9News: Back in Business
Deborah Knight: If you’ve been around for a century – you deserve to put your feet up and relax in retirement…but for the founder of Godfrey’s Vacuum Cleaners, the milestone was the perfect opportunity to get back into the workforce with one of his oldest mates.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTEA0nsMa-g[/embedyt]
Ross Greenwood: A couple of weeks ago, John Johnston turned 100 years old.
John Johnston: My name is John Johnston and I was born on the 31st of the seventh, 1918 – a long time ago.
Ross: The more incredible thing about John Johnston is just a few months earlier, he paid $13.7 million to takeover Vacuum cleaner retailer Godfreys with 200 stores.
Ad: And the suction – its got enough to pick up this 16kg bowling ball! We’re getting ready for the half-price!
Ross: John Johnston had been a partner in Godfrey’s since 1936. 70 years late, in 2006, he sold out for $350 million.
John: Persistence is one of the main things in selling. Enthusiasm is another one.
Ross: But afterwards, the business suffered. It fell on hard times.
John Hardy: The problem was we had people who weren’t retailers, they didn’t understand retail.
Ross: Once Johnston brought back his business, he drafter in his old CEO and Chief Salesman – John Hardy at the sprightly age of 75.
John Hardy: Big performance at the super price of $199.
I’m still the boy. I’m still the apprentice. I haven’t graduated yet but I’m on the way.
Ross: So he’s on his way back. Teaching the young fella’s the subtle art of selling a vacuum cleaner.
John: Lets put a bit of cotton down…here you go.
Ross: So why does a 100 year old want the responsibility of owning a retailer like Godfreys?
John Hardy: He was concerned about people who had been here 30 or 40 years, he was worried about their futures.
John Johnston: If you think at any stage in your life, if you stop learning and you know – that’s the big danger.
John Hardy: My goal now is to get to 100 and be like him.
Ross: The story of John Johnston and John Hardy should be an inspiration to every Australian. It shows you are never too old to work, you are never too old to take a risk and you’re never too old to have a crack at whatever it is you want to do.
John Hardy: Come on Ross, Lift your feet – there’s work to do! Let’s get it clean!
Ross: Ross Greenwood, Nine News.
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Ross Greenwood
Ross Greenwood is the Nine Network’s business and finance editor, and hosts Sydney's top-rating radio program, Money News, for 2GB, 4BC. 3AW and all networked stations across the Macquarie Media group. He appears daily on the Today Show - and Nine News.
