Jaycar, formerly Jaycar Electronics, is an Australia-based
retail
Retail is the sale of goods and services to consumers, in contrast to wholesaling, which is sale to business or institutional customers. A retailer purchases goods in large quantities from manufacturers, directly or through a wholesaler, and ...
er dealing in
electronic
Electronic may refer to:
*Electronics, the science of how to control electric energy in semiconductor
* ''Electronics'' (magazine), a defunct American trade journal
*Electronic storage, the storage of data using an electronic device
*Electronic co ...
components and related products for electronics enthusiasts. The company owns around 110 stores across Australia and New Zealand, and also sells its products online in the UK and US. It was founded in 1981 by Gary Johnston, who remained
managing director
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
until his death in 2021.
The company also has a wholesale arm, Electus Distribution.
History
Jaycar was founded when Gary Johnston, a former
Dick Smith Electronics employee, purchased John Carr & Co. Pty Ltd. He became managing director of the company.
In 2005, Jaycar received negative attention from its imported
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
ese "Choke-A-Chicken" toy that squawked and flapped its wings when strangled around its neck, described by the
RSPCA
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is a charity operating in England and Wales that promotes animal welfare. The RSPCA is funded primarily by voluntary donations. Founded in 1824, it is the oldest and largest a ...
Queensland as "grossly irresponsible".
In October 2012, remarks made by Johnston on Sydney radio station
2GB, seen as providing justification for sexist behaviour by unidentified staff at the
Canterbury-Bankstown NRL club (Bulldogs), of which Jaycar was a major sponsor at the time, caused controversy.
There were calls to boycott Jaycar stores.
In October 2016, Freetronics owner
Jonathan Oxer accused Jaycar of copying his business'
Open Source Arduino
Arduino () is an open-source hardware and software company, project, and user community that designs and manufactures single-board microcontrollers and microcontroller kits for building digital devices. Its hardware products are licensed under ...
Experimenters kit in two videos posted to his YouTube channel.
In September 2018 Johnston ended Jaycar's sponsorship of the Bulldogs, following questionable behaviour from players during
Mad Monday celebrations.
Johnston died on 10 March 2021, after being diagnosed with
mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the internal organs (known as the mesothelium). The most common area affected is the lining of the lungs and chest wall. Less commonly the lining ...
two weeks earlier.
Description
, Jaycar has over 110 stores across Australian and New Zealand, and more than 170 authorised stockists and agents that carry Jaycar products.[
Electus Distribution is Jaycar's wholesale arm, which operates as a separate company and provides products to independent and other retailers as well as and ]original equipment manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is generally perceived as a company that produces non-aftermarket parts and equipment that may be marketed by another manufacturer. It is a common industry term recognized and used by many professional or ...
s in Australia and New Zealand.
Community involvement
Jaycar became a major sponsor of NRL club Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2009, but questionable behaviour from players led Johnston to end the partnership in September 2018.Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies (legal name: Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club Ltd) are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly r ...
rugby league team, based in western Sydney
Western may refer to:
Places
*Western, Nebraska, a village in the US
*Western, New York, a town in the US
* Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western world, countries that i ...
, since 2019. Johnston had been a "lifelong supporter".[
The company has supported or hosted maker culture events, and supports several charities, including:
*]Starlight Children's Foundation
Starlight Children's Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1982. Starlight's programs include providing hospital wear, games, and deliveries to hospitalized children. The programs are provided directly to children through Starlight's ne ...
[
* Charlie Teo Foundation]Operation Restore Hope
The Unified Task Force (UNITAF) was a United States-led, United Nations-sanctioned multinational force which operated in Somalia from 5 December 1992 until 4 May 1993. A United States initiative (code-named Operation Restore Hope), U ...
* FSHD Global Research Foundation
*Steve Waugh
Stephen Rodger Waugh (born 2 June 1965) is an Australian former international cricketer and twin brother of cricketer Mark Waugh. A right-handed batsman, he was also a medium-pace bowler. As Australian captain from 1997 to 2004, he led Austral ...
Foundation[
* Exodus Foundation
*Save our Sons]
See also
* Jaycar Sunswift III
* Element-14 / Farnell
References
External links
*
*
*{{official, https://www.electusdistribution.com.au/, Electus Distribution
Australian companies established in 1981
Consumer electronics retailers of Australia
Companies based in Sydney
1981 establishments in Australia
Retail companies established in 1981