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Book and stationery retailer Paper Plus is opening new-format stores with a bigger focus on home businesses as it faces growing competition.
The 101 Paper Plus stores are being marketed as "the true New Zealand bookseller" and are being differentiated from the retailer's 74 smaller Take Note stores in regional centres.
Chief executive Ron Smith today opens the new-look "concept store" at Auckland's Sylvia Park shopping centre.
Smith said several Paper Plus franchisees were already committed to make the change and the Sylvia Park store would be used to "tweak the concept" and train staff.
There would not be major rollout of the new format until next year.
The new green and black design and layout has been streamlined, with easier navigation around the store, and Paper Plus is using broadcaster and journalist Kerre Woodham to increase its profile.
The franchise began in 1983 as National Stationers and adopted the Paper Plus branding in 1990.
Smith said the new concept store was the first part of relaunching the brand and concept to other stores around the country. He acknowledged that the makeover was due in part to increased competition.
Ownership changes are expected soon for key competitors Borders, at the top end of the books market, Whitcoulls, for books and stationery, and Warehouse Stationery, aimed at stationery and home business market.
Whitcoulls is part of the A&R Whitcoulls Group, owned by Australian private equity firm Pacific Equity Partners.
PEP has indicated it plans to float shares in A& R Whitcoulls Group, possibly next year.
A&R Whitcoulls Group is also expected to be a bidder for the sale of Borders Bookshops in Australia and New Zealand.
Warehouse Stationery is part of the Warehouse Group - which is involved in an ownership play involving founder Stephen Tindall, Woolworths Australia and Foodstuffs.
Smith said yesterday Paper Plus was looking at a third business stream, but he would not give details.
Paper Plus had been in talks with Foodstuffs chief executive Tony Carter because the two operations had a similar structure, he said.
But Smith said Paper Plus was not planning to develop Paper Plus stores within Foodstuffs outlets.
