Michael Hill (entrepreneur)
Encyclopedia
Sir Michael Hill, KNZM (born 1938 in Whangarei
) is a New Zealand
jeweller
, entrepreneur
and philanthropist
who founded global jewellery retailer Michael Hill Jeweller
in 1979 and continues to serve as its chairman. He currently resides in Arrowtown
and was Ernst & Young
's 2008 Entrepreneur Of The Year in New Zealand.
ist but a year later was told he would have had to start much younger in life to be a noteworthy musician. Hill abandoned his hopes of a career in music and started working for his uncle, Arthur Fisher, at the family jewellery store. He performed well as a salesman and window dresser, winning international awards for his efforts in the latter. He later took over the store's newspaper and radio advertising, drawing attention to the business with bizarre themes for the advertisements, and was later promoted to manager.
In the spring of 1964, while working in the store, Hill met Christine Roe, an English woman who taught art at a local high school. They married in March 1965 and had two children, Mark (born 1969) and Emma (born 1972).
On 1 October 1977, the house that had taken them four years to build was destroyed in a fire.
. One of his main points of difference was to limit his store's product range to jewellery items, dispensing with silverware, clocks, porcelain and glassware commonly found in other jewellery stores at the time.
Hill had set himself a goal of "seven stores in seven years" and in 1986 he exceeded that, opening his eighth store in Newmarket
.
On 9 June 1987, Hill floated Michael Hill Jeweller on the New Zealand Stock Exchange
, raising enough capital to expand the business locally and into the Australia
n market where the company opened four stores in Brisbane
later that year.
In 1988, Hill set himself and his company another goal: "70 shops in seven years". This goal was also achieved.
In 2002, the goal of opening 1000 stores by 2022 was established by Hill, with the further aim of taking the brand global. During that same year, the company opened its first three stores in Canada
, and by the end of 2009 the company had 242 stores in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States
.
architects Patterson Associates. The clubhouse won the New Zealand Institute of Architects
Supreme Architectural Award in 2008 and was a finalist in the World Architecture Festival
in 2008 in Barcelona
.
golf tournaments were held at The Hills.
"for services to business and the arts."
Hill received Ernst & Young New Zealand's Entrepreneur Of The Year award in 2008. The awards "acknowledge the accomplishments of entrepreneurs and celebrate the contribution they are making to New Zealand’s economy and society".
He received the honour of Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 31 December 2010 New Year Honours list.
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
jeweller
Jewellery
Jewellery or jewelry is a form of personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.With some exceptions, such as medical alert bracelets or military dog tags, jewellery normally differs from other items of personal adornment in that it has no other purpose than to...
, entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
who founded global jewellery retailer Michael Hill Jeweller
Michael Hill Jeweller
Michael Hill Jeweller is a successful specialty retailer of fine jewellery in North America and Oceania.Michael Hill Jeweller operates a retail jewellery chain of 242 stores in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and United States, with over 2,000 permanent employees.The company's headquarters are in...
in 1979 and continues to serve as its chairman. He currently resides in Arrowtown
Arrowtown
Arrowtown is a historic gold mining town in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. Arrowtown is located on the banks of the Arrow River approximately 5 km from State Highway 6...
and was Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms, along with Deloitte, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers ....
's 2008 Entrepreneur Of The Year in New Zealand.
Early life and career
Hill left school at 16 to pursue a career as a concert violinViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist but a year later was told he would have had to start much younger in life to be a noteworthy musician. Hill abandoned his hopes of a career in music and started working for his uncle, Arthur Fisher, at the family jewellery store. He performed well as a salesman and window dresser, winning international awards for his efforts in the latter. He later took over the store's newspaper and radio advertising, drawing attention to the business with bizarre themes for the advertisements, and was later promoted to manager.
In the spring of 1964, while working in the store, Hill met Christine Roe, an English woman who taught art at a local high school. They married in March 1965 and had two children, Mark (born 1969) and Emma (born 1972).
On 1 October 1977, the house that had taken them four years to build was destroyed in a fire.
Michael Hill Jeweller
Following this setback, Hill re-assessed his life. With the help of a friend, he tried to buy his uncle's business, but the uncle refused to sell. On 13 May 1979, Hill opened his own jewellery store nearby, calling it Michael Hill JewellerMichael Hill Jeweller
Michael Hill Jeweller is a successful specialty retailer of fine jewellery in North America and Oceania.Michael Hill Jeweller operates a retail jewellery chain of 242 stores in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and United States, with over 2,000 permanent employees.The company's headquarters are in...
