Flying Pig heads for Net

By Karyn Scherer

Two of New Zealand's biggest retail companies are joining forces to hawk their wares on the Net.

Whitcoulls and the Pacific Retail Group, which includes Noel Leeming, Bond & Bond and Computer City, are expected to announce on Monday a joint project to launch a new e-commerce site, which will be known as Flying Pig.

The new company hopes to dominate the internet market for books, music, videos and electronic equipment.

The bizarre choice of name is believed to have been the brainchild of former Whitcoulls head Stefan Preston.

Internet registry records show Mr Preston's private company, Orion Ventures, has already registered the internet address www.flyingpig.co.nz.

Mr Preston declined to comment on the name yesterday, saying all would be revealed on Monday.

However, it is widely known he has been developing the project for his boss, high-profile entrepreneur Eric Watson, since leaving Whitcoulls earlier this year.

Mr Preston has previously estimated that about 18 per cent of Whitcoulls' sales will eventually be made through the internet.

Since leaving Whitcoulls he has been retained as a consultant on its internet strategy, but has also been given the job of shaking up the Pacific Retail Group after the departure of the company's previous managing director, Nick Lowe, in June.

The board has made it clear it is a temporary appointment, although it has not yet begun a search for a permanent replacement.

Another company in which Eric Watson has shares, e-commerce developer Advantage Group, is also believed to be involved in the project.

Advantage and Pacific Retail Group share a common director, Nick Gordon.

It is understood the project will not involve Sky TV founder Craig Heatley at this stage. He is recruiting staff for a rival internet venture, a local version of the online US mortgage broker E-Loan.