Leading Sydney-based signage company Wizardry Imaging and Signs has gone into voluntary administration after 28 years in business.
Wizardry will carry on trading as usual while under administration, according to owner and founder Bryan Martin.
"We’ve done projections for Sydney, and we’ve got around a million dollars’ worth of orders. We’re engaged in some large and interesting projects. Wizardry right now is full of people busily making signs," he told Print21.
Martin stressed that the company is not in danger, and says the administrators were called in to provide advice on its structure moving forward.
"We’re not in any trouble – the best way to get advice was to canvass consultants. RSM are one of those companies, we did some homework, and we thought they were the best qualified to look at what it was that we had a hold of, and give some guidance and wisdom to that effect.
"When I fell off a roof the day before Christmas Eve last year, I sustained some serious injuries, and not having me around hasn’t helped," he said.
Wizardry is based in Moorebank NSW and with operations in Victoria, Queensland and WA. The Victoria Wizardry Imaging and Signs company is not affected as it is a separate business.
Martin has appointed Richard Stone and David Kerr of RSM Australia as administrators. First creditors meeting is on Thursday at RSM's Sydney office at 3.30pm.
Wizardry employs 48 staff, increasing to 60 with sub-contractors at peak periods, and produces wide-format work including 3D printing; banners and billboards; container wraps; signage; and vehicle, vinyl and wall graphics.
Founded in Botany NSW in 1991, the company moved to its current purpose-built facility in Moorebank in 2006. Three years ago, Martin partnered with Mat Payne to set up Wizardry Victoria, which currently employs nine full-time staff at its Campbellfield site.
Martin told Print21 that the NSW and Victorian operations were effectively separate companies with separate directors using the same name, and that therefore the NSW company entering administration would not affect the Victorian business.
"Melbourne is a totally independent business. Mat Payne has a very good business down there – it has aspirations, it has the talent and the people to really make a difference, and he’s doing just that," he said.
Wizardry's recent clients include Westpac, Lendlease, Google, and Helloworld Travel.