National wholesaler shakes off old baggage with move to new premises.

 

Resilience is a word often applied to the office products industry and for good reason.

 

While the core stationery segment has declined, exacerbated by the increased use of digital products and more starkly by the pandemic, on-going demand for a wider range of workplace supplies has bolstered the ranks of both dealers and suppliers.

 

Given the trends, it’s been a resilient effort by GNS Wholesale to post revenues of just under $70 million in fiscal year 20/21 – at the height of the pandemic.

 

Paul Yardley, chief executive officer at GNS (pictured), said that despite “flat” revenues – pre-pandemic sales were also around $70 million – the company had weathered the storm and was now well-placed to expand and offer customers a more efficient service through new facilities and product range.

 

The “refreshed” GNS and 28 NSW staff are now headquartered at the Bankstown Aerodrome business park, where the 4,000 square metre warehouse is a much more efficient facility compared to the outdated premises at nearby Padstow.

 

GNS no longer operates as a ‘cash and carry’ business for newsagencies, now relying on a network of couriers to service the channel, which had become accustomed to phone and online ordering during the pandemic.

 

GNS has also moved to new 4,800 square metres premises at Aspley in Brisbane northern suburbs, having been based in Pineapple Street for 17 years.

 

The national network of distribution centres also includes facilities at Keysborough in Melbourne (where the lease was recently renewed), Belmont in WA (WA Stationery) and Marleston in Adelaide (Satex).

 

Yardley said GNS’ customer base continued to transition from the newsagency channel to a 50:50 split with the dealer channel and is heading in the direction of 55:45 in favour of B2B sales, with regional markets becoming increasingly stronger.

 

Like other wholesalers, GNS saw a spike in sales of PPE and COVID-related products over the past two years but has also seen strong sales in some core stationery products, particularly diaries, which were up 12 per cent “off a big number” over the past year.

 

GNS carries its own brand Stat (which replaced much of the former Sovereign brand) as well as the Office Choice own brand, Office Brands’ Initiative brand and private label.

 

The company also has distribution agreements with Avery, 3M, Newell Brands, Double A, Livi (hygiene products) and Yankee Candle.

 

And while GNS is not immune from well-documented industry-wide supply chain issues impacting stock levels, Yardley said the company had taken steps to accommodate early demand for the next back-to-school season.

 

At the recent Office Brands EXPO in Brisbane, GNS showcased a new product range of visual communications and technology products from Portuguese-based multinational firm Bi-silque.

 

GNS will initially market 19 products from Bi-silque but could expand the range, which includes interactive whiteboards, easels, display boards and viscom accessories.