Janet Igrisan, Managing Director of R& E Underwood, trading as The Uniform Shoppe in Auckland, has ignored two threats of legal action by Rosehill College in South Auckland and has said she will stand in the market to provide Parents with Rosehill Uniforms at lower costs.
“I have been threatened with legal action upon my company and personally. I have also been threatened with an injunction to stop me selling uniforms to my loyal Rosehill Parents and frankly it just makes me more determined to stand up to this bullying,” said Mr Igrisan
Mrs Igrisan’s 32 year-old company supplies more than 30 schools in greater Auckland as well as companies and sports clubs.
Rosehill College, which has a contract supplier running a school shop, claims in its own information, to be the sole supplier of college uniforms, the sale of which provide a cash return for the school. The college has also been instructing fabric suppliers not to supply Mrs Igrisan’s company in an attempt to traffic all purchases to the school shop.
“This is a direct attempt to engineer a monopoly position,” said Mr Igrisan.
She says she has no issue with Parents who wish to support the school through the school shop.
She just wants to offer an alternative for Parents who might want cheaper prices for the same quality, more relaxed payment terms and shopping times.
She also argues that the school’s activity is illegal.
“I am advised that the school is contravening section 36 of the Commerce Act and I stand my ground. I will supply Parents who want to take advantage of my company’s prices.”
She says the school has advised that it will attempt to seek an injunction to prevent the use of the school crest and Mrs Igrisan will oppose that injunction through her lawyer Dr John Gray.
As examples of savings her company can offer, a standard year 9-11 skirt can be purchased from Mrs Igrisan’s company for $xx, while at the Rosehill school shop it is sold for $xx
“The Commerce Act clearly states that a person who has a substantial degree of power in a market must not take advantage of that power for the purpose of eliminating a person from that market.
“Rosehill College has clearly acted in a monopolistic manner and now it is threatening legal action instead of talking with me about doing the right thing for their Parents.
“What is so desperately sad about this whole issue is the school’s apparent total insensitivity towards the needs of Parents to save money.”
Mrs Igrisan said the school’s excuse is an attack on her company’s “quality.”
“But in over a decade of supply to thousands of students, we have had a couple of issues over sock colour and too much cotton in a consignment of shirts- all of which were replaced at no charge.
“We have had dozens of Rosehill College Parentsin the past few weeks turning up at our store wanting to buy from us.
“I will have a display to show our quality against the school’s monopoly store. Our products will be better quality or at least equal,” she said.
“I have tried all manner of diplomatic routes with the school only to be treated with casual disdain. I will now give my attention to loyal customers. This is a concept of which Rosehill College has no idea. Otherwise we would be working out a solution.
“I’m going to help these Parents save money and give them more helpful payment terms.
“In 32 years of trading my company has never believed in making schools sign contracts. We stand by our quality and supplying in a fair and competitive environment.
“We know there are many Rosehill College Parents annoyed with their school over this.”
Mrs Igrisan confirms that she will defend the latest threat of an injunction to make and sell Rosehill College uniforms and hopes the Court will put the financial needs of Parents first.
“If the Court does that, we will not be prevented from simply looking after our customers.”
ENDS