John Winning

CEO, Appliances Online

At just 27, John Winning is one of Australia’s youngest CEOs. He is the founder and CEO of Appliances Online, a multi-million dollar online retailer he started in 2005. This business is a market leader and was one of the first e-commerce sites to sell large items – such as a fridge – to Australians.  Today, Appliances Online distributes via its own networks nationally and has grown to employ more than 80 staff (growing at a rate of 300% in 2011 over 2010). Appliances Online is Australia’s largest online retailer of appliances, delivering to 98% of the population and stocking more brands than any other online appliance retailer. Between 2005 and 2011 more than 150,000 unique customers have purchased from the company.

John is also the CEO of Big Brown Box, a pureplay retailer he acquired from Thorn Group Limited in 2011. Big Brown Box was relaunched in October 2011 to exclusively offer AV products – such as TVs – to Australians.

In November 2011, John Winning was also appointed by the board of Winning Appliances, as CEO. This decision will enable the fourth generation of the Winning family to take the whitegoods and appliance ‘bricks and mortar’ retailer to even greater heights. Winning Appliances has eight stores in New South Wales and Queensland.

John has successfully embraced e-commerce, web marketing, analytics and distribution, and believes the mentality of ‘impressing every customer’ is integral when running a successful business in an online – or offline – environment.

Read an Interview with John from March 27, 2012.