. In 1983, Barbuto sold the business to Richard Bouris, David Rodd and Peter Caserta. The new owners expanded the chain into Melbourne and Sydney. By 2000, JB Hi-Fi had ten stores and turnover of approximately A$150 million, and the majority of the business was sold to private equity. The company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in October 2003. Its subsequent growth combined organic store openings with acquisitions. In July 2004, JB Hi-Fi acquired 70% of Queensland electronics chain Clive Anthonys. In December 2006, it bought Hill and Stewart, a New Zealand chain with 11 electronics stores. JB Hi-Fi opened stores under its own brand in New Zealand from 2007, and all Hill and Stewart stores were closed in 2010. The number of JB Hi-Fi stores in New Zealand increased from ten in 2010 to thirteen in 2011. A major strategic turning point came in September 2016, when JB Hi-Fi announced the acquisition of The Good Guys for A$870 million. The transaction added a large Australian appliance retailer to the group and increased its estimated market share in both home appliances and consumer electronics. The Good Guys continued to operate as a distinct retail brand, complementing the JB Hi-Fi store network. During the 2010s and 2020s, the group’s product mix shifted away from physical entertainment software toward hardware. Music CDs, DVDs and video games had been important parts of the historic assortment, but by 2020 software accounted for 8% of total sales, compared with 27% in 2010. Televisions, mobile phones, computers and other technology hardware became more central to the business. JB Hi-Fi’s public image is closely tied to hand-drawn in-store signage, employee product reviews and a deliberately informal retail environment. The stores have often been described as functional or bare-bones, with a low-cost presentation that reinforces the brand’s value positioning. In 2015, the company received public criticism after a man with Down syndrome was refused entry to a Brisbane store because staff confused him with another person. CEO Richard Murray publicly apologised to the family. In 2021, Murray announced his departure after seven years as chief executive, and Terry Smart was selected as his replacement. In December 2023, a class action was filed alleging that extended warranties sold by the retailer were of little practical value because Australian consumers already receive comparable protections under consumer law. In September 2024, JB Hi-Fi acquired 75% of E&S Trading, a kitchen and bathroom business, for A$47.8 million. In February 2025, it launched a retail media network with Retail MediaWorks. As of June 2024, the wider group operated 330 stores across Australia and New Zealand, comprising JB Hi-Fi and JB Hi-Fi Home stores in Australia, JB Hi-Fi stores in New Zealand and The Good Guys stores in Australia.
- 2025
Retail media network launched
[1]The company launches a retail media network in partnership with Retail MediaWorks.
- 2024
E&S Trading stake acquired
[1]JB Hi-Fi acquires 75% of kitchen and bathroom business E&S Trading for A$47.8 million.
- 2021
Chief executive succession
[1]Terry Smart is announced as successor to Richard Murray, who leaves the role at the end of August.
- 2016
The Good Guys acquisition announced
[1]JB Hi-Fi announces an A$870 million acquisition of The Good Guys, strengthening its position in Australian appliances.
- 2010
Hill and Stewart stores close
[1]The remaining Hill and Stewart outlets are closed as the New Zealand operation moves to the JB Hi-Fi brand.
- 2007
JB Hi-Fi-branded New Zealand stores open
[1]The company begins establishing stores under the JB Hi-Fi name in New Zealand.
- 2006
Hill and Stewart acquisition
[1]The company acquires the New Zealand electronics chain Hill and Stewart.
- 2004
Clive Anthonys acquisition
[1]JB Hi-Fi acquires a 70% interest in Queensland electronics chain Clive Anthonys.
- 2003
JB Hi-Fi lists on the ASX
[1]JB Hi-Fi becomes a publicly listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange.
- 2000
Business reaches ten stores
[1]The chain reaches ten stores in Melbourne and Sydney and reports turnover of approximately A$150 million before a majority sale to private equity.
Products and positioning
A value-oriented, mass-market consumer electronics and home-technology retailer with an informal, product-focused store experience and a broad Australian and New Zealand footprint.
Consumer electronics · 1974
Consumer electronics
Consumer electronics are the core of JB Hi-Fi’s retail proposition. The category includes televisions, audio equipment, cameras and other personal or home technology products. It connects the company’s original hi-fi heritage with its broader mass-market electronics format.
Home entertainment
Televisions and home entertainment
Televisions and associated home-entertainment equipment became increasingly important as the company moved from physical media toward hardware. The range supports household viewing, audio and connected entertainment needs.
Computing and telecommunications
Computers and mobile technology
JB Hi-Fi sells computers, tablets, mobile phones and related technology accessories. These hardware categories are central to the modern assortment and represent the shift in sales away from CDs, DVDs and other physical software.
Home appliances · 2016
Home appliances
Home appliances form a major part of the group’s Australian offering, particularly through The Good Guys, which operates as a separate retail brand within the wider group. The acquisition of The Good Guys significantly expanded the company’s appliance presence.
