Reorganisation to deal with competitive market

Press, 4 August 1987, Page 39

Reorganisation to deal with competitive market

Last year, the management at Turners Colombo Street, under the guidance of the general manager, Mr Alan Turner, recognised that in order for the company to consolidate and then improve its position in an ever-growing and competitive office supplies market place in Canterbury, it was necessary to reorganise the way the company handled its business.

With nine specialist representatives on the road, it was necessary to provide the backup demanded by the increase in business.

Early this year, Turners managed to secure occupancy of the entire building owned by the company on the corner of Colombo and Tuam Streets.

Extensive renovations have resulted in an area in the main building of just on 1580 sq m of showroom, office space and warehouse.

One of the major elements was to ensure that it had the people in place to handle the market. To date this has been extremely successful. Although Turners is a youthful organisation, a total of more than 300 years of industry experience is shared amongst its executive staff.

Renovation has been a costly exercise, but as Mr Turner says, “It is difficult to imagine how we all operated in what now seems a somewhat dis organised and disjointed operation.

"The new showroom gives our customers the freedom to inspect our products without the impression of being crowded in. In fact, it is now a relatively straight-forward matter for a comprehensive demonstrtion to be held without causing total disruption to other customers and staff. “The stationery deparment has been completely re-arranged, allowing for excellent display area.

“One area not greatly affected by the renovation has been the computer and typewriter shop. However, whereas it was previously a totally separate entity, it has now been incorporated into the main building allowing customers to move freely between different departments. We have at long last become a real onestop office supply company,” Mr Turner said. Another important aspect in the "renovation” of Turners was that of product.

Product lines have been rationalised and today Turners represents some of the biggest and most respected names in the office supplies industry, from pencils and business forms through filing cabinets, office furniture, overhead projectors, paper shredders, photocopiers and facsimile machines, dictation equipment, business computers and electronic cash registers to what is perhaps the most comprehensive range of typewriters in Christchurch.

Last year, Turners was the Hl Amstrad Computer dealer in New Zealand. Last week, at a special function in Christchurch, Ricoh named Turners as

COMMAND AT THE TOUCH OF A FINGER

its distributor for Ricoh facsimile equipment —- the largest selling Japanese brand of facsimile in the U.S. This is the first time it has been readily available locally. Perhaps one of the most understated areas of Turners’ business is that of the service department. Maintenance and servicing of all product lines sold by Turners — as well as some not sold by the company — is undertaken on Turners’ premises in Colombo Street, and this is possibly unique for Christchurch.

To mark the opening of the fully renovated premises this week, Turners in conjunction with many of their suppliers, are offering discounts and specials together with numerous free offers and prizes — a week-long celebration. There is certainly something for everyone, and for every business. Paking is no problem, as customer car parks have been provided in Tuam Street.