Retail advisory
and consultant practice
Since 1889
About Us
As retailers Beard Watson pride ourselves in caring for our customer. Our business is built on values of honesty and hard work. It is an approach that is as relevant today as it was back in 1889. With long-term solutions, our clients and customers engage and stay with us.
Through time spent listening to understand a situation we can build opportunities, give practical advice for you to build a business and make the best of every opportunity that presents itself. Beard Watson gives market intelligence, feasibility, and a ‘down to earth’ approach.
Let us use our business to build on yours
From humble beginnings, Beard Watson was originally founded in 1889 from a partnership consisting of William Henry Beard, James Kebblewhite, and James Henry Watson. Initially Beard Watson focused on the retail of fine furnishing fabrics and floor coverings. Before too long they held loftier ambitions and sold high quality furniture, household and decorator items from their premises at 359-363 George Street, Sydney.
Beard Watson provided the highest standard of service, and innovative products made locally and sourced from abroad, designed by artisans to its growing list of customers across the country. They had a manufacturing business, suburban stores, mail order business, decorator stylists, and exhibitions. The company was highly involved in the arts and draft movement at the time. In 1959 Nock & Kirby a leading and progressive hardware business purchased the business to diversify and expand it’s growing business.
All colour images by Noel Bell Ridley Smith Architects & Eric Sierns Photographer, Max Dupain & Associates Pty Ltd, BWEI Collection
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Warren Cardwell
Practice Principal
Warren has an extensive record of success working initially as a company cadet through to senior management roles in Australian retail, wholesale and omni-channel areas. Most recently working with a number of smaller retailers to provide professional expertise in business recovery, as well as leading transformational change in a not for profit public benevolent company in applying sound business principles.
Experience
Warren has led and managed retail operations, customer service levels, buying, trading terms, store merchandising worked on and in structural change, implemented major changes in business to be relevant and competitive. I have a customer centric approach to service, brand management along with strong team focus, improving people’s lives and in building sustainability and growth. He has been very involved with ‘big box’, department and specialty stores, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), business, government and the not for profit (third) sector.
Breadth of Skills
Warren enjoys working with structural and operational changes to ensure business growth. This has allowed opportunities to develop strategic plans, annual operating and compliance plans, portfolio strategies, brand positioning, and marketing, VM execution, buying, product catalogues, brand and customer market research, store development, leasing, pop up stores, distribution and financial performance. My breadth of skills is able to help to build a sustainable business, sell product and ‘add value’ to customers.
Contact Us
NORTHBRIDGE NSW 2063
M: 0419 1958 35
P: 02 9958 3246
P: 02 9481 4180
Testimonials
I have worked with Warren on numerous projects which were both initiated and led by him. His commitment and determination to deliver excellence and his ability to rally teams together for a united cause is reflective of his clear leadership skills. Warren can build strong relationships quickly; this coupled with an integrity that is rarely found these days will be an asset to any organisation where relationships are critical and will help Warren continue to deliver successful results time and again.
I can speak very highly with regard to Warren’s abilities and skills, he is an outstanding retailer who has high disciplines and attention to detail . He has a great understanding of the word “performance” and is driven by the ability to achieve.
I have had interactions with Warren for a number of years now and find he is honest & hardworking. I have a high regard for Warren’s abilities and skills – he is an outstanding retail executive who has attention to detail. He understands retail business metrics and knows how to achieve results by maintaining a high level of customer service.
Warren was a very professional and dedicated professional at the time we worked together.
Warren Cardwell is known to me during his time at Myer. A highly professional can do individual who is strong in retail, strategy, and supply chain. He initiated new processes and delivered strong financial results to the business through markdown management and efficiencies. I would highly recommend Warren as a strong retailer with a broad range of skills.
Warren has a particular knack for getting to understand the individuals with whom he has any encounter and that attention to detail is something that he uses to support and build on friendships” He is diligent, he researches his subjects and he applies his information in a practical way to the situation at hand.
Warren is a very good friend of mine, and is an enthusiastic and passionate businessman who is driven by integrity and a very strong customer service ethic. He thrives on a challenge, and is able to develop strategies to overcome obstacles even when others have given up. Having worked with Warren on a number of community projects, I have also observed his considerable creative skills in action, plus his ability to paint a vision and then execute to fruition.
Warren’s ever positive attitude, keen business sense and his natural marketing ability make him a valuable asset to any company wishing to grow or change its business.
Mr Cardwell’s wealth of experience transformed merchandising aesthetic of our retail start up. He was also vital in issuing clear briefs to our design department to create very effective occasional signage.