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Dick Smith takes over David Jones electronics division

From 1 October, the iconic electronics retailer will take over DJs "underperforming" electronics departments.

Nic Healey Senior Editor / Australia
Nic Healey is a Senior Editor with CNET, based in the Australia office. His passions include bourbon, video games and boring strangers with photos of his cat.
Nic Healey

The deal between Dick Smith and David Jones will see David Jones' electronics departments rebranded as the somewhat clunky "David Jones Electronics Powered by Dick Smith".

(Credit: David Jones)

The move will open a further 30 retail areas for Dick Smith, and will see the existing David Jones consumer electronics staff become Dick Smith employees. The retailer has said that all staff will be retained and retrained for the changing roles.

A statement by David Jones to the ASX noted that televisions, computers, tablets, home office, audiovisual and "other digital products" are covered by the deal, but it will not include whitegoods or small appliances.

The agreement will also include fulfilment of website orders, with Dick Smith now responsible for any online purchases made via the David Jones site.

David Jones CEO and MD Paul Zahra noted that the challenges faced by the department store's electronic category have "adversely impacted our sales and profits for a number of years now".

Our agreement with Dick Smith enables us to remove the risks associated with this business and preserve our ability to participate in the sales and profit upside that results from combining both our businesses. In effect, we have transformed what was an underperforming category in our business into a profit contributor.