Local office supplies store named Australia’s best
Office Choice Warragul was recently announced as the nation’s best Office Choice store at the group’s national conference and annual general meeting held on the Sunshine Coast.
The 60 year old local store, which is also known as Select Office Supplies, won the Victorian Dealer of the Year Award on its way to beating 141 stores nationally to take out the Australian Dealer of the Year Award.
Store proprietor, John Mai said: “It’s a massive surprise to win this award, I didn’t see it coming, I hadn’t read the bulletin and didn’t know we were nominated. I am so proud and happy to have got to where we are today. It’s great that the hard work has paid off” said John.
Judging for the award is based on many criteria including support of preferred suppliers, a supplier voting process, attendance at state meetings, adherance to marketing programs and store growth.
The business was purchased by John and his wife Thu in 2010. At that time the business was located in Smith Street, Warragul and employed four staff. Early this year the business moved to much larger premises in Queen Street, Warragul and now employs 15 local staff. Aside from the vastly increased size and improved product range at the new store, the new premises offer much improved loading access and customer parking.
John and Thu moved to Warragul from Melbourne for a better lifestyle. After many years in the automotive industry, John wanted to buy a business that offered a ‘need to buy product’ rather than a ‘want to buy product’ – and then came the opportunity to buy the Office Choice Warragul franchise. The Office Choice franchise also appealed to them because its parent company is 100% Australian owned.
In the seven years since moving to Warragul, John and Thu have become great supporters of local charities, schools and clubs.
Call in and congratulate John, Thu and the team at Office Choice Warragul which is located at 166 Queen Street, Warragul – phone 5622 3130.