Leading OP supplier flattened by coronavirus.

 

New Zealand Office Supplies, one of the country’s leading B2B businesses, has been placed into voluntary administration despite receiving a NZ$239 million wage subsidy as part of the NZ government’s COVID-19 financial assistance program. 

 

NZOS, founded by Michael Manikas and Dion Neill, has been one of the largest national office products distributors for the past 12 years. 

 

Neill recently joined NXP, the former Winc NZ business now owned by NZ’s Tiri Group, in late January as national sales manager of professional services, which broadly covers the government, legal and accountancy sectors.

 

Neill's previous role at privately-owned NZOS, was general manager of sales, marketing and customer services.

 

NZOS has 34 staff and operates distribution centres in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

 

Khov Jones administrator Steven Khov was appointed on 1 May.

 

He said the company's sales "dropped to the floor" because of the Covid-19 level 4 lockdown restrictions.

 

Khov said the company was trading through the administration and paying staff around 80 per cent of their wages.