In its 50th year, Newcastle-based Office Choice dealer Stuart and Dunn is looking to complete a major upgrade of its furniture and office fit-out division and to raise $50,000 for the Port Stephens Koala Hospital.
The latter project is one of the company’s gifts to the community in recognition of its anniversary, a milestone that marks the success of a family-owned business that has reinvented itself in an ever-changing market.
Managing Director, Daniel Kelly said the Koala Hospital campaign via GoFundMe has a target of $50,000 and is being supported by a series of fund-raising events, including a charity golf day in September.
“Turning 50 is a huge achievement, and although we have been the caretakers of this amazing brand for only 16 of the 50 years, we feel a great sense of pride in honouring the legacy of the families before us that owned the brand and the community that has and continues to support us,” Dan said.
The 50th anniversary will also be the focus of a community-based birthday party and the 50 theme will be extended to other marketing promotions as well as community projects such as competitions involving the local schools where the winners will see 50 trees planted at their school.
The celebrations coincide with the company’s transformation of its office furniture business, which has a seen an investment of more than $100,000 in a new showroom and expansion of an office design and fit-out division, managed by Kelly brother, Benn Kelly.
Benn said the difference between them and competitors, especially in the furniture and fit out space, is our attention to detail and ability to execute.
While office and education supplies continue to be important segments for Stuart and Dunn Office Choice, Benn has the furniture business accounting for a sizeable and growing slice of the company’s turnover, which is now split 50:50 between core and non-core.
The Stuart and Dunn story goes back to 1972, when two locals John Stuart and Jim Dunn set up an office supplies business, which was subsequently bought in 1992 by the late John Moscovis and his family.
In 2006, the business was bought by Allan Kelly, then the owner of Moving Stationery in Cessnock and father of Dan and Benn.
Originally located near the Newcastle CBD. Stuart and Dunn Office Choice are now based in Beresfield, about 20 kilometres north of the city.
In 2019, the Kelly brothers bought out their father and have engineered the current revamp of the business.
“We are just a couple of Maitland brothers who love a schnitzel and a nice craft beer at the pub and help the community out where we can,” Benn said.
At the same time, Dan Kelly has been closely involved with the Office Choice dealer group, having been a director of 11 years and chairman for the past five years.
“We like to practice what we preach so from local produce and independent farmers milk, the local independent brewery and other small to medium family businesses, that’s our go to. Supporting the people that support us,” Dan said.
“We aren’t in business to fuel our jet planes, our employees are our family, so we take great pride in being able to help our receptionist to save for that house deposit, a warehouse team member buy a new car or one of the furniture installers be able to afford a holiday with his family.”
IMAGE | The Newcastle-based Office Choice Stuart and Dunn team.
