Do you suffer from

Mirror marketing?

Focus on what users want, not
what vendors, reps & buyers say.

22 May’13
Male and female marketers and merchandisers alike, seem to fall into the same trap. They react to what ‘disconnected’ vendors, sales reps and buyers say, not what Lucy, the typical new power user wants. Here’s why; and how to connect…later today

Read more: Do you suffer from mirror marketing?

T e c h D a t a

turning the tide

Strong European recovery
offsets Americas’ slowdown

22 Mar’13
Tech Data Corporation the global #2 wholesaler of technology products, with $25Bn today reports Q1’14 financial results to 30 Apr’13...analysis follows as soon as announcement received

Read more: TechData Q1'14 Financial Review

S t a p l e s
'

steady progress

Reinvention process moves on
to meet multichannel market

22 May’13
Staples, the world’s leading OP reseller, announced results for Q1’14 ended 30 Apr’13. Report by 10.30ET; 1500GMT

Read more: Staples Q1'14 Financial Review

Is OfficeTeam in

a terminal tailspin?

Sales force exodus; declining

sales; losses; spark refinancing

21 May’13 (Complete 1800UK; 1300ET)

Since the UK recession in 2008, OfficeTeam (OT formerly Oyez-Straker) a leading UK OP dealer, has been in freefall. We reckon sales are down by $50m+ with little prospect of 'arrested development'...

Read more: Is OfficeTeam in a terminal tailspin?

Danwood set

to double up

CEO opens up on turbulent
year, reorg and future plans

21 May’13
Stephen Francis, new CEO of leading UK managed services provider, Danwood Group, has concluded a management review following exodus of directors over accounting improprieties. He reveals his growth plans…



Read more: Danwood Group set to double up

Best Buy behind


the eight ball still


New online strategy too little,


too late in matching Amazon

21 May’13


Best Buy, the US #1 consumer electronics retailer, continued its slowdown in financial results for Q1’14 ended 4 May’13. It continued to delude itself on market share…

Read more: Best Buy Q1'14 Financial Review

Proficiency Profile

Super Supplies
Network support

The high-service, low-cost-to

-serve, IT services wholesaler

21 May’13
We attended ITEX, the IT managed services conference in Las Vegas last month. We met with the enthusiastic Supplies Network management team exhibiting at the show and profile the company’s leaders: Sean Fleming (CEO) and marketing chief Bill Erpelding... tomorrow

Read more: Proficiency Profile: Supplies Network

Multiscreen office:

multitasker heaven

The new ergonomic workspace
enhances personal productivity

21 May’13
Ex-US vice president Al Gore, futurist and champion of sustainability has created a personal workspace 'cockpit' that is an ergonomic blend of modern and traditional tools. Opportunities abound for interior and furniture designers…Wednesday

Read more: Multiscreen cockpits:multitasker's heaven

The perils of
price matching

How a popular strategy can
create a consumer backlash

20 May’13
This Easter, Walmart debuted a TV commercial promoting its Ad Match Guarantee. An excited clerk touts the benefits to a shopper. “That price?” he says, “We will match it right at the checkout…

Read more: The perils of price matching

3D Printing:
a Destination,
Desire Driver

Services opportunity
for local office retailers

20 May’13
Imagine a future in which a device connected to a computer can print a solid object. A future in which we can have tangible goods as well as intangible services delivered to our desktops or retail stores over the web.

Read more: 3D Printing: a Destination, Desire Driver

Is Yahoo taking

a titanic Tumblr?

5 reasons why Mayer may
be making a $1Bn mistake

20 May’13
There may be a good case for Yahoo to buy Tumblr, the social network service. But there's a better case for it not to according to Fortune writer John Saroff.

Read more: Is Yahoo taking a titanic Tumblr?

Office Depot fraud


case scrutinized


Whistleblower Complaint in

 National Legal Case Review

20 May’13


Whistleblower David Sherwin’s complaint filed on behalf of the State of California alleging systematic fraudulent overcharging by Office Depot on the US Communities contract has received national coverage in the legal press.

Read more: Office Depot fraud case scrutinized

Retailers Refresh!

Where’s the destination driver,
the innovative user experience?

20 May’13 (Complete)
Retail sales are declining. Bigboxes talk omnichannel development as local retailers maintain relic looks. Have most forgotten the importance of a lighter, brighter, whiter, more innovative customer service experience? 

Read more: Retailers refresh the user experience

BYOD’s great

leap forward


Deskbound workers becoming


extinct; time to drive the new


productivity via mobility agenda

20 May'13


The term ‘mobility’ conjures up images of reps slogging through hotels, airports and stations feverishly working on laptops in cafes. But, day-by-day, that image is fading like an old fax message. Personal productivity is driving the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) megatrend…

Read more: BYOD's great leap forward

iPad the ultimate

productivity tool

WSJ’s Walt Mossberg on personal
technology apps that really work

17 May’13
There's a popular myth that Apple's iPad and other tablets are simply media-consumption devices, unsuitable for productivity applications. That's just not so, and here’s why

Read more: Apple iPad the ultimate productivity tool

Dell’s bell

tolls like HP

Enterprise solutions growth

can't offset decline in PC's

16 May’13
Technology services giant Dell reported a desperate decline in profitability in its Q1’14 period ended 30 Apr’13. Its transformation under founder Michael Dell towards a total tech services provider is being thwarted by its legacy PC business

Read more: Dell Q1'14 Financial Review

Dixons delight 


in mobile mania

Multichannel drive boosted
by competitors’ collapse

16 May’13
Dixons Retail the UK’s #1 electronics retailer (inc. Currys/PCWorld) reported strong results for Q4’13 ended 30 Apr’13

Read more: Dixons Retail Financial Review Q4'13

Walmart growth


decelerates in US

Strong growth in ecommerce &
International; stronger outlook

16 May’13
The world’s #1 retailer, Walmart (inc. Asda in the UK) continued its growth run but at a slower rate, particularly in the US, in Q1’13 ended 30 Apr’13

Read more: Walmart Q1'14 Financial Review

Everything

is marketing

From departmental discipline
to the brand’s soul provider

16 May’13
Marketer Will Harris argues that marketing has become the all embracing home for business problems and opportunities that don't fit anywhere else. We discuss the leading marketers in the OPS marketplace…

Read more: Everything is marketing

Who are the

Most audacious
independents?

The scrappiest, smartest
and most disruptive resellers

16 May’13
Inc. the magazine for growing companies published a list of the 'The Audacious 25’ in its May edition. We take a look at candidates for the Top 10 in the ‘personal productivity services’ marketplace…later today

Read more: The Most Audacious Independents