By Patrick Avenell

The website is still operational and you can place orders via fax, but Criterion Group Australia is soon to be no more, having been placed in receivership earlier this week.

Based in Moorebank, in Sydney’s southwest, Criterion Group specialised in AV and IT furniture and installations. Founded in 1964, the Group expanded into New Zealand — where the senior management has now congregated to begin winding down the company.

An employee of the Criterion Group said the receivers were called in on Tuesday 31 January 2012, though the company is still taking orders as it looks to clear the remaining stock. None of the senior management, including general manager Kelsey Smaill, was available for comment, this person said.

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Current.com.au was told that in “around four weeks”, the Criterion Group would be completely gone from the market.

There is no mention of Criterion’s perilous state on its website, with the company describing itself as having “earned a reputation for delivering innovative quality products at affordable prices”.

“Criterion specialises in creating dynamic environments for the home and office,” the website says. “Criterion continuously researches, designs and develops products that are consumer focused and up-to-date to adapt to the fast changing technologies in home appliances, computers and telecommunications.”