EziBuy
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Clothing Retail |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Auckland City 1010 , |
Key people | Acting MD: Edwina Neilson Founders: Peter & Gerard Gillespie |
| Products | Women's Clothes, Children's Clothes, Men's Clothes, Shoes, Accessories, Homeware |
Number of employees | 900-1000 |
| Parent | Alceon Group |
| Website | ezibuy |
EziBuy is a New Zealand and Australian multi-channel retailer. It sells clothes, homeware and gifts through a multi-channel model in both countries.[1]
Products can be purchased through catalogues, and six retail stores around New Zealand.[2][3][4] The retailer has a cell centre and distribution centre in Palmerston North, where it has been based since its inception in 1979.[5][6][4]
EziBuy has several brands for plus-sized women, including Sara, Formfit, Deesse, Isobar Active Plus and Quayside Plus Size.[1]
History
Gillespie era
EziBuy was established in 1978 by brothers Peter and Gerard Gillespie, and their friend John Robinson in Palmerston North, New Zealand. The business began as a catalogue retailer selling womenswear and menswear. The first catalogue was a simple folded, A3 black and white page which was mailed to a list of local organisations in 1978.[7][8]
In January 2002, EziBuy purchased Myer Direct from Coles Myer.[9]
In January 2006, the company opened a new distribution centre in Palmerston North.[5]
EziBuy won the Keith Norris Direct Marketing Organisation of the Year Award in 2012.[10][11]
Woolworths era
In August 2013, EziBuy was acquired by Woolworths Limited.[12][13]
At the time of sale, EziBuy was the largest fashion and homeware multi-channel retailer in Australasia. The business mailed over 23 million catalogues every year and processed more than 1.75 million orders annually.[14]
Alceon era
In June 2017, EziBuy was acquired by Alceon Group, a major shareholder of Australian womenswear retailer Noni B,[15] for an undisclosed sum.[16]
In October 2018, Alceon purchased New Zealand children's clothing retailer Pumpkin Patch for an undisclosed sum, allowing it to relaunch the brand through EziBuy.[17]
Noni B era
Noni B purchased a controlling stake of EziBuy from Alceon Group in a $1 peppercorn sale in 2019.[18] The sale was aimed at increasing the retailer's digital sales and giving it access to the New Zealand market.[19]
In August 2021, EziBuy announced a restructure after posting a $28.9 million loss for the year to June 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
References
- ^ a b Company Overview of EziBuy Limited, Bloomsburg Business Week
- ^ "Kiwis still catalogue shopping from the couch - EziBuy". TVNZ. July 18, 2012.
- ^ Future of Catalogue Shopping, TVNZ, July 18, 2012
- ^ a b c Coltman, Karen (18 August 2021). "Ezibuy posts a $28.9 million loss in a year". stuff.co.nz.
- ^ a b Ezibuy distribution centre opened in Palmerston North, The National Business Review, July 11, 2006, archived from the original on 2016-03-04, retrieved 2019-10-05
- ^ Wallace Development Company Limited Photo Gallery showing EziBuy Distribution Centre Building in 2005, archived from the original on 2016-03-04, retrieved 2014-09-01
- ^ Big birthday present to Palmerston North, Stuff.co.nz, July 10, 2013
- ^ Ezibuy’s 35 years in Palmerston North - TV News Video, TVNZ, July 3, 2013
- ^ "EziBuy buys Australian catalogue customer database". Wilson & Horton. New Zealand Herald. 27 November 2001.
- ^ 2012 NZDM Award Winners, Marketing Association of NZ, 2012
- ^ The Joy of EziBuy, True Customer Intimacy!, Marketing Association of NZ, July 28, 2013
- ^ Woolworths buys EziBuy in $NZ350m deal, News.com.au, Aug 22, 2013
- ^ Woolworths buys Ezibuy for $350m, The New Zealand Herald, Aug 22, 2013
- ^ Woolies snaps up Kiwi retailer EziBuy, The Sunday Morning Herald, Aug 22, 2013
- ^ Mitchell, Sue (26 January 2017). "Woolworths sells EziBuy to Noni B shareholder Alceon Group". Australian Financial Review.
- ^ McBeth, Paul (26 June 2017). "Woolworths sells EziBuy for undisclosed sum to Sydney investment firm Alceon". National Business Review.
- ^ "Pumpkin Patch brand set to relaunch". Allied Press. New Zealand Media and Entertainment. 25 October 2018.
- ^ Powell, Dominic (21 November 2019). "'Try before you buy': Noni B snaps up EziBuy for $1 to boost online sales". Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ Bailey, Imogen (21 November 2019). "Fashion retailer acquired, as sales set to skyrocket to $200 million". Yaffa. Rag Trader.