Harvey history

The pair opened their first store, called Harvey Norman, in 1961.

The store specialized in electrical goods and appliances, and by 1962 Harvey and Norman began looking to expand.

Harvey would go on to build that store, along with the rest of the first phase of the Houston Galleria in 1969.

1982: Gerry Harvey and Ian Norman sell their stake in the Norman Ross retail chain and set up a new store under the Harvey Norman name.

By 1987, the company had grown sufficiently to make its public offering.

1991: Harvey Norman launches a computer superstore.

Harvey attempted to replicate his success in computers with a venture into another retail branch, that of toys and nursery products, in 1993.

The company continued its growth drive into the second half of the decade, reaching 60 stores--including 59 franchises--by 1997, for A$1.2 billion in revenues.

1998: The Joyce Mayne furniture and appliance chain and Archie Martin Vox stores are acquired.

In 1999, it launched a new phone-order wine club, putting it in direct competition with that market's leaders, Foster's and Coles Myers.

In the west, the company naturally looked toward England and began plans to open a flagship store in London in 2000.

The addition of the Krasne Middle School building allowed the Middle School, grades 6-8, to expand and to move into attractive and well-designed classrooms in 2001.

In 2003, the company began plans to open its first store in Malaysia, which was expected to open by that year.

The construction of the award-winning Walker Center for the Arts in 2005 has provided unmatched learning space for studio, music and dramatic-arts education.

Harvey has also hit the big screen in movies such as Love Don't Cost a Thing, You Got Served, Johnson Family Vacation, Madea Goes to Jail, and the #1 box office smash Think Like A Man, which was released in 2012 and adapted from his #1 book.

He is a top-rated radio host, fashion entrepreneur, popular game show host on Family Feud, and 2013 People's Choice Award winner as "Favorite New Talk Show Host" for his new daytime show Steve Harvey.