Then in April .....Paperlinx has said its "customer-driven"...

Then in April .....




Paperlinx has said its "customer-driven" merger of Spicers Paper, Dalton Paper and iMedia will not lead to any lay-offs or reduction in products.
The company announced on Tuesday that the three brands would merge under the Spicers banner on 1 June.

Andy Preece, Paperlinx Merchanting Australia's group general manager, told ProPrint: "I'm absolutely convinced this is the move for our business that sees us best aligned to our markets present and future.

"This is primarily a customer-driven initiative. It as simple as 'do you want three invoices or one?'"

Preece said Paperlinx had been mulling the idea for years but that it made an official decision last October due to market conditions.

There would be no lay-offs or management changes as a result of the merger, he added.

"We've been operating as one business in all admin and backroom functions for a significant amount of time," he said.

Preece also said the merger would not lead to a reduction in paper products – although he added paper merchants continually assessed their product ranges to ensure they were giving customers what they wanted.

"While we will continue 'business as usual' with regards to all existing products and services, the customer experience will be simplified at every level, from customer service right through to receiving a delivery," he said.

The rebranding to Spicers has already been done in New Zealand, USA, Canada and Asia.

'Paper' was dropped from the name to reflect "the changing nature of the industry" and allow the company "to develop emerging business strategies", according to Paperlinx.

Preece told ProPrint that paper would remain Spicers' core business, but it would also continue to trade in non-paper markets such as outdoor and consumables and keep an eye out for new opportunities.