Amazon replaces local retailers as States supplier

Amazon is to replace local businesses as the stationery supplier to the States of Guernsey, following a review of its "sourcing process".

The States of Guernsey's Procurement department said the worldwide online retailer had provided efficient and competitive rates compared to invited local and off-island suppliers, potentially saving it "up to £100,000 per annum based on anticipated purchases".

"We previously had agreements in place with local suppliers for stationery, however, these agreements have come to an end," a States spokesperson said.

"While it's disappointing that a local supplier wasn't able to win this business, we have a responsibility to spend taxpayers' money responsibly."

The department said stationery as a procurement category had not been reviewed fully for about five years.

"We use Amazon in the same way, and for the same reasons, that thousands of individuals and families use Amazon across the island," they continued.

"These are low value consumable items, often bought repetitively and across the business this amounts to several thousand transactions annually. It is therefore important that we can buy these efficiently and competitively."

The procurement category was reviewed in 2024, during which the States "decided to undertake a sourcing process, inviting local and off-island suppliers".

"The scoring for this tender process was weighted to recognise the economic benefit of having on-island suppliers, however, following a competitive tender process with on-island and off-island suppliers, even with this local weighting, Amazon were successfully awarded a framework agreement to supply stationery.

"We are expecting that this new agreement could save the States up to £100,000 per annum based on anticipated purchases."

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