EziBuy is a New Zealand and Australian multi-channel retailer. It sells clothing, homeware and gifts through a multi-channel model in both countries.[1]
Products can be purchased through catalogues, and four retail stores around New Zealand.[2][3][4][5] The retailer has a cell centre and distribution centre in Palmerston North, where it has been based since its inception in 1979.[6][7][4]
EziBuy featured a wide selection of brands such as Capture, Emerge, Urban and Grace Hill as well as Profile – a corporate clothing company and a shareholding in JK Kids, a nationwide children’s clothing chain. For plus-sized women Ezibuy had Sara, Formfit, Deesse, Isobar Active Plus and Quayside Plus Size.[1]
History
Gillespie era
EziBuy was established in 1978 by brothers Peter and Gerard Gillespie, and their friend John Robinson in Palmerston North, New Zealand. The business began as a catalogue retailer selling womenswear and menswear. The first catalogue was a simple folded, A3 black and white page which was mailed to a list of local organisations in 1978.[8][9] The Gillespies were joined five years later by Matt Toynbee who they later acknowledged for his huge contribution to the company.[10]
In January 2002, EziBuy purchased Myer Direct from Coles Myer.[11]
In January 2006, the company opened a new distribution centre in Palmerston North.[6]
In 2007 Ezibuy purchased the womenswear retail chain Max Fashions.
EziBuy won the Keith Norris Direct Marketing Organisation of the Year Award in 2012.[12][13]
At the time of sale, EziBuy was the largest fashion and homeware multi-channel retailer in Australasia. The business mailed over 23 million catalogues every year and processed more than 1.75 million orders annually.[16]
Alceon era
In June 2017, EziBuy was acquired by Alceon Group, a major shareholder of Australian womenswear retailer Noni B,[17] for an undisclosed sum.[18]
In October 2018, Alceon purchased New Zealand children's clothing retailer Pumpkin Patch for an undisclosed sum, allowing it to relaunch the brand through EziBuy.[19]
Noni B and Mosaic era
Noni B Limited purchased a 50.1 per cent stake in EziBuy from Alceon Group in a $1 peppercorn sale in 2019.[20] The sale was aimed at increasing the retailer's digital sales and giving it access to the New Zealand market.[21] Noni B Limited changed its name to Mosaic Brands in November 2019 and purchased the remaining 49.9 per cent stake for $11 million in October 2021.[22][23]
In August 2021, EziBuy announced a restructure after posting a $28.9 million loss for the year to June 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
In April 2023, Mosaic placed EziBuy into administration, with plans to restructure it.[24] With this the remaining stores were closed down and the retailer went online only.[25]
The brand entered liquidation in July 2023 with creditors owed more than $100 million.[26][27]
