Page 8 - HW April 2020

hard news
PlaceMakers
rolls out Trade App from May
MID LAST MONTH, with
development in the final stages, and having already trialled an early version with builders, PlaceMakers formally announced the rollout program
for its new Trade App ordering and tracking app.
Key features include: being able to view live and/or modify the delivery, details and status of all orders separated into job accounts; place orders from PlaceMakers’ product catalogue directly on the app with live pricing and inventory; use couriers
to get consumables on-site fast or select pick-up options; and nominate different levels of access for members of a team.
The planned rollout is as below with more regional dates to follow:
a Auckland and Christchurch – early
May.
a Hamilton – late May.
a Wellington – early June.
a Central Otago – late June.
www.placemakers.co.nz
“Lockdown” eases for some DIY retailers
WITH BRICKS & mortar shuttered, merchants and retailers worked hard during March to accommodate the Government’s initial restriction of just servicing the urgent needs of “essential services”.
Quick o the mark, 30 Mitre 10 and Mitre 10 MEGA stores “met criteria to operate as suppliers to trade customers for essential services”.
Having originally listed 19 PlaceMakers stores that would ful l “essential services”, PlaceMakers currently lists ve stores: Mt Wellington, Mt Maunganui, Kaiwharawhara and Riccarton with Clarence Street in Hamilton the most recent addition.
Bunnings too revised its initial list – from 53 (i.e. all) stores that would service the trades, reducing the numbers down to 23 locations at the time of going to press.
ITM and BuildLink both appear to be operating on a store by store basis.
Later that month, on 30 March, as hinted earlier in the process, MBIE announced that DIY and other retailers were able to register to be able to sell “essential non-food goods” but they had to do so online only and with promise of contactless delivery. No click & collect.
Said MBIE: “Essential goods are those that will keep people warm (heaters, blankets), replace key household appliances, and maintain people’s health.
“Examples of essential products are blankets, fridges, heaters and computers or tablets to work from home or do distance learning, or simply connect with people.”
“Having committed to following
appropriate safety protocols and processes for picking and ful lment,
in line with the Government’s Level 4 requirements”, Mitre 10 NZ was again among the rst to join the ranks of retailers authorised to sell “a core o ering of essential goods”, which in the case of Mitre 10 included heating, rewood, safety gear, plumbing and hardware products.
Other key retailers that have been likewise authorised at this point include Briscoes, Smiths City, Harvey Norman, e Warehouse, and Noel Leeming, with Trade Me lately also allowing sellers in its Marketplace to trade.
Indeed Trade Me lists the broadest yet list of “essential product” categories that consumers can buy, including the following:
a Baby products.
a Bedding & towels.
a Car parts.
a Clothing items.
a Computers & parts.
a Exercise gear.
a Food & beverage.
a Health & wellbeing.
a Heating & cooling.
a Kitchen.
a O ce supplies.
a Pet supplies.
a Phones.
Fletcher Distribution’s consumer facing pureplayer operation Snappy. co.nz, however, having been “deemed to be a non-essential service”, although still accepting orders, says that ful lment will not take place until the Level 4 restrictions are lifted.
6 NZHJ | APRIL 2020
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