Officeworks planning 10 new stores
Retailer talks up technology, B2B and education.
Officeworks has outlined an aggressive growth strategy that includes a concerted attack on leading consumer electronic and telco retailers.
The Wesfarmers-owned business, which has more than 170 outlets and annual sales in excess of $3 billion, is actively expanding its product range, moving away from “commodity” products and into technology categories currently dominated by the likes of JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman.
Officeworks managing director Sarah Hunter (pictured) ran through a ‘hit list’ of growth targets at a Wesfarmers strategy briefing day in Sydney on 22 May, at which she revealed the retailer will open six new stores in 2026 along with major refurbishments to four outlets.
Hunter said the retailer will also:
- Increase core technology range
- Expand into “attractive” adjacent categories
- Scale pre-paid and post-paid telco offer across stores
- Accelerate same-day printing
- Expand 2-hour, same-day and next-day delivery coverage
- Scale Officeworks for Business loyalty program
- Scale complete education offer enabled by Box of Books acquisition
- Expand personalisation enabled by around six million known and marketable customers
Increased focus on technology includes:
- Expanding range of premium and AI-enabled laptops and PCs to attract new customers
- Evolving and expanding digital display offer including monitors, digital screens and TVs suitable for displaying a wide range of content
- Increasing team member availability in technology
- Enhancing device support and repair services through Geeks2U
Printer ink war with JB Hi-Fi
Meantime, an investigation by Channel News revealed that JB Hi-Fi is up to 20-30 per cent cheaper on inks than Officeworks across multiple brands of printers.
Channel News found that an Epson 702 DURABrite Ultra Standard Capacity Ink Cartridge (Value Pack) is selling at JB Hi-Fi for $78 while the same pack at Officeworks is $94.
For HP printer owners the difference is substantial with Officeworks charging $78 for a single Black HP 65XL High Yield Original Ink Cartridge, the same cartridge is $58 at JB Hi-Fi, according to Channel News.
Officeworks buys Konica Minolta and Fujifilm BI
Officeworks has invested in several machines at the recent PacPrint 2025 trade show, including a Konica Minolta AccurioShine 3600 and, in a separate deal, three Vivid Laminating VeloBlade solutions from Fujifilm BI.
Konica Minolta has been a partner of Officeworks for about 10 years and the purchase of the AccurioShine 3600 marks Officeworks’ first venture into embellishment, according to Sprinter.com.au
The AccurioShine 3600 aims to let printers provide 2D and 3D gloss and digital hot foiling effects at a reasonable cost and without the complicated steps of conventional systems. It can be used from the prototyping stage to full production printing.
It also supports a large range of media sheet sizes up to a maximum of 750mm and is equipped to enhance print-outs such as name cards, greeting cards, photobook covers, and packaging on demand. It also supports Variable Data Printing (VDP) to add more impact to tickets, personalised packages and labels, invitations, and one-to-one marketing collateral, among other high visual print products.
The purchase of three Vivid Laminating VeloBlade solutions, follows the announcement of Fujifilm BI Australia and Vivid Laminating’s distributorship deal, making Officeworks the first company to purchase under the new Vivid partnership.
Date Published:
27 May 2025