PETER KAMBOURIS
It is vital to learn from mistakes because ignoring problems leads to failure, the Kambo’s managing director tells Ben Harvey.
Biggest or best career break?
When the biggest independent buying group, NARTA, asked me to join them. It has a membership of 29 and it boasts members like JB Hi-Fi, Myer, and Bing-Lees. It has combined turnover of more than $4 billion. It was a break as Retravision began collapsing shortly after that and Retravision WA ceased to exist a little over a year after we departed. Nothing like good timing. Joining the NARTA group not only enhanced our buying capacity but helped really develop national and global markets and their trends. The group is led by Kay Spencer and Michael Jackson, who continually work in aligning our business with trends and outlooks in the global market. This has helped shape us to be the only remaining WA home appliance retailer chain stores in name and business.
Describe your leadership style.
Democratic. I encourage the men and women in our team to make intelligent and honest and competent decisions. All our team leaders must display courage, broad mindedness and fairness and be straightforward. The world today is sadly becoming a place where mediocrity is good and blaming everyone else is the norm rather than the exception. We must expose problems for what they are — not for who did it. I believe you can improve a lot more from learning how mistakes come about rather than ignoring them. Not addressing problems leads to failure.
Most memorable executive experience?
Sitting on panels in Berlin and Milan to decide and recommend products for brands and their movements in the global market, ultimately having a role in people’s everyday lives. Australian retailers are generally well regarded for their “retail savvy” and having the most developed market in the Asia Pacific region allows us to all punch above our weight in a global sense.
First or most unusual job?
Packing carrots. As a student I found part-time work in Osborne Park packing carrots. The hours back then were 4am to 2pm and it was backbreaking work but what made the job unusual was that around 11am all the young children and partners would visit their fathers, husbands and partners. I was the only one with no visitors and more annoyingly they all left on the bus together at the end of the day and refused to give me a lift. It took me a while to realise they were prisoners on work release.
Best way to improve productivity?
Have buy-in for the team, respect their input. Set the course for the company. As long as your decisions serve your company, customers and staff honestly and effectively, everything else follows.
Do you use social media?
Yes, Kambo’s use Facebook, Instagram, EDMs and has an online business. The new Liebe + Haus will also have this as well as bloggers and Pinterest promoting the fashion of our industry. Social media “connects” do come with a warning if you don’t have a team monitoring your digital messages 24/7.
What do you do in your spare time?
Family and friends. I have been blessed with a great life partner in my wife Maria and three wonderful boys. Coupled with my wider family and a great base of longstanding friends, our time is spent with them. We are also very active in charity, community and school events. Our spare time is usually very hectic.
Last book you read?
I have just finished reading The Crossroad by Mark Donaldson. It’s a great read about a young Australian rising from adverse conditions to become a great soldier and a national hero. It is very humbling to read this account as we sit in our business world planning our next campaign. There are real people putting their lives on the line, protecting our rights and freedoms.
Favourite holiday destination?
In WA it would definitely be Mandurah. There is nothing like living in a house on the canals, hopping into a boat to go crabbing, prawning or fishing on your doorstep. Abroad, I would have to say New York. The melting pot of all cultures and mixed with Broadway is a must-see.
How important is workplace reform and a penalty rates review for Australia’s retail sector?
It is critical. Politicians have in the main forgotten about retail. Retail is still the biggest employer outside health in Australia. If we wish to remain competitive and deliver all Australians a fair deal we must embrace reform and reviews. This doesn’t mean that everything should be thrown out the window for workers but a balance between the two should be put on the table. Retailers in Australia are competing against some international retailers who either push their profits offshore or don’t have their operations in Australia. They do not contribute the same levels of tax to the Australian people or have the same work conditions that Australian retailers do. Reforms are vital to keeping jobs in Australia.
