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]

EziBuy Limited
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryClothing Retail
Founded1978
Headquarters
Auckland City 1010
,
New Zealand
Key people
Acting MD: Edwina Neilson Founders: Peter & Gerard Gillespie
ProductsWomen's Clothes, Children's Clothes, Men's Clothes, Shoes, Accessories, Homeware
Number of employees
900-1000
ParentAlceon Group
Websiteezibuy.com

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
  1. Company Overview of EziBuy Limited, Bloomsburg Business Week
  2. "Kiwis still catalogue shopping from the couch - EziBuy". TVNZ. July 18, 2012.
  3. Future of Catalogue Shopping, TVNZ, July 18, 2012
  4. Coltman, Karen (18 August 2021). "Ezibuy posts a $28.9 million loss in a year". stuff.co.nz.
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. Big birthday present to Palmerston North, Stuff.co.nz, July 10, 2013
  8. Ezibuy’s 35 years in Palmerston North - TV News Video, TVNZ, July 3, 2013
  9. "EziBuy buys Australian catalogue customer database". Wilson & Horton. New Zealand Herald. 27 November 2001.
  10. 2012 NZDM Award Winners, Marketing Association of NZ, 2012
  11. The Joy of EziBuy, True Customer Intimacy!, Marketing Association of NZ, July 28, 2013
  12. Woolworths buys EziBuy in $NZ350m deal, News.com.au, Aug 22, 2013
  13. Woolworths buys Ezibuy for $350m, The New Zealand Herald, Aug 22, 2013
  14. Woolies snaps up Kiwi retailer EziBuy, The Sunday Morning Herald, Aug 22, 2013
  15. Mitchell, Sue (26 January 2017). "Woolworths sells EziBuy to Noni B shareholder Alceon Group". Australian Financial Review.
  16. McBeth, Paul (26 June 2017). "Woolworths sells EziBuy for undisclosed sum to Sydney investment firm Alceon". National Business Review.
  17. "Pumpkin Patch brand set to relaunch". Allied Press. New Zealand Media and Entertainment. 25 October 2018.
  18. Powell, Dominic (21 November 2019). "'Try before you buy': Noni B snaps up EziBuy for $1 to boost online sales". Sydney Morning Herald.
  19. Bailey, Imogen (21 November 2019). "Fashion retailer acquired, as sales set to skyrocket to $200 million". Yaffa. Rag Trader.
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