JB Hi-Fi defies hard times with 11.2pc rise A SOLID 11.2 per cent rise in annual profit from consumer electronics chain JB Hi-Fi has put pressure on fellow retailers to generate a return from a notoriously tough and low-margin product category. On the same day as department store David Jones handed control of its electronics department to the Dick Smith chain to stem years of losses, JB yesterday booked a net profit of $116.4 million after tax for the year to June 30, up from $104.6m a year earlier.