Office Choice and Office Brands to team up in Melbourne.

 

The concept has been kicked around for many years but Australia’s two major independent office products dealer groups have finally committed to staging a joint industry expo.

 

Office Choice and Office Brands, in association with GNS Wholesale, have announced they are collaborating to launch ‘OPIx 2023’, bringing the current independent office products industry together under one roof for the first time.

 

Taking place in Melbourne in September 2023 at a venue to be announced, the event will consist of a full-day supplier expo for members of both dealer groups and GNS’s customers and an industry gala awards night.

 

Office Choice and Office Brands will also hold their annual dealer conferences alongside the event, 

 

The joint announcement was made by the CEOs of Office Choice and Office Brands (Brad O’Brien and Adam Joy respectively) and GNS CEO Paul Yardley at the recent OPIx 2022 trade show on the Gold Coast (12-14 August). 

 

Invitations to participate in OPIx 2023 are being extended to the Nextra and Lucky Charm newsagency groups, alongside existing OPIx partners Newspower and NewsXpress, and non-aligned newsagents.  

 

Independent dealer groups ASA Australia and Office Product Depot New Zealand are also in the early stages of discussing their potential participation.

 

CEO statements

 

Office Choice CEO Brad O’Brien stated: “Bringing together and celebrating the independent channel has long been our ambition and I’m pleased that our organisations continue to innovate in delivering value for members and customers. The enlarged OPIx will be a benefit to Office Choice dealers as well as the wider channel and provide greater exposure and opportunities for our supply partners.”

 

 

Office Brands CEO Adam Joy said “On behalf of Office Brands members, I’m really excited to announce this industry-leading initiative. Given the external environment, we all need to continue to evolve and do things differently. I see this as huge opportunity for our supply partners to expand their reach and increase sales, bringing together the industry in a manner that creates efficiencies and productivity gains.”

 

 

Paul Yardley, CEO of GNS Wholesale added “Strengthening the independent dealer channel and supporting our newsagent customers has been a consistent objective, guiding our original participation in OPIx 2019. The 2023 event will provide newsagents and independent dealers access to the largest range of suppliers, great new product and special deals all in the one place, alongside the opportunity to celebrate the industry’s successes at the Gala Dinner. I can’t wait to get to Melbourne in September 2023.” 

 

PHOTO: Making the announcement about a joint industry expo at OPIx on the Gold Coast on Saturday, from left, Paul Yardley (GNS), Brad O’Brien (Office Choice) and Adam Joy (Office Brands).