Retailer expands print offer to meet virus signage demand.

 

Officeworks is considering transforming its print and scan operation into an industrial provider of signage for various companies across Australia.

 

The retailer has been busy printing signs for various businesses over the last few months to communicate restrictions and operational changes in the wake of strict social distancing requirements.

 

Retail outlets such as cafes, butchers and hairdressers have made their way to Officeworks in need of signage and safety gear. 

 

“People talk about the decline of the need to print things but our offer has evolved over time, so people don’t necessarily copy as much these days but they do other wide-format printing or more elaborate printing or design or creation, all those sorts of things,” Michael Howard, Officeworks chief financial officer, told news.com.au.

 

Howard said the abundance of signage currently displayed across the country has inspired his business to reconsider its offer.

 

“Are we doing everything that we could be to participate in that market? There’s definitely a role for us to play in terms of our online print and copy proposition,” he said.

 

“Print and copy will come in a different form – technology today is not the same as it was 25 years ago when we started the business. So all these elements of our offer will continue to evolve,” he added.

 

One item that has seen a big lift in demand at Officeworks is the digital tally counter.

 

“The volume of these little counters that we sold ramped up quite quickly, so it goes to show how a government announcement translates down to society and how it translates very quickly,” Howard said.