Michael Hill International owns and operates the brand "Michael Hill" and operates a retail jewellery chain of 210 stores in Australia, New Zealand and Canada as at 30 June 2008.

The Company had its origins in 1979 when Michael and Christine Hill opened their first store in the New Zealand town of Whangarei, some 160 kilometres north of Auckland.

A unique retail jewellery formula that included dramatically different store designs, a product range devoted exclusively to jewellery and almost saturation levels of high impact advertising, elevated the company to national prominence.

The company grew steadily, expanding to 10 stores by 1987, the same year it listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange. 1987 also saw expansion of Michael Hill into Australia with the opening of four stores in four weeks. In 2002, the Company expanded into Canada, opening its first stores in Vancouver. We now have a presence right across Canada in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.

Today the group employs over 2,000 full and part time staff in retailing, manufacturing and administration. It has approximately 3,100 shareholders and is proud of its consistently high returns to shareholders averaging over 28% in the past 5 years.

Our values and guiding principles

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IS OUR PASSION, OUR LOVE AND
OUR LIFE

• Care for every customer, as you would like to be cared for yourself.
• Exceed their expectations - whatever it takes!
• Remember it's not a sale. It's a celebration!
• We are all living advertisements for our brand. We create the magic.
• Create lifetime customers through the highest standards in customer service.
• Customer complaints are an opportunity to win a customer for life.

OUR PEOPLE MAKE OUR COMPANY

• Employ exceptional people for the gifts they bring us - energy, passion, willingness, intelligence and enthusiasm.
• Develop, coach and empower them to achieve their full potential.
• Create an environment that encourages excitement, fun, and open communication.
• Celebrate and reward success.
• Endeavour to promote from within.
• Our team's success ensures the company's success.

ENCOURAGE INNOVATION AND USE COMMON SENSE

• Push the limits - if there is a better way, find it!
• Keep our systems relevant and simple.
• Challenge bureaucracy and red tape.
• Innovation is often born from our mistakes and the lessons learned - have a go!
• Embrace change - it brings opportunities.
• Speak up! Constructive questioning of our methods, policies, and thinking is healthy.

TAKE OWNERSHIP OF YOUR BUSINESS

• Act and think as if this was your own business.
• Make decisions in the best interests of your customers and your team.
• Be responsible for the company's profitability and growth.
• Search for great ideas and share them across the company.
• Our systems provide the platform for successful growth so follow them strictly.

BE HONEST AND ETHICAL

• Always act honestly and ethically displaying the upmost integrity.
• Protect and enhance our brands integrity.
• Show mutual respect in all dealings with people in and outside the company.
• Compete fairly and professionally at all times.
  

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to be the most people focused jeweller in the world.