Officeworks
Encyclopedia
Officeworks is a chain of Australian office supplies stores which was established in the early 1990s by Coles Myer (which became Coles Group
, now part of Wesfarmers
). The store concept adopted by Officeworks was based on the US chain Office Depot
.
in Melbourne in June 1994.
Harris Technology
, an IT retailer, was purchased by Coles Myer in 1999 and became a subsidiary of the larger office supplies retailer. Viking Australia (a subsidiary of Office Depot
) was purchased by Coles Myer in December 2002 and was merged with Officeworks Direct to form Officeworks BusinessDirect, now referred to as Officeworks Business.
By late 2006 the business opened its 100th store in South Yarra
, just kilometres from the first store in Richmond. Officeworks had 141 retail stores as at May 2011, with a presence in every Australian state and territory.
Following the purchase of Coles Group by Wesfarmers in November 2007, Officeworks and Harris Technology form part of Wesfarmers' Home Improvement and Office Supplies division.
. Officeworks also adopted the "Lowest Price Guarantee" similar to that found at Bunnings, where Officeworks will beat any competitor's price of an identical item by 5%.
Most Officeworks stores feature the following departments:
Some stores formerly featured Inkworks, which provided ink and toner replacements and recycling. This is now part of Technology/Business Machines.
Officeworks Business is the internet and phone sales division of Officeworks, with its own warehouses. It stocks a larger range to retail stores on a delivery only basis, with a focus on day-to-day needs of medium to large businesses rather than small business and general consumers that shop in store.
Coles Group
Coles Group Limited was an Australian public company that operated numerous retail chains. It was Australia's second-largest retailer, behind Woolworths Limited...
, now part of Wesfarmers
Wesfarmers
Wesfarmers Limited is one of Australia’s largest public companies and one of Australia's largest retailers. Its headquarters are in Perth, Western Australia....
). The store concept adopted by Officeworks was based on the US chain Office Depot
Office Depot
Office Depot is a supplier of office products and provides many services. The company's selection of brand name office supplies includes business machines, computers, computer software and office furniture, while its business services encompass copying, printing, document reproduction, shipping,...
.
History
The first Officeworks store opened in the inner city suburb of RichmondRichmond, Victoria
Richmond is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
in Melbourne in June 1994.
Harris Technology
Harris Technology
Harris Technology Pty Ltd. is an Australian electronics retailer owned and operated by Officeworks, a subsidiary of Wesfarmers.-Early history:...
, an IT retailer, was purchased by Coles Myer in 1999 and became a subsidiary of the larger office supplies retailer. Viking Australia (a subsidiary of Office Depot
Office Depot
Office Depot is a supplier of office products and provides many services. The company's selection of brand name office supplies includes business machines, computers, computer software and office furniture, while its business services encompass copying, printing, document reproduction, shipping,...
) was purchased by Coles Myer in December 2002 and was merged with Officeworks Direct to form Officeworks BusinessDirect, now referred to as Officeworks Business.
By late 2006 the business opened its 100th store in South Yarra
South Yarra, Victoria
South Yarra is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 4 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Stonnington and Melbourne...
, just kilometres from the first store in Richmond. Officeworks had 141 retail stores as at May 2011, with a presence in every Australian state and territory.
Following the purchase of Coles Group by Wesfarmers in November 2007, Officeworks and Harris Technology form part of Wesfarmers' Home Improvement and Office Supplies division.
Rebranding
Officeworks rebranded in 2008, revising its logo, uniforms, store department names, and slogan - "Lowest Prices Everyday". The revised branding positioned Officeworks as a low cost warehouse similar to that of its sister company Bunnings WarehouseBunnings Warehouse
Bunnings Warehouse is Australia's largest hardware chain with stores in Australia and New Zealand. The chain is owned by Wesfarmers Limited.-History:-Pre 1900s:...
. Officeworks also adopted the "Lowest Price Guarantee" similar to that found at Bunnings, where Officeworks will beat any competitor's price of an identical item by 5%.
Advertising
The Officeworks jingle, played behind the voiceover on television advertisements and in-store, is based on Bachman-Turner Overdrive's song, "Takin' Care of Business". The piano riff is followed at the end of each advertisement by the single lyric, "Takin' care of business".Business
- Print & Copy (aka Copy Centre, formerly Printworks) - Provides services including printing, photocopying, laminating, custom promotional products, Photobooks, business cards, printed stationery, stamps and name badges
- Technology (aka Business Machines, formerly Techworks) - Computers, business machines, consumables and other electronic productsElectronic productsElectronic Products is an electronic component and technology trade magazine published by Hearst Business Media serving the electronic design community...
. - Furniture (formerly Furnitureworks) - Chairs, desks, filing cabinets and other office furniture.
- Stationery - Pens, paper and other stationery needs.
Some stores formerly featured Inkworks, which provided ink and toner replacements and recycling. This is now part of Technology/Business Machines.
Officeworks Business is the internet and phone sales division of Officeworks, with its own warehouses. It stocks a larger range to retail stores on a delivery only basis, with a focus on day-to-day needs of medium to large businesses rather than small business and general consumers that shop in store.