Page 10 - HW November 2019
P. 10

hard news
                                                          Gunnersen to close NZ branch
IN THE MIDDLE of last month, distributor of wood- based panel products and decorative surface materials Gunnersen Pty announced “with much regret” the closure of its New Zealand Branch, which will cease trading from 20 December 2019.
Gunnersen Pty MD, Ian Fankhanel, says in a letter to customers: “In spite of the gallant and sustained efforts from all our staff in New Zealand, it is clear that our most recent NZ business model, implemented in 2017, operating in a very competitive market, will not allow us to perform to the level that we need to support further
investment in the NZ market. Unfortunately we have been trading at a loss which can’t continue.”
The news comes two and a half years or so since the Kiwi arm moved into a significant new East Auckland warehouse, of which Paul Taylor, Gunnersen’s New Zealand GM at the time, said: “The reason for the change was that the business has big growth plans and our facilities just going to weren’t going to cut it. So we moved to a site that can meet our expansion plans.”
www.gunnersens.com.au
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               Canstar names New Zealand’s “favourite hardware store”
A RECENT CANSTAR consumer survey which has found that the level of service and advice offered by Kiwi DIY stores is the most important driver of customer satisfaction, has also named Mitre 10 as “New Zealand’s favourite hardware store”.
Survey respondents awarded the national hardware retailer five-star ratings for service and advice, its range of brands and of products and overall satisfaction.
Mitre 10 General Manager Marketing, Jules Lloyd-Jones, says the award is further recognition for the customer service Mitre 10 is known for: “We’re really proud to have received this recognition from our customers.
“Customer satisfaction encompasses so many things, so this is an award that acknowledges the work of every member of the Mitre 10 team, from our frontline customer service teams right through to our category teams that ensure we have the right products on the shelves.”
Although beaten for the Overall Satisfaction score, in the same survey, Bunnings beat Mitre 10’s score for Value for Money and scored equal with Mitre 10 for Range of Brands, Range of Products and Online Store/Catalogue, despite its lack of transactional ability in this last category.
www.canstarblue.co.nz/home-garden/diy-stores/
  8 NZHJ | NOVEMBER 2019
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