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Online Office and School Supply Sales in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Claudia Burgio-Ficca Claudia Burgio-Ficca Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: November 2024 ANZSIC OD5530

Revenue

$3.7bn

2024-25

$3.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

5,818

Businesses

1,533

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Online Office and School Supply Sales in Australia industry analysis

Australia's online office and school supply market has experienced significant transformations in recent years, driven largely by increased internet accessibility and a shift towards digital environments. Strong internet subscriber numbers and continued investment in online platforms have enticed businesses, government departments and households online. Online sales platforms have become easier to use, offering a broad range of products at super-low prices. Escalating demand for internet-capable devices, like laptops and tablets, has come at the expense of traditional office supplies like pens and paper-based stationery. Accelerating online connectivity has also propelled the shift towards greater use of digital documents, shrinking demand for machine consumables like ink and toner cartridges. An expansion in product ranges has led to more robust margins, driving a hike in profitability. Overall, industry revenue is expected to have grown at an annualised 1.0% over the past five years to $3.7 billion in 2024-25, including an anticipated upswing of 1.6% in the current year.

Trends and Insights

  • Strong internet subscriber numbers have driven an increase in online shopping activity. By improving website accessibility and security, online stores have captured a larger customer base, fuelling an upswing in ecommerce sales.
  • An escalating shift towards digital documents has quelled sales of traditional office supplies. Increasing online connectivity has aided the shift in digitisation.
  • Setting up near CBD areas means online sites can easily offer next-day delivery in metropolitan areas. A central location also means they can be close to suppliers.
  • Traditional office supplies like pens, pencils, paper and notebooks are primarily homogeneous. That’s why competition across these goods is determined by price and service.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $3.7bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Higher internet subscriber numbers have fuelled an upswing in online shopping

  • Rising internet subscriber numbers have given more businesses and households access to the internet. By making their websites more accessible and secure, online stores have equipped themselves with the tools to attract more customers from a growing number shopping online.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Online Office and School Supply Sales in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Expanding internet subscriber numbers and stronger business confidence will support industry sales

  • Higher internet subscriber numbers, thanks to escalating migration and the adoption of new technology, are likely to encourage more businesses and households to make the switch to online shopping. Ease of access and convenience will fuel online demand for office and school supplies, backing a continuing upswing in revenue.

Biggest companies in the Online Office and School Supply Sales in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Wesfarmers
1,704.0
Winc
735.0
D & M Lyone Holdings
315.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Online Office and School Supply Sales in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Traditional office supplies, Electrical equipment and Machine consumables. Traditional office supplies is the largest segment of the Online Office and School Supply Sales in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Electrical equipment has replaced demand for traditional items

  • Electrical equipment accounts for the largest share of revenue and includes computers, printers, photocopiers, telecommunications equipment and tablets.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry operators sell stationery, school and office supplies online. The industry includes the online sales of pure-play retailers and traditional bricks-and-mortar retailers that primarily sell office supplies. Online sales of computing equipment, furniture and break room supplies are included in the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Traditional office suppliesElectrical equipmentMachine consumablesOffice furnitureTea, coffee, snacks and cleaning products

Companies

WesfarmersWincD & M Lyone Holdings

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

BRICKS-AND-MORTARSTATIONERYNON-TRADITONAL OFFICE SUPPLIES

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 4272 - Online Office and School Supply Sales in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Strong internet subscriber numbers have driven an increase in online shopping activity. By improving website accessibility and security, online stores have captured a larger ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

An escalating shift towards digital documents has quelled sales of traditional office supplies. Increasing online connectivity has aided the shift in digitisation.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Setting up near CBD areas means online sites can easily offer next-day delivery in metropolitan areas. A central location also means they can be close to suppliers.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Traditional office supplies like pens, pencils, paper and notebooks are primarily homogeneous. That’s why competition across these goods is determined by price and service.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Merger and acquisition activity has led to lower operating costs for online sites. Other benefits include an expanded product range, a bigger customer base and an improved ma...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Wesfarmers's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Winc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of D & M Lyone Holdings's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Wesfarmers, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Winc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for D & M Lyone Holdings, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Industry associations like ARA and NORA play crucial roles in advocating for online retailers. They offer support through advice and education, helping retailers navigate com...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Reliance on technology and automation has reduced wage costs for online office and school supply businesses. By automating processes and outsourcing tasks, these businesses h...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Online Office and School Supply Sales industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Online Office and School Supply Sales industry in Australia is $3.7bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Online Office and School Supply Sales in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 1,533 businesses in the Online Office and School Supply Sales industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Online Office and School Supply Sales industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Online Office and School Supply Sales industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 1.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Online Office and School Supply Sales industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Online Office and School Supply Sales industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Online Office and School Supply Sales market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Online Office and School Supply Sales market in Australia are Wesfarmers, Winc and D & M Lyone Holdings

What does the Online Office and School Supply Sales in Australia include?

Traditional office supplies and Electrical equipment are part of the Online Office and School Supply Sales industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Online Office and School Supply Sales in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Wesfarmers.

How competitive is the Online Office and School Supply Sales industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Online Office and School Supply Sales industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Newsagents and Book Retailers in Australia
  • Furniture, Appliance and Equipment Rental in Australia
  • Stationery Goods Retailing in Australia

Complementors

  • Computer and Software Retailing in Australia

International industries

  • Office Supply Stores in the US
  • Office Supply Stores in Canada
  • Stationery Goods Retailing in New Zealand
  • Newsagents & Stationery Stores in the UK

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.