The website was launched this week by former Kirby Paper director Darron White and former PMP New Zealand general manager Mark Campbell to give vendors a portal to sell excess stock.
Campbell, who is a director of ibidb2b.com, told ProPrint that customers could bag price reductions of more than 50%, depending on the prices set by the seller.
“The site gives the opportunity for businesses to relieve themselves of their excess stock so the cost savings could be substantial,” he said.
BJ Ball, which owns Kirby Paper, currently has more than 240 paper products listed on the website in a wide array of volumes of both reels and sheets, in lots ranging from $30 to $50,000.
The bulk of the products come from the merchant’s New Zealand operations though BJ Ball is also looking at shifting some Australian stock via the site.
BJ Ball national marketing manager Peter Friend-Ngui (pictured) said: “We have taken a decision to test the waters with some aged stock that we would like to move. At these prices, this stock would represent real value to any printer or converter in a position to capitalise on buying at these rates.
“We are accessing this service to list some tonnage we would prefer to turn to cash. This activity has nothing to do with grade or product rationalisation in any way,” he added.
BJ Ball’s Auckland regional manager, Stephen Williams, said he was looking forward to seeing if the listed items would sell successfully.
“We saw the opportunity as a means to clear some surplus stock,” he said.
“It is another vehicle for us to clear some lines and hopefully turn some dead cash into capital.”
Darron White, who is also a director ibidb2b.com, said the project was still in its early stages, but he was hoping to expand beyond just paper.
“We have approached a number of businesses on an international scale. We have started with pulp and paper products, but we are hoping to push into other markets.
“Prices are completely up to the seller, and the fact that the seller can specify their own terms and conditions is an attractive proposition.”
ProPrint spoke to Paperlinx, which said it had also seen success with a similar concept, the Paperlinx Merchanting Bargain Centre.
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