. One of his main points of difference was to limit his store's product range to jewellery items, dispensing with silverware, clocks, porcelain and glassware commonly found in other jewellery stores at the time.
Hill had set himself a goal of "seven stores in seven years" and in 1986 he exceeded that, opening his eighth store in Newmarket
Newmarket, New Zealand
Newmarket is an Auckland suburb to the south-east of the central business district. With its high building density, especially of retail shops, it is considered New Zealand's premier retailing area, and a rival of local competitor Auckland CBD...
.
On 9 June 1987, Hill floated Michael Hill Jeweller on the New Zealand Stock Exchange
New Zealand Exchange
NZX Limited is a stock exchange located in Wellington, New Zealand. Since July 2005 it has been located in NZX Centre, the renovated Odlins building on the Wellington waterfront...
, raising enough capital to expand the business locally and into the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n market where the company opened four stores in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
later that year.
In 1988, Hill set himself and his company another goal: "70 shops in seven years". This goal was also achieved.
In 2002, the goal of opening 1000 stores by 2022 was established by Hill, with the further aim of taking the brand global. During that same year, the company opened its first three stores in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and by the end of 2009 the company had 242 stores in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Personal life
Michael Hill married Christine Roe in March 1965. Their son, Mark Hill, was born in 1969. Their daughter, Emma Hill, was born in 1972.Philanthropy
Although he didn't become a concert violinist, Hill has maintained a strong love for the violin his entire life and continues to play. In 2001 he founded the biennial Michael Hill International Violin Competition "for emerging young violinists". The winner of the competition receives a substantial cash prize, a recording deal for international distribution and a "Winner's Tour" in which the competition winner performs in concert halls around New Zealand and Australia in the calendar year following the competition.The Hills Golf Course
After buying a run-down farm in Arrowtown, Hill's interest in golf grew to the point where he built his own 18-hole golf course called The Hills on the property. Built in to the course is a unique two-thirds underground clubhouse designed by AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
architects Patterson Associates. The clubhouse won the New Zealand Institute of Architects
New Zealand Institute of Architects
The New Zealand Institute of Architects is a membership based professional organisation. This body represents 90% of all registered architects in New Zealand and promotes architecture that enhances the New Zealand living environment....
Supreme Architectural Award in 2008 and was a finalist in the World Architecture Festival
World Architecture Festival
The World Architecture Festival is an annual event held in Barcelona organised by EMAP, a media group that runs other festivals, including the World Retail Congress and Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, as well as publishes various journals, including within the field of...
in 2008 in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
.
New Zealand Open
The 2007, 2009 and 2010 New Zealand OpenNew Zealand Open
The BMW New Zealand Open is the leading men's golf tournament in New Zealand. In 2011, it will be hosted by The Clearwater Resort in Christchurch from 1–4 December. The tournament is being promoted by New Zealand Golf...
golf tournaments were held at The Hills.
VvS1 Yacht
In April 2007, Hill launched the VvS1, a 112-foot super yacht built for luxury charters in the South Pacific. Designed by Hill and his wife, Christine, the vessel won three awards in the 2008 World Yacht Awards in Cannes: Best Motor Yacht, Best Interior and Best Functionality.Books
Hill has had two books published about succeeding in business. The books use stories from his own life to illustrate his points about achieving success.- HELLO - Michael Hill Jeweller was published by Penguin BooksPenguin BooksPenguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
in 1994. - Toughen Up: What I've learned about surviving tough times was published by Random HouseRandom HouseRandom House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
in 2009. - think BIGGER: How To Raise Your Expectations And Achieve Everything was published by Random HouseRandom HouseRandom House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
in 2010.
Recognition
On 31 December 2001, Hill was awarded the Companion New Zealand Order of MeritNew Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
"for services to business and the arts."
Hill received Ernst & Young New Zealand's Entrepreneur Of The Year award in 2008. The awards "acknowledge the accomplishments of entrepreneurs and celebrate the contribution they are making to New Zealand’s economy and society".
He received the honour of Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 31 December 2010 New Year Honours list.