Local electronics company named Regional Distributor of the Year

Local company CIPS Electronics/Jaycar has become the first Pacific Islands dealer company to win the 2023-2024 Australia/New Zealand & Pacific Islands Dealer of the Year Award.

The win is a significant milestone for the company, which has won the New Zealand and Pacific Dealer of the Year awards three times in previous years.

The awards ceremony was held in Australia and 160 dealers from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region were nominated.

CIPS Electronics/Jaycar store manager Daniel Ahau recalled their humble beginnings in a small shoebox store 12 years ago.

“I think all the credit and thanks should go to our customers who continue to buy our products, and also to our employees who have helped to grow the brand and awareness,” Ahau said.

“Receiving this award in itself means a lot to our customers in the Cook Islands and the staff we employ and how much they value this sale, service and support.

“We are the first Pacific Island nation to win this award, no country in the Pacific Island has really won this award yet so we are very happy to win it.”

Ordering, purchasing, store cleanliness, clear layout, attractive merchandise, customer service, etc. all received high ratings.

Two other retailers, from Papua New Guinea and Fiji, are vying for the award in the region.

CIPS Electronics/Jaycar opened in 2012 and within a year won its first New Zealand and Pacific Islands Dealer Award in 2013, its second in 2015/16 and its third in 2019.

The brand mainly sells TV antennas and plugs, resistors, wires, cables and other components.

Meanwhile, Ahau stressed that by receiving the award, the company will be more motivated to work on further improvements.

He said they are also considering hiring more staff.

“I think we usually say ‘watch this space’. I am honoured to receive this award and to be in front of 160 other dealers, some of whom have never heard of us before, and the Cook Islands location has definitely put us on the map,” said Ahau.

“We’re connecting with all the other dealers and seeing what they’re doing, what they’re not doing, what’s trending right now, and hopefully we can raise our profile, connect with those people, and keep them doing business.”