Keran Wicks Network Video

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Founder and Managing Director of Network Video, the second-largest movie rental group in Australia.

Keran Wicks left school at age 13 and started her working life pumping gas.

Excelled in various retail roles before falling pregnant at age 23. When her employers found out she was expecting, she was sacked and promptly took her former employers to court in the first case to be brought before the Equal Opportunity Board for dismissal on the grounds of pregnancy.

Literally started the Network Video business from the boot of her car in 1993, and there are now over 350 Network stores in the near $1 billion Australian movie rental industry.

First began working in the movie rental industry by selling second-hand videos to rental stores from the boot of her car. After several years in the movie rental industry, including owning her own rental outlet, Keran approached other independent rental owners to form a group in 1993. Network Video was born and within just 12 months, Keran was at the helm of 100 stores.

Unique position of being the only female head of a movie rental company anywhere in the world.

From Little Monster to industry leader

Keran Wicks changed the movie rental industry when she founded Network Video in 1993, offering independent stores an alternative to the dozens of franchises that were beginning to litter the market. Starting off with just 12 member stores, Network has grown to represent over 350 stores today. Network is Australias largest independent marketing and buying group, and Keran is the only female head of a movie rental group anywhere in the world. Keran Wicks started off in the industry when she worked part-time in a video rental store, before selling second-hand videos to rental stores from the boot of her car.

In 1991, Keran Wicks opened her own rental outlet in Kew called Little Monster - inspired by her son. Keran increased the stores annual takings from $80,000 to $700,000 in two years.

Whilst running her own store, Keran Wicks experienced first-hand the difficulties faced by independent video rental store owners. Situated close to a franchise video shop, her store was doing twice the business yet paying twice the price to studios.

Frustrated by the lack of buying power afforded to the so-called 'little guys', Keran Wicks approached other independent rental owners to form a group in 1993. Network Video was born and within just 12 months, Keran Wicks was at the helm of 100 stores.

Today, Network Video has over 350 member stores in the near $1 billion movie rental industry in Australia. Keran Wicks has earned enormous respect within the industry and is constantly travelling, speaking to groups of retailers and studio heads ranging from 10 people to 500 people at a time. In 2001 Keran Wicks was the only Australian, and the only woman, to present at a major international conference hosted by 20th Century Fox in the US.

A leading voice on the state of the movie rental industry, Keran Wicks played a vital role in the successful case brought against Warner Bros in the Australia Federal Court in 2001 that stopped two-tier DVD pricing.

Keran lives in Melbourne with her two sons and a deaf dog named Sable.

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Keran Wicks Network Video

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