Hall of fame recipient reflects on tough year at virtual awards night.

 

With COVID-19 putting a hold on live conferences and award ceremonies, Office Brands – which comprises the Office National, Office Products Depot, O-NET and Office Power groups – went online to recognise its top members and suppliers and several individuals of distinction.

 

Long-standing Adelaide dealer The Paper Bahn Office National was named Office Brands’ National Member of the Year for 2020.

 

This year’s Office Brands Hall of Fame recipient is Justin Urwin, owner Absolute MBA Office National in Melbourne (pictured).

 

In a video call, Urwin thanked Office Brands for its support during one of the toughest years he has faced over the past 29 years.

 

Urwin said it had been a time of “extreme anxiety – particularly in Melbourne” and the company had to put off staff, who were part of family.

 

“People say it’s about pens and paper but it’s more than that,” he said. “It’s about people and relationships.

 

“The support we have received from Office Brands’ senior management and support staff speaks volumes about our organisation,” he said.

 

Other presentations included:

 

In announcing the awards, Cameron Orth, Office Brands’ senior business development manager, said: “Well, what year – it’s like nothing else that I can remember that's for sure. We have all endured such a tough time both on a personal and business front and I would like to think that we are now through the worst of it.

 

“Unfortunately, due to COVID we haven't been able to have everyone together at our EXPO so we are celebrating this year’s awards ‘virtually’. We can really celebrate when we get together in 2021.”

 

Below is the full list of awards for 2020:

 

GENERAL OFFICE SUPPLIES CATEGORY AWARD

 

Winner: GNS Wholesale Stationers

Runner-up: ACCO Brands

 

FACILITIES CATEGORY AWARD

 

Winner: John S. Hayes

Runner-up: ACCO Brands

 

FURNITURE CATEGORY AWARD

 

Winner: FurnX

Runner-up: YS Design 

 

PACKAGING & WAREHOUSE CATEGORY AWARD

 

Winner: ACCO Brands

Runner-up: Stylus Tapes International

 

TECHNOLOGY, CONSUMABLES & BUSINESS MACHINES CATEGORY AWARD

 

Winner: Dynamic Supplies

Runner-up: Leader Consumables

 

ORDER FULFILLMENT & DELIVERY AWARD

 

Winner: Dynamic Supplies

Runner-up: GNS Wholesale Stationers

 

CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD

 

Winner: Dynamic Supplies

Runner-up: FurnX

 

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARD

 

Winner: Dynamic Supplies

 

Member Awards:

 

STATE MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD - NSW/ACT

 

Winner: C2C Office National

Runner-up: Office National Sydney Stationery

 

STATE MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD QLD 

 

Joint winners: Office National Yatala and Pencraft Office National

 

STATE MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD - SA/NT

 

Winner: The Paper Bahn Office National

Runner-up: Our Town and Country Office National (Adelaide)

 

STATE MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD - VIC/TAS

 

Winner: Absolute MBA Office National

Runner-up: Ross Office Supplies Office Products Depot

 

STATE MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD - WA

 

Winner: Paper Plus Office National

Runner-up: Office National Balcatta

 

SUPPLIERS' MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD

 

Winner: Our Town & Country Office National (Alice Springs)

Joint runners-up: Tobin Office National (Warrnambool) and Tosco Office National (Cairns)

 

O-NET MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD

 

Winner: Olympia Office Products

Runner-up: Office Product Solutions 

 

NATIONAL MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD

 

Winner: The Paper Bahn Office National (Adelaide)

 

CIO TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP AWARD

 

Winner: Allison Sexton (Ross Office Supplies)

 

TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT STAND-OUT AWARD

 

David Tedesco (Angletons Office National),

Ralph Livings (Balcatta Office National),

Paul Thomas-Clark (Coffs Coast Office National)

 

MERCHANDISE GROUP SUPPORT AWARD

 

Winner: Staedtler

Runner-up: Comsol

 

ABOVE & BEYOND INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD

 

David Wilson (Ross Office Supplies)

 

ABOVE & BEYOND TEAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD

 

Office National Canning Vale

 

WOMAN OF INFLUENCE AWARD

 

Allison Sexton (Ross Office Supplies)

 

OFFICE BRANDS HALL OF FAME AWARD

 

Justin Urwin (Absolute MBA Office National

 

OFFICE BRANDS ANNIVERSARIES

 

10-YEAR MEMBERSHIP

 

Dynamic Stationery Plus

Office National Yatala

Office Play

 

15-YEAR MEMBERSHIP

 

Protech Office Products Depot

Office Essential Office National

Coleman's Office National

All Business Office Products Depot

Office Business Office Products Depot

Ross Office Supplies Office Products Depot - Croydon

Herriman's Office Products Depot