As new Myer CEO John King gets his feet under the desk, you'd...

As new Myer CEO John King gets his feet under the desk, you'd think it would be top of mind for him to repair relationships with Myer's suppliers (particularly one of its largest, the ever-reproachful Solly Lew).
Which is why we're not sure what to make of his decision to cancel Myer's annual Supplier of the Year ball, which brings together dozens of its suppliers into the one room.
It seems after feedback that the black-tie ball falls at "a critical trading period", Myer has cancelled the whole thing, with suppliers who've already bought tickets told to get in touch for reimbursement. The ball was scheduled to take place on November 30, around the same time of year it has done for several years. But King wants everyone to focus on "successful trading". Another ball, he promised, would be held at a later date.
For a decade, the annual affair has bought together Myer's top suppliers for a lavish awards night, with gongs like best concession partner, best community support and best omnichannel supplier giving Myer a way to show appreciation of its best brand partners. And best of all, the whole shindig is essentially funded by suppliers, who in 2017 paid $4200 for a table of 10 (or $4800 for a VIP table). Myer sprinkles its buyers (and brand ambassadors) throughout the room, and gets to cement its relationships fairly cheaply from the whole thing.

Mind you, it's not clear how keen Myer's brands are on the department store at the moment, which makes us think Myer might want to schedule another ball as early as it can. Its edict last month that brand staff must service everyone – delivered with the threat that failure to do so would mean such staff wouldn't be allowed to work at Myer again – may appeal to customers who just want some damned service. But it went down like a lead balloon with some suppliers, who understandably don't appreciate the staff whose wages they pay spending time selling other people's merchandise.

from AFR article