Magnet Mart was a Canberra-based chain of hardware stores that was locally owned and operated until 2011, when it was purchased by Woolworths. At its peak it operated five large hardware stores and employed approximately 400 people around

Canberra Canberra ( ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...

and southern

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. The first store with the Magnet Mart name was opened in 1985 in

Queanbeyan Queanbeyan ( ) is a city in the south-eastern region of New South Wales, Australia, located adjacent to the Australian Capital Territory in the Southern Tablelands region. Located on the Queanbeyan River, the city is the council seat of the ...

, although stores which later became Magnet Marts were opened as the Paul's Home Centres in

Phillip Philip, also Phillip, is a male given name, derived from the Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominent Philips who popularize ...

in 1972 and

Belconnen The District of Belconnen () is one of the original eighteen districts of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), used in land administration. The district is subdivided into 27 divisions (suburbs), sections and blocks. The district of Belconne ...

in 1976. A large 13,500 m² store in

Gungahlin The District of Gungahlin () is one of the original eighteen districts of the Australian Capital Territory used in land administration. The Gungahlin Region is one of fastest growing regions within Australia. The district is subdivided into di ...

opened in 2002. A large store was also opened in

Griffith Griffith may refer to: People * Griffith (name) * Griffith (surname) * Griffith (given name) Places Antarctica * Mount Griffith, Ross Dependency * Griffith Peak (Antarctica), Marie Byrd Land * Griffith Glacier, Marie Byrd Land * Griffith Rid ...

in the

Riverina The Riverina is an agricultural region of south-western New South Wales, Australia. The Riverina is distinguished from other Australian regions by the combination of flat plains, warm to hot climate and an ample supply of water for irrigation ...

region of

in 2005. This store was sold out to

Bunnings Warehouse Bunnings Group Limited, trading as Bunnings Warehouse or Bunnings, is an Australian household hardware chain. The chain has been owned by Wesfarmers since 1994, and has stores in Australia and New Zealand. Bunnings was founded in Perth, Wester ...

in August 2006. Magnet Mart currently operates stores in Gungahlin, Phillip, Queanbeyan,

Bowral Bowral () is the largest town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, about ninety minutes southwest of Sydney. It is the main business and entertainment precinct of the Wingecarribee Shire and Highlands. Bowral once served ...

and

Goulburn Goulburn ( ) is a regional city in the Southern Tablelands of the Australian state of New South Wales, approximately south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Canberra. It was proclaimed as Australia's first inland city through letters pate ...

. Magnet Mart television advertisements feature prominently in Canberra and feature the many misadventures of the "Magnet Mart Guy" (played by actor Brendan Sloane). The slogan "Always cheaper cheaper Oi!" and its accompanying jingle were part of a well-known advertising campaign shown during the eighties and nineties. Until 2006 Magnet Mart's slogan was "The Challenge Keeps us Cheaper", until it was replaced by "Better Prices, Better People". In January 2008 advertising was relaunched, ditching "Magnet Mart Guy" for a couple and their neighbor, Gus. The new slogan "Start Smart" (with Magnet Mart) was adopted. In 2009 the "Magnet Mart Guy" returned to accompany the Start Smart slogan and has worked to reinforce the branding. In 2011, the remaining stores were bought by and converted to Woolworths owned

Home Timber & Hardware Home Hardware (previously known as Home Timber & Hardware) is an Australian retail hardware chain. It is Australia's third-biggest hardware chain after Bunnings Warehouse and Mitre 10, the latter of which is its parent company. Home is known fo ...

stores.

References

External links

Magnet Mart web site
Companies based in Canberra Retail companies of Australia {{Canberra-stub