RETAIL

Retail

As in most things relating to Katanning, Frederick Piesse played an important role in the establishment of not only Katanning but also its retail business network.

After following the construction of the Great Southern Railway with he and brother Charles’ mobile store, they set up shop in what is now Katanning. Their first store was located approximately where the Royal Exchange Hotel now sits. Their second store was a single-storey building adjacent to their new roller flour mill. This was later demolished and replaced with a two-storey building. This was later added to and, after Robert Richardson took control, a further wing was added as the business continued to expand. That building still stands today.

A.E. Piesse & Co (Opened 1905)
Later became Katanning Stock & Trading Co (1908)

Katanning’s oldest surviving, still operating, retail business is the Katanning Stock and Trading Co which started life in 1895 as A.E. Piesse & Co. The building (c 1905) in the foreground above still exists although it had a second story added in 1908 when the company was floated and was renamed Katanning Stock and Trading Co..

Behind it is the old Great Southern Herald building (which burned down) and the Royal Exchange Hotel. Katanning’s oldest surviving business is the Great Southern Herald which produced its first edition on 5 October, 1901.

Business can be fickle during even the best of times. Imagine what it must have been like during two major world wards and the Great Depression [2] of the 1920s. Many businesses went by the wayside of our history but many did survive. It’s interesting to note how many businesses have come and gone over the years in Katanning. You can see many of those businesses HERE

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EMPIRE SHOPPING WEEK

LOCAL WINDOW DISPLAYS

Great Southern Herald
24 May 1930 – P2

“Buy Empire Goods” is the slogan flaunted throughout the Empire during Empire Shopping Week, which commenced last Thursday and was observed by thousands of business houses in Britain and the Commonwealth.

Katanning played its part in this commendable effort, and the arguments in the shop windows used by the big business houses to induce the public to support Empire industry were excellent ones. First and foremost, and the most effective argument put forward, was the quality of the goods. No words or signs were used to drive home this point – nor were they needed. Nothing Tawdry – all the articles bore the hallmark of British quality.

Richardson’s’ display was an excellent one, and so comprehensive that the display windows were filled with almost every article of clothing necessary to either sex and bearing the name of a British maker.

A very effective device was obtained by the arrangement of several rolls of crepe-de-chine in the national colours, red. white and blue, in a window decked with Henderson’s hats. A still more striking display consisted of beautiful Westralian made Porongorup bed blankets and the famous Onkaparinga brand. Groceries, many of which originated in our own State, and a profusion of Australian hardware were shown, a special feature being made of Taubman’s paints and varnishes.

Rogers Limited, the firm noted for its stock of high-quality British goods, contributed an effective display with the national colours well in the foreground. A fine selection of Berlei wear, Australian made bedspreads, groceries, British dress materials, Australian footwear and British Castrol oil was shown in all the display windows.

J. F. Wanke’s shop, with its island windows, provided good scope for an effective display of Empire goods. A variety of men’s wear, including shirts, sox, ties and underwear, all made in the Commonwealth, women’s wear, and Australian made groceries with Westralian produce and sweets, all constituted a formidable argument to eat, drink, wear and use Empire goods. Strips of red, white and blue coloured crepe paper surmounting the display gave added effect.

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Retail

retail. retail. retail.