Entertainment software · 1974
Music, movies and video games
Music, movies and video games reflect JB Hi-Fi’s original entertainment-retail heritage. Physical software was historically significant, although its share of total sales declined substantially as consumers and the retailer moved toward hardware and connected devices.
Home improvement · 2024
Kitchen and bathroom products
Through its 75% investment in E&S Trading, the group entered a more specialised kitchen and bathroom retail segment. E&S Trading adds a home-improvement-related capability alongside JB Hi-Fi’s electronics and The Good Guys’ appliance businesses.
Controversies
2023
Extended-warranty class action
A class action alleged that extended warranties offered by JB Hi-Fi were worthless or of limited value because Australian Consumer Law already provides comparable consumer protections. The allegation was reported as litigation rather than an established finding of wrongdoing.
2015
Brisbane store entry incident
A man with Down syndrome was refused entry to a Brisbane store after being confused with another person with the same disability who had previously been banned. The incident attracted media attention, and CEO Richard Murray publicly apologised to the family.
Brand decisions
2025
Launch retail media networkStrategyBackground
Retailers have increasingly developed advertising businesses using their customer, store and digital commerce environments.
Action taken
JB Hi-Fi launched a retail media network in partnership with Retail MediaWorks.
2024
Acquire a majority stake in E&S TradingM&ABackground
JB Hi-Fi expanded beyond its established electronics and appliance formats into kitchen and bathroom retail.
Action taken
The company acquired a 75% stake in E&S Trading.
Aftermath
The investment added a specialised kitchen and bathroom business to the group’s portfolio.
Purchase price. A$47.8 million (September 2024)
2021
Change chief executiveStrategyBackground
Richard Murray announced that he would leave the chief executive role after seven years.
Action taken
JB Hi-Fi appointed Terry Smart, then head of The Good Guys, as Murray’s successor.
Aftermath
Terry Smart became the group’s chief executive after Murray’s departure at the end of August 2021.
2016
Acquire The Good GuysM&ABackground
The acquisition was intended to broaden JB Hi-Fi Limited’s home-appliance presence and complement its consumer-electronics business.
Action taken
JB Hi-Fi announced the purchase of The Good Guys for A$870 million.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded the group’s share of the Australian home-appliance and consumer-electronics markets while retaining The Good Guys as a distinct retail brand.
Acquisition price. A$870 million (2016)
2006
Acquire Hill and StewartM&ABackground
JB Hi-Fi sought to expand its presence in the New Zealand electronics market.
Action taken
The company acquired Hill and Stewart’s New Zealand store network and subsequently began opening JB Hi-Fi-branded stores.
Aftermath
The Hill and Stewart stores were closed in 2010 as the business transitioned to the JB Hi-Fi brand.
Acquisition price. NZ$17.5 million (2006)
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Reolink launches OMVI 2i Ultra in Australia[3]
Reolink has launched the OMVI 2i Ultra home security camera, which is available in JB Hi-Fi stores and online through Reolink and Amazon.
Reported
EZVIZ launches expanded smart home security range in Australia[4]
EZVIZ launched an expanded smart home security range in Australia, spanning cameras, video doorbells, smart locks and control screens, now on sale nationwide through Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi. The line-up is led by the HB90 outdoor camera and the EP8 Ultra video doorbell, with a focus on local storage rather than subscription plans.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
JB Hi-Fi discounts Garmin VivoActive 3 watches to A$249[5]
Australian retailer JB Hi-Fi discounted Garmin VivoActive 3 smartwatches to A$249 as part of an additional Mother's Day promotion; the article states the watch had previously been reduced from A$499 to A$299.
Reported
JB Hi-Fi temporarily closes its New Zealand stores[6]
JB Hi-Fi temporarily closed its 14 New Zealand stores, online and commercial operations in response to the government’s alert level four restrictions, for a minimum period of four weeks.
Reported
JB Hi-Fi launches back-to-school sale[7]
JB Hi-Fi launched a back-to-school sale with discounts on laptops, headphones, Fitbits and other products; the sale was scheduled to finish online and in stores on January 29.
Sources9 sources
- 1JB Hi-Fien.wikipedia.org
- 2JB Hi-Fi official websitejbhifi.com.au
- 3Reolink 在澳大利亚推出 OMVI 2i Ultraapplianceretailer.com.au
- 4EZVIZ在澳大利亚推出扩展智能家居安防产品系列channellife.com.au
- 5JB Hi-Fi将Garmin VivoActive 3手表促销价降至249澳元dailymail.com
- 6JB Hi-Fi 暂时关闭其纽西兰门店reseller.co.nz
- 7JB Hi-Fi推出返校促销活动dailymail.com
- 8JB Hi-Fi launches massive 'tax time madness' sale on a range of itemsdailymail.com
- 9JB Hi-Fi slashes the cost of hundreds of products before Black Fridaydailymail.com
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