Retailer Gerry Harvey will take on the Wesfarmers’ owned Officeworks chain when he establishes up to 100 OFIS stationery stores across Australia over the next decade.
Harvey told shareholders at yesterday’s annual general meeting he would start on his home turf, with stores in Auburn, in Sydney’s west, and Albury, in southern NSW, to open by Christmas.
He said he did not expect to make a profit in the first three years until OFIS achieved critical mass.
Woolworths might attempt to move into the market, but Harvey said there was only room for two players.
He also revealed he had considered expanding into office supplies more than 10 years ago but had decided instead to open a chain of computer superstores.
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