Priceline (Australia)
Priceline is an Australian health and beauty retailer. The Priceline brand has two store types; a traditional Priceline and Priceline Pharmacy.[1] As of October 2019 there were 488 Priceline and Priceline Pharmacy branded stores throughout Australia.[2] Priceline is currently owned and operated by Australian Pharmaceutical Industries, since its purchase in 2004.[1]
Subsidiary | |
Industry | Retail |
Founded | 1982 |
Headquarters | |
Products | Health and Beauty |
Number of employees | 900+ |
Parent | Australian Pharmaceutical Industries |
Website | www.priceline.com.au |
History
Priceline was established in 1982; the first store opened at Highpoint in Victoria, and started as a beauty retailer.[1] In 2004 Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (API) acquired the New Price Retail business which operated the retail brands of Priceline, Priceline Pharmacy, House, and Price Attack.[3][4] API divested its House and Price Attack chains in 2007 to focus its retailing strategy on the Priceline brand.[1] In 2008 Priceline launched a brand re-positioning with a new visual identity, store format and merchandise.[5] This is when the livery changed to the recognisable magenta pink shade synonymous with the Priceline brand.
Priceline Brand
Priceline is a health and beauty retailer of cosmetics, skin care, hair care and health care products.[6] Priceline is involved in pharmaceutical retailing through the Priceline Pharmacy brand.[5] There are currently over 480 Priceline stores throughout Australia.[2]
Australian business publication BRW ranked Priceline as Australia's 16th fastest growing franchise by revenue in 2010.[7] Total network sales for the financial year 2019 were up 2.4 per cent to $2.2 billion.[2]
Priceline sponsors the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival (VAMFF), along with women's sporting teams the Western Bulldogs (AFLW), Adelaide Thunderbirds (ANL) and Sydney Sixers (WBBL).[8]
Loyalty scheme
Priceline's loyalty program, Sister Club, has over 7 million members, making it one of the largest health and beauty retail loyalty programs in Australia.[9][10] Members earn points when making purchases and are rewarded with discount vouchers and prizes.[11] Sister Club members accounted for more than 40% of retail sales in 2009, with the average Club member sale more than 30% higher than for a non-Club customer.[5][6][12]
Industrial relations case
In 2007, Andrew Cruickshank, a store layout planner, was dismissed from his job from Priceline for 'operational reasons' under the WorkChoices Legislation. He alleged Priceline fired him on his $101 000 a year contract, replacing him with someone on a $75 000 contract. Priceline claimed otherwise, saying "It was not the same role...the person wouldn't have been capable of doing the same things".[13] The AIRC ruled in favour of Priceline and found that Cruickshank's termination resulted from Priceline's financial difficulties and the subsequent decision to reorganise its structure.[13][14]
References
- "About Priceline" Archived 9 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine. priceline.com.au. Priceline. 2009.
- "Priceline Pharmacy sales lift 2.4 per cent to $2.2 billion". Inside Retail. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
- "Company Profile: API" Archived 3 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine. CareerOne.
- Taylor, Debi. "From pharmacy to drugstore", The Age, 17 September 2005.
- Fisher, Leo D'Angelo. "A new script", BRW, 25 February-31 March 2010, p. 33.
- "Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Limited 2009 Annual Report" Archived 23 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Australian Pharmaceutical Industries.
- Fisher, Leo D'Angelo. "A new script", BRW, 25 February-31 March 2010, p. 28.
- "Priceline Pharmacy". 2020.
- "How Priceline Pharmacy plans to dominate the beauty space". AJP. 23 September 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
- Lee, Julian. "Loyalty card key to Priceline's advance", The Sydney Morning Herald, 30 April 2010.
- Chappell, Trevor."Priceline reaps loyalty program benefits", The Sydney Morning Herald, 20 January 2010.
- Sharp, Ari. "New loyalty schemes pay for retailers", The Age, 11 May 2009.
- Schubert, Misha. "Priceline case puts focus on IR laws", The Age, 25 April 2007.
- Godfrey, Kelly & Moulton, Adam. "Employees fail in operational reasons termination claims" Archived 16 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Human Resources Leader, 15 May 2007.