Danks Company History

Danks Timeline

2004 : 2003 : 2002 : 2001 : 2000 : 1999 : 1997 : 1996 : 1995 : 1994 : 1993 : 1982 : 1976 : 1974 : 1971 : 1958-1970 : 1956 : 1951 : 1902-1928 : 1889 : 1859

	2005 2005 saw Danks consolidate its exclusive brand strategy with the introduction of 3 new exciting brands: Worx mid range power tools, Illusions quality tap ware and Red Centre BBQs. The company now has 9 unique brands and over 1000 products which represent around 20% of warehouse throughput and offer marketing group members a substantial point of difference in the market. We also held our largest ever trade show and conference in Sydney in April. "Show of Strength" saw over 1700 customers, suppliers and Danks staff attend a combined 2 day trade show and 2 days of conference. Our trade business continued to grow at double digit rates despite an overall softening of the housing market

	2004 The company employs over 400 staff dedicated to servicing the needs of over 240 Home Timber & Hardware Stores, nearly 400 Thrifty Link Stores Hardware Stores, and 100 Plants Plus Garden Centres. The company has restructured to ensure a clear focus on the functions that drive the business with the appointment of a National Supply Chain manager and the realignment of other operations to increase focus on customers, consumers and suppliers. Danks continues to develop products, systems and services to help make independent retailers successful in a highly competitive market.

2003
Danks enjoyed it's seventh successive year of record sales with revenue finishing just short
of $450 million for the financial year ending June 30th 2003.
The largest ever Home store launched with Hume & Iser, Bendigo, with over 4000 square meters under the roof.
This year was most significant for the number of new stores built and existing stores developed reflecting the positive outlook of group members in spite of increasing competition.

	2002 Instigated new Project Orange external identification program for all Home stores across the country to introduce new logo device and lift store presence on streetscape. Introduced new contemporary logo device for Plants Plus group which led to the development of a new signage and member identification program and was carried through to all brand communications.

	2001 The company returns to its origins when it launches an initiative to reclaim a piece of the plumbing market. Plumblinx is created to establish competitive deals in the supply of plumbing products and Plumbworx is released as a comprehensive range of packaged plumbing products including tapware, showers, bathroom accessories and screwed brassware - the company has indeed come full circle! Answering the calls of retailers, Danks releases DART - Danks Advanced Retail Technology, a retail Point of Sale computer system to assist retailers to optimise the performance of their business and fully supported by the Danks organization. After 39 years as a BHP franchisee, the company chose to sell the Steel distribution business (which was run by Graeme Danks' brother Michael) to allow complete focus on its hardware distribution operations.

2000
Plants Plus became the only national Garden Centre chain in Australia after launching into Queensland.
The exclusive JDS range is launched to provide customers with a quality product that offers superior margins to retailer and Danks alike. Four brands are launched: Boulevard for Housewares, DelTerra for Outdoor, Tekraft for Tools & Hardware and Earthcore for Garden.

	1999 Danks became a truly national distributor when in March, it acquired the assets of Independent Hardware Distributors in Western Australia. All 3 retail brands successfully launched onto the Western Australian market in Spring 1999.

	1997 John Danks passed away after 48 years devoted service to the company including 31 years as Managing Director and 26 years as Chairman. He was succeeded as Chairman by his brother David who had been on the board of directors since 1964.	David Danks pic
		David Danks pic

	1996 Graeme Danks appointed as Managing Director

	1995 To broaden the customer and product supply base Danks acquired the Plants Plus brand from the Retail Nurserymans co-operative in Victoria and commences management of the Plants Plus garden centre group.

	1994 On the back of the exciting new Home brand, Danks entered the South Australian market for the first time.

	1993 Recognizing the need to have a strong retail brand to combat the rapidly emerging corporate warehouse operators, Danks united the members of its Homestead and Homesaver retail groups under one banner - Home Timber & Hardware. Home featured a distinctive turquoise colour scheme and the loveable Sandy and Rusty as advertising icons for the new brand.

	1982 In 1982, Danks purchased the promotional group, Home Saver, and the following year, the hardware operations of Geelong's Hawkes Bros. Limited. The purchase of Hawkes Bros. Limited included the Thrifty-Link promotional group.

	1976 In 1976, the company's operations were fully computerised. Today, all purchasing, stock control, order processing and reporting functions are electronic and all retailers have a direct link to product information, retail pricing and electronic ordering.

	1974 Victorian operations were moved to a purpose built, state of the art, distribution centre in Braeside.

	1971 Homestead was established as a marketing group for the benefit of the company's independent retailer customers.

	1958 -1970 1958 John Danks was appointed as General Manager and subsequently in 1966 Managing Director. Over the next two decades, the company acquired the hardware interests of EL Yencken & Co Pty Ltd and JS Kidd & Co Pty Ltd. To accommodate the rapidly expanding businesses, a decision was made in 1970 to construct the company's first high-rise distribution centre at Braeside, Victoria, and expand facilities in Alexandria New South Wales.	John Danks pic
		John Danks pic

	1956 In the mid 1950s, the decision was made to phase out retailing and manufacturing to concentrate on distribution to independent hardware retailers. This decision spurred the construction of a new warehouse in Alexandria, New South Wales, in 1956 and in South Melbourne in 1958 - both situated on the company's previous factory sites. The city premises were then sold.

	1951 In 1951, Danks Holdings Limited was incorporated as a public company and John Danks & Son Pty Ltd became its wholly owned subsidiary. At this time, the company was operating retail and wholesale shops in Bourke Street, Melbourne, and Pitt Street, Sydney, as well as its manufacturing plants in Melbourne and Sydney.

	1902 - 1928 Following John Danks' death in 1902, his son Aaron (pictured), later Sir Aaron led the company. Aaron's son Fred, became Chairman and Managing Director upon his father's death in 1928.

	1889 John Danks & Son Limited was formed

	1859 Danks Holdings Limited is one of the oldest family businesses in Australia's top 500 companies, and the largest independent hardware wholesale distribution operation in the country. John Danks & Son Pty Ltd began as a plumbing business in 1859, established by brothers John and Samuel. It occupied a prominent site in Bourke Street, Melbourne, for 100 years. The business quickly grew to include factories in Melbourne and Sydney which manufactured and supplied a variety of plumbing and engineering products such as brassware, pumps, windmills and bells.

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