MICHAEL HILL – JEWELLER
Michael Hill has many strings to his bow.
You could say concert violinist, world window dresser, golfer and golf course owner, farmer, shipping magnate, supporter of the arts, motivational public speaker or restaurant franchise owner. But the moment you hear "Hello Michael Hill" one profession immediately springs to mind – Jeweller!
Few people anywhere but particularly in Whangarei in the 1950s, leave school at 16 to become a concert violinist. Michael Hill did but failed to win the coveted New Zealand Herald violin competition a year later.
He was advised to relinquish the bow and take up watch making in the Whangarei based family jewellery business owned by his uncle. He lasted just three months in watch making, but remained for 23 years as a salesman and later store manager.
Any one of his cornucopia of business activities lends itself to fascinating story telling, but his path from small town/small shop owner to international legend is as good a place as any to start.
The watershed moment came when, literally, Michael was watching his Whangarei house go up in flames. As it burned, he had an inspiration that he should make an offer, to buy out the family business. Although near penniless after the fire, he found a backer willing to put up the necessary capital. His uncle, however, didn't share his vision and refused the offer.
Undaunted Michael opened up a smaller and less grand shop in competition. Within 18 months his business was outstripping his uncle’s more established operation and the rest is history.
The simple u-shaped layout in the jewellery premises and an accessible range of jewellery set the framework for much bigger takings. He opened seven shops in seven years then set his sights on 70 more in the following seven years. Today the Michael Hill Jewellery chain, of which he is Chairman, has 250 stores in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA and the aim is to become a truly global brand with 1000 stores by 2024.
In 2001 Michael Hill’s achievements and contribution to New Zealand business were recognised when he received the Companion New Zealand Order of Merit. In the same year, his lifelong passion for the arts, and in particular the violin, led to the establishment of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, a biennial event for emerging young violinists from all over the world.
Michael Hill’s private golf course, The Hills, carved from a former deer farm near Arrowtown, was selected in 2007 to host the prestigious New Zealand Open for three years. The inaugural event was an outstanding success attracting worldwide international television focus. The Hills club house, an innovative underground bunker style building, was named Supreme Award winner in the 2008 New Zealand Architectural Awards.
His luxury super yacht VVS1, an elegant and contemporary vessel, which operates charters around New Zealand and the South Pacific is acclaimed for its outstanding design features, and has won three coveted international awards.
Michael Hill is a New Zealand household name and his achievements are legendary. He is a professional and inspirational motivational speaker with a strong and practical message on how to achieve success both in business and personal life.
His philosophy is -“by sticking to the basics, the whole organisation is concentrating on the same goal: everyone is aiming at the bullseye!”