Industry Retail Website ballantynes.co.nz Founded 1854 | Number of employees over 300 Headquarters Christchurch | |
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Key people Founder: John Ballantyne
CEO: Maria O'Halloran Products apparel, cosmetics, accessories, homewares, furniture, general merchandise Type of business Private limited liability company | ||
Pic rides the ballantynes bus
J Ballantyne and Company Ltd, trading as Ballantynes is a Christchurch, New Zealand-based department store operator. Established in 1854, it is New Zealand's first department store. Ballantynes is also a member of the Intercontinental Group of Department Stores where by membership is limited to one member per country. As well as their flagship store in Christchurch Central City, the Cantabrian company operates stores in Timaru and at Christchurch International Airport. The company also operates Contemporary Lounge, a more youth-oriented fashion store, next to the Christchurch store.
Contents
Santa and miles continental at ballantynes christchurch
History
The company traces its origins back to a millinery and drapery business that began in the front room of a Cashel Street residence in 1854. After being named Dunstable House and growing through owners and buildings, it was purchased by John Ballantyne in 1872. The business was managed as a series of partnerships involving Ballantyne family members until formed as the company J. Ballantyne & Co. in 1920.
From its humble beginnings the Ballantynes business expanded until, by 1947, it occupied 80 m of street front in Cashel Street, 50 m in Colombo Street and another 21 m in Lichfield Street. This prime corner site covered about an acre that contained seven conjoined buildings, six of which had three or more hardwood floors that were interconnected on multiple levels by large passageways between the buildings to allow staff and customers to move freely about the store. By the time of the infamous Ballantynes fire it was widely known as the 'queen of department stores' in the city. The showrooms, fitting rooms, art gallery and sumptuous tearooms catered to the elite of Canterbury. The business was owned and managed by two brothers who were from the Ballantyne family.
Today Ballantynes is the last local department store in Christchurch. Closest rival Arthur Barnett, located in the former Beaths Department Store Building directly across Colombo Street closed down in February 2006. The nearest competitor in the city is the lower-end nationwide Farmers chain. The closest Farmers, farther down Colombo Street, was demolished in August 2012 after suffering heavy damage in the Earthquake.
Canterbury earthquakes
The Christchurch store was closed for eight months following the February 2011 earthquake. Prior to 22 February, the company employed about 395 staff across its three stores, with about 300 at the City Mall store. The relatively modern construction and low height, at only two storeys, meant it was one of few central buildings relatively undamaged in the second earthquake. The Timaru and airport branches and online store remained open, and the Christchurch store in the City Mall was the first substantial retailer to reopen in the CBD on 29 November 2012 and is trading as normal.
Christchurch
The Christchurch store is a mid-sized department store on the corner of Colombo and Cashel Streets.
Current departments on the ground floor include Cosmetics, Men's Fashion, Men's Underwear, Travel Goods/Luggage, Accessories, Pantry, Stationery and Homewares on the. The wider Homeware department encompasses China & Collectables, Spa Collections, Appliances, Kitchenware, Glassware, and Bedding & Interiors. The latter include large concessions for Citta and French Country.
Fashion Atrium, Ladies' Fashion, Lingerie, and Ladies' Footwear are located on the first floor. The lower ground floor includes Childrenswear, Solace Hair and Beauty (formerly The Salon at Ballantynes), Beauty & Events Room, Customer Service, The Registry and toilets & Parents Room.
An all-new Cosmetics Hall was completed by the time the store reopened in November 2012. The hall is the largest and most extensive beauty department in the South Island.
Other stores and services
Not including The Pantry gourmet food department in Christchurch, Ballantynes operate four food outlets. JB's Café is located on the ground floor of both the Christchurch and Timaru branches, and The Tearooms are found on the lower ground floor of Christchurch store. Ello Café and Eatery is within Contemporary Lounge on the first floor.
The Christchurch store also offers a range of services, including 'Ballantynes by Appointment' personal shopping, Gift Registry, 'The Workroom' alterations, Tax Exempt Shopping (GST Free Shopping), and nationwide and international delivery. Ballantynes offers finance in the form of the Ballantynes Card store account card. Gift cards are also available. Ballantynes also offers extensive online shopping on its website. In mid-2012, Ballantynes launched Beauty VIP, a rewards programme for cosmetics in the Christchurch and Timaru stores, and at Solace Hair and Beauty in the Christchurch store.
The Timaru branch was first opened in 1883, but Ballantynes has been operating from the current location since 1913. The current store was opened in 1986. Today the Timaru store offers most of the major departments of the flagship store, on a much smaller scale. The small airport store located in the duty-free area offers a range of gifts and souvenirs targeted at tourists.
Contemporary Lounge
Contemporary Lounge is a youth-oriented fashion store featuring local and international designers. The large store was an original tenant in the Re:START container ship mall. Opening in October 2011, the large Contemporary Lounge was located next to the Christchurch store, across Cashel Street. In April 2013 Contemporary Lounge returned to 663 Colombo Street, also accessible from Ballantynes' first floor. Contemporary Lounge also includes a branch of Ginger Meggs Hair Design, next to Ello Café.