Proficiency Profiles

P r o g r e s s i v e

OPS performers

Snapshots of Sun, Friends, Hurst,

Ontime, Pay-LESS and Economy

28 Jan’12 (complete)

In recent weeks we’ve been in touch with many US progressive resellers and will be visiting more in February. Make sure you learn from these movers and shakers…

Read more: Progressive OPS performers

Proficiency Profile

R e g e n c y’s
regal progress

Progressive OPS reseller achieves
HP MPS advanced specialist status

18 Jan’12 (Updated)

Leading US OPS reseller Regency Office Products based in Raleigh (NC) has made remarkable strides in recent years. We discussed progress with president Eric Beguelin yesterday...

Read more: Proficiency Profile - Regency OP

Proficiency Profile

Tales of Tallgrass’
Midwest mission

Sustainability at the core of merged Iowa reseller’s growth plans

19 Dec’11 (Complete)

Last May, Midwest OP resellers Frohwein, Matthews and Pioneer announced a merger and celebrated the highly complementary combine with a brilliant brand name: Tallgrass Business Resources. We discussed plans with CFO, David Parsons...

Read more: Proficiency Profile: Tallgrass Business Resources

Success was hard,
but it was worth it!

Source OP... probably the most
progressive OPS reseller on the planet?

4 Nov’11 (Reviewed and updated)

We’ve published a number of success stories recently about progressive resellers offering new services e.g. FM, MPS and tech support. Here is a terrific case study to inspire dealers into action…

Read more: Proficiency Profile - Source OP Updated

Proficiency Profile

MPS success for
United resellers

OP+ and Southwest demo how
sales skill, not size is everything

25 Sep’11 (Updated)

Managed Print Services (MPS) is a hot topic right now, but very few traditional OP dealers have achieved conversion success. United’s HQueue service has gone back to basics with powerful results….tomorrow

Read more: MPS success for United resellers

Proficiency Profile

9 Passions of Porcini

3M’s design chief’s
elegant office designs

19 Sep’11 (Updated)

The excellent Fast Company magazine features the 9 passions of its design guru Mauro Porcini. We highlight the most elegant designs …

Read more: The 9 passions of 3M's Porcini

Proficiency Profile

The Office
Environment
Company

OEC’s leadership in low-cost,
low-carbon, local communities

1 Sep'11 (Updated)

It’s rare to see genuine commitment to local community care…to real green processes, not just products; to cutting clients costs. Louisville’s Office Environment Company (OEC) has been committed since 1907. We discuss its success with president Tricia Burke…

Read more: Proficiency Profile - The Office Environment Company

Proficiency Profile

Steve Jobs’
great genius

Tribute to technology’s über user

27 Aug’11

Fast Company’s Cliff Kuang just posted a great tribute to Apple’s new chairman Steve Jobs that captured the true genius of the greatest business innovator of at least the last 50 years

Read more: Steve Jobs great genius

E a k e s  s e e k s

M P S  e d g e

Nebraska's #1 reseller creates
Platinum/Gold special programs.

14 Aug’11

We first profiled Eakes, the leading OPS reseller in Nebraska a few years back. We talk again with president Mark Miller about his continued progress especially in managed print services (MPS).

Read more: Eakes seeks MPS edge

Proficiency Profile

iBuy flying high
in office supply

We interview Ron Weber on the
secrets of his productivity success

2 Aug’11

Online retailer iBuyOfficeSupply.com of Plymouth (MN) is pushing the envelope on growth with cutting-edge Internet marketing strategies.

Read more: iBuy flying high in office supply

Proficiency Profile

Bates opens 
growth gates

Progressive OPS reseller's
rapid rise into big league

4 Jul'11 (Complete)

On 27 June, Bates Office based in Crayford (Kent, UK) announced the acquisition of one of the North’s most progressive resellers to form an £11m ($18m) office productivity services provider. We met with the directors at their new offices to discuss future plans...

Read more: Proficiency Profile - Bates Office (UK)

Proficiency Profile

Professional:
personalized
supply service

Scotland’s rising star shows way

31 May’11 (Updated)

Lifelong friends and ex-Oyez sales managers Adrian McKenna (pic left) and Des McKeown (pic below) joined forces 6 years ago to create Scotland’s new single source supply sensation.

Read more: Proficiency Profile - Professional Office

Proficiency Profile

Give Something
Back's 2020 vision

Long awaited story of a truly
unique office products dealer

16 May 11 (Complete)

We first visited Sean Marx and Mike Hannigan, owners of Give Something Back (GSB) in their Oakland (CA) offices in the 90’s shortly after they started back in 1991. This year GSB celebrates its 20^th anniversary and we spoke with Sean about his plans to reach $100m over the next 9 years….

Read more: Proficiency Profile - Give Something Back

Proficiency Profile

WHSmith’s
missing Ms

Swann’s stingy cost obsession
overtakes merchandising mess

25 Apr’11

We noted a headline in today’s Daily Telegraph ‘Swann out to prove there’s life after penny pinching’. We disagree and publish extracts of the article and our take on the 8 years long slippage that has occurred under the CEO’s watch.

Read more: WHSmith's Kate Swann - the missing Ms

Proficiency Profile

A Love Supreme

BASICS #1 reseller extends
lead with Toronto acquisition

31 Mar 11

Supreme BASICS, Canada’s leading OP reseller announced in January the acquisition of a fellow member of the BASICS dealer group. We caught up with  corporate marketing manager Brennan Thomson in Vancouver in early March to discuss progress and plans

Read more: Proficiency Profile - Supreme BASICS

Proficiency Profile

ECi accelerate
marketing services

BREAKTHROUGH launch of new
OPS reseller software solutions

31 Mar 11 (Complete)

The industry's #1 software house ECi Solutions CEO, Ron Books (pic left) and COO Trevor Gruenewald, will be presenting at the BREAKTHROUGH Marketing Conference on 20 April’10 at Kempton Park, near London (UK). We caught up with Trevor to get his update on recent acquisition FMAudit and the strategic plans to inspire dealer development.

Read more: ECi accelerate marketing services

How now V O W?

New Vasanta chief ready to roll

25 Mar’11

Ex-Spicers FD Robert Baldrey has been in place as Vasanta Group’s CEO for 10 months now. We called to get an update on his progress of wholesaling, contract supply and the etail divisions.

Read more: How now VOW?

Brand Reseller Alert!

G R O U P O N
grabs spotlight

Coupon king creates killer
local deals for user choosers

27 Feb’11

Online coupon phenomenon GROUPON is achieving massive growth in revitalizing demand at local restaurants; and leisure, health and wellness centres. What a great opportunity for local office productivity resellers to participate!

Read more: Brand owner alert! GROUPON grabs spotlight

New HP chief plans better connectivity

Apotheker in contrast with ex-CEO Hurd

21 Feb 11

New Hewlett Packard CEO, the ex-SAP Leo Apotheker was interviewed recently by WSJ about the wholesale board changes and his plans after his first 100 days.

Read more: HP chief plans better connectivity

Proficiency Profile

Westcoast 
is  c l e a r

UK technology wholesaler

in rich seam of growth

5 Feb 11

Tech wholesalers are on a tear as businesses refresh workers with the latest productivity tools. None more so than UK leader, Westcoast, based in Reading. We spoke with sales and marketing chief, Alex Tatham. My apologies for the delay, but this was really worth waiting for...

Read more: Proficiency Profile - Westcoast's Alex Tatham