It's the ultimate sales pitch: Magazine printer Ovato NZ wants the business its main competitor has just lost with the closure of Bauer Media NZ last month.

The Kiwi print subsidiary is launching a new services unit to support publishers including any that might acquire the Bauer titles, which include New Zealand editions of Listener, Woman's Day, New Zealand Woman's Weekly, North and South and Next.

Print 21 magazine reports that a new Ovato Publishing Solutions business will offer services including advertising sales representation, circulation and marketing, retail distribution, merchandising and brand activation, subscription management and mailhouse services, in addition to existing services such as print, door-to-door and retail distribution.

Most of the Bauer magazines lost following a government clampdown were printed by rival WebStar, part of Ive Group's Blue Star Print Group. The closure was bad news for recently-appointed Ovato NZ managing director Paul Gardiner, who said the fragmented magazine market would provide an opportunity for new and smaller magazine publishers. OPS will be led by current general manager of Ovato Retail Distribution Tony Edwards.