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About Us
For 90 years, Godfreys has proudly been Australia and New Zealand’s leading vacuum and cleaning experts — a milestone that deserves a celebration! From humble beginnings and with continued dedication from our founders and past and present team members, Godfreys has grown into an iconic household name.
In 1931 — a time when door-to-door salesmen sold vacuums — founder Godfrey Cohen bought 30 vacuum cleaners from the newspaper auction columns for $50 (the equivalent of about $2,300 today) and convinced his father to give him some window space in the family’s furniture shop. This was the birth of Godfreys and a new way to sell vacuums to the public.
The deal was sealed with a handshake between business partner John Johnston, and the first Godfreys store opened its doors in Melbourne’s historic Prahran Market. Fast forward to 2022 and that initial $50 investment has been transformed into an empire. With over 170 stores across Australia and New Zealand, Godfreys is the largest vacuum retailer in the world, having reached over three million happy customers to date.
Alongside an extensive range of vacuum cleaners from the world’s premier brands, Godfreys offers a variety of top-notch cleaning solutions including steam mops, carpet shampooers, hard floor cleaners, and cutting-edge robot technology. We continue to lead the market through innovation and plenty of good old-fashioned hard work.
Godfreys continues to provide customers with top-of-the-range products from great brands, along with professional advice and extensive services that meet all cleaning needs. From offering a diverse range of cleaning solutions to providing comprehensive after-purchase support — everything we do is aimed at making our customers’ lives easier, and most importantly, cleaner!
History
Godfrey Cohen founded the Godfrey group in 1931 during the Depression, back in the days when vacuum cleaners were only sold door-to-door. After dropping out of school at the age of 14, Godfrey sold sewing machines from home. He spotted traded-in vacuum cleaners up for sale in the auction columns and, always on the lookout for new opportunities; he invested two months pay and purchased 30 vacuum cleaners.
Godfrey managed to convince his father to provide him with some window space in the family’s furniture shop. A young Hoover employee saw the vacuum cleaners in the window, and agreed to sell trade-in models to Godfrey - and the business began to grow.
It wasn’t long after that Godfrey opened his first store in the Prahran Market in Melbourne, and then continued to revolutionise the vacuum cleaner business in Australia. He met his business partner, John Johnston, through a finance company and the two became partners over a handshake.
The business grew from strength to strength over the years, and through a business partnership that lasted over 70 years the Godfreys brand became synonymous with vacuum cleaners. Godfrey Cohen passed away in 2004 and his partner, John Johnston, aged 100, passed away in 2018 after an amazing business career. Today, the legacy of both gentlemen continue following the acquisition of Godfreys in mid-2018 by the Johnston family.
Today
From an original investment of $50, the Godfreys Group has grown to almost 200 stores across Australia and New Zealand, making it the largest vacuum cleaner retailer in the world.
Godfreys have sold millions of vacuum cleaners and continue to lead the market through continuous innovation and good old-fashioned hard work.
Mission
As a cleaning specialist, Godfreys is in business to provide customers with the best advice, products, and services to meet their cleaning needs.
Godfreys is a market-focused organisation where understanding and servicing customer needs is paramount. The Group’s commitment to its customers is reflected in both the expertise of its employees and the breadth of its products.
