Looking after all your office needs B Y R E N É E L A N G | P H O T O G R A P H Y B R E N T M C G I LVA R Y
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hen it comes to choosing where to spend our hard-earned money, most of us choose to support local businesses wherever possible. Especially those businesses that offer competitive prices, a great range of products, and experienced staff who provide friendly, efficient service and think nothing of going the extra mile for their customers. And when such a business is also involved in supporting the community in different ways, then success and longevity will inevitably follow. This has certainly been the case for Richmond Office Products Depot, which has been in business for 25 years now – every single one of those years effectively under the same ownership. It all started
“There’s a lot of loyalty out there in the community – we have customers who’ve been with us for 25 years.” JODIE KEENAN
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30 years ago when Paul Keenan left the company for which he had been working to join three colleagues in a new business, Richmond Business Equipment, which began by specialising in cash registers and photocopying machines. Paul’s area of expertise at that time was stationery, an area which the new business was keen to grow and as the invitation to join involved him
becoming a business partner rather than an employee, it was an offer he couldn’t refuse. Fast forward a few years and the business had to move premises because of the steady growth. It was at this point that Paul and Peter bought out two of their partners and soon afterwards made the decision to embark on purpose-built premises in McGlashen Avenue. Customers NZ-wide OPD Richmond, as they’re known to most of their customers, have been in this building for 15 years now and since Peter, their last business partner, retired three years ago Paul and his wife, Jodie, who looks after the administration of the business,