Profile: Steinhoff’s 'world-class' homewares boss Stuart Machin

Machin began his retail career at Sainsbury’s as a management trainee in 1987. During his time at the supermarket chain he was appointed as its youngest store director at the time at the age of 27, before culminating as retail operations director.

He held that role until 2003, after which Machin went on to stints leading operations at rival big four grocers Tesco and at Asda. He was hired at the latter by retail director at the time and former chief executive Andy Clarke.

“He’s undoubtedly a talented retailer and probably one of the best operations guys that I’ve worked with,” says Clarke, adding that it was “a loss when he decided to move on”.

It’s clear that Machin made a serious impression on much of the top team at Asda.

Indeed, it was his former chairman and mentor at Asda, Archie Norman, who persuaded Machin to make the trip Down Under in 2008, becoming chief of operations at Wesfarmer-owned supermarket chain Coles.

On Target

Machin was among the executive team tasked with turning around the struggling grocery chain, with a remit that included store formats, IT operations and ecommerce development.

His work at Coles clearly impressed Wesfarmers and he was appointed as chief executive of stablemate and struggling department store retailer Target in 2013 – a role he held until last year.

Managing partner at headhunter Barracuda, Justin Linger, who placed Machin at Coles back in 2008, says: “He’s a world-class retailer and rated by some pretty key players in the industry.

“His track record of driving retail recoveries may be what separated Machin from the other candidates to lead Harveys and Benson for Beds”

“He’s highly respected, has very broad experience and is incredibly passionate about every business he’s ever been involved in.”

His track record of driving retail recoveries may be what separated Machin from the other candidates to lead Harveys and Benson for Beds.

Their parent company, Steinhoff, might have posted strong profits at the half-year mark, but the South African conglomerate’s UK division faltered.

Operating profit in its British businesses − a stable that also includes Poundland and Pep & Co − fell 12% as revenue tumbled 19%.

The retail group attributed the decline to the fall in the value of the pound and a challenging market post-Brexit.

They are challenges that are far from unique to Benson for Beds and Harveys, as DFS’ profit warning earlier this month demonstrates.

The right man

But Linger believes Machin is the right man to navigate Steinhoff UK’s home and housewares division through such a choppy landscape.

“If you want to turn a business around or make a success of it then he’s the guy to draft in – he’s got more drive, energy and motivation than most general managers I’ve met,” he says.

Clarke believes that Machin’s international experience will also have impressed his new paymasters.

“He’s very capable and what he did in Australia underlines that,” he tells Retail Week.

“Steinhoff has a very broad international business and I’m sure he’s going to run those two businesses first, but perhaps as the start of a wider career with the organisation”

Andy Clarke

“Steinhoff has a very broad international business and I’m sure he’s going to run those two businesses first, but perhaps as the start of a wider career with the organisation.” 

Discounting any potential long-term prospects at Steinhoff, Machin’s most pressing priority will be to make a success of Benson for Beds and Harveys, which operate 273 and 164 stores in the UK respectively.

The success story of Dreams indicates that, if done right, there is plenty of room to grow within a challenging market – so how will Machin aim to achieve that?

“If you look at that sector, it has not always been the most innovative and customer-focused, and it’s not seen as top-tier retailing from a visual merchandising perspective or customer service perspective,” says Linger.

“What Stuart will do is bring it to a new level of customer focus and product and supply chain innovation, as well as creating retail theatre around Harveys and Benson”

Justin Linger, Barracuda

“What Stuart will do is bring it to a new level of customer focus and product and supply chain innovation, as well as creating retail theatre around Harveys and Benson.”

It’s no small task for Machin, who takes the helm of the two businesses in August.

The grocery guru might have only moved into the homewares sector at Target in 2013, but Clarke does not believe this will hold him back.

“Stuart is a good retailer and will add value, whatever kind of business it is,” he states.

With that kind of endorsement, it shouldn’t take too long for Machin to bed back into UK retail.