Latest News

HP sales in freefall,
profits decimated

Complacency again fails to hide

Meg’s lack of customer centricity

22 Feb’12 (Complete)

Hewlett Packard, the world’s #1 technology maker, today announced extremely disappointing results for Q1’12 ended 31 Jan’12. Moreover, cliched CEO Meg Whitman failed to demonstrate a grasp of the competitive challenges that lie ahead....

Read more: HP Financial Review Q1'12

AOPD: Richter
scales Google

Guru helps contract sales group
focus on building CRM pre call

22 Feb’12

The American Office Products Distributors (AOPD) national meeting kicked off with a powerful presentation from ‘know-more’ sales trainer Sam Richter...

Read more: AOPD Meeting: Richter scales Google

New Dell drives

productivity services

‘Tech refresh’ and cloud services
drive SMB/enterprise sales growth

21 Feb’12

Technology services giant Dell drove strong results in its Q4’12 fiscal period. Dell so often disparaged in continued its powerful transformation under its founder Michael Dell…

Read more: Dell Q4'12 Financial Review

Wal-Mart fights
back v etailers

Positive sales growth continued
in US and international; plus Netto

21 Feb’12

The world’s #1 retailer, Wal-Mart continued its recovery with US same-store sales growth and powerful International sales growth...

Read more: Wal-Mart Financial Review Q4'12

SPR sales reflect
market trends

Sales growth decelerating
in ink-and-paper based products

21 Feb’12 (Updated 1400ET; 1900GMT)
Genuine Parts Company (GPC) parent of SPRichards & Co today reported powerful gains in sales and profits for Q4’11. SPR remains challenged in the OPS market…

Read more: SPRichards Financial Review Q4'11

Accelerating Office
Productivity Daily

National Meeting's growth focus;
Legendary ‘Coach’ Miller stars

20 Feb’12

American Office Products Distributors (AOPD) the longest established dealer group is holding its annual national meeting at La Quinta Resort, California, from today through 24 Feb’12. Get daily reports here first…

Read more: AOPD National Meeting 2012 Preview

Depot getting
ready for sale?

Buying back loans to maximize
shareholders’ sale value to Staples?

18 Feb’12

Office Depot announced yesterday that it has commenced a cash tender offer to purchase up to $250m of its outstanding 6.25% Senior Notes due 2013....

Read more: Depot getting ready for sale?

Desperate Depot
disintegrating…

Euro executives exodus leaves
'BullSchmidt' as break up boss

17 Feb’12

Office Depot continued its downward spiralling disintegration as European chief departs, following the recent exit of its CMO…

Read more: Desperate Depot disintegrating...

Apple’s iPad 3
3 weeks away

Mountain Lion Mac to morph
design to resemble an iPhone?

16 Feb’12

Apple is planning to release the latest version of its iPad tablet computer early next month,

Read more: Apple IPad3 3 weeks away

Westcoast
expands east

UK #1 tech wholesaler extends
into new UC and ICT categories

16 Feb’12

Alex Tatham, the much-admired sales and marketing director of Westcoast confirmed its European acquisition and exciting new product categories. We discuss with Alex…tomorrow

Read more: Westcoast expands east

Acco mirrors
market trends

Paper based products' sales
in decline; tech accessories up

15 Feb’12

Acco Brands, the leading OP manufacturer, reported mixed results for Q4’11 ended 31 Dec’11

Read more: Acco Q4'11 Financial Review

Listen, create,
test and repeat.

Success in e-commerce requires
resellers match customer needs.

By Paul Miller, VP ecommerce, Grainger

14 Feb’12

Speaking at the Internet Retailer Conference today, Paul outlined the web strategy of leading $8Bn in sales MRO and office products reseller, Grainger

Read more: Dealer Alert: Listen, create, test and repeat online

United’s service
optimisation plans

Strong ID’s/FM/industrial supplies
offset slow bigbox/OP/tech sales

14 Feb’12 (Completed 13:00ET;17:00GMT)

United Stationers, the US#1 OP wholesaler, yesterday reported disappointing Q4’11 results to 31 Dec’11, but an "acceleration" in growth plans for 2012

Read more: United Stationers Q4'11 Financial Review

Independent 
inspires members

Dealer group demonstrates its

progressive, marketing strategy

13 Feb’12

Independent Stationers (ISG), the leading US marketing group has launched its latest catalogues and revamped its marketing services-rich website...

Read more: Independent inspires members

OfficeMax the
rhino reseller

Mammal marketing moves
maintain its copycat status

11 Feb’12

Any doubts about why OfficeMax continues to lose market share are characterised in its latest dinosaur driven ad for printer paper…

Read more: OfficeMax the rhino reseller

HP challenges
the OPS channel

But is it guilty of merchandising
an outdated technology offering?

10 Feb’12

With new CEO Meg Whitman at the helm, Hewlett-Packard appears to have some much-needed stability. Her team have issued a 10 point challenge to resellers, but is this the calm before another bad-judgement day?

Read more: HP's 10 challenges for the OPS channel

Staples optimizes
iPad experience

Richer shopping experience promised

10 Feb’12

Staples, the only progressive bigbox still standing has now optimized the shopping experience for iPad and iPhone users….

Read more: Staples optimize iPad experience

Ingram’s steady
growth decelerates

All regions back to solid performance

9 Feb’12
Ingram Micro, the world's largest technology distributor with $36Bn in annual sales, yesterday announced record-breaking sales and profits for Q4’11 ended 31 Dec’11

Read more: Ingram Micro Q4'11 Financial Review

Papermakers’
priced-up progress?

UPM report strong sales;
IP slower, Stora Enso flat

8 Feb’12 (Updated)

The world’s leading papermakers International Paper (#1), Stora Enso (#2) and UPM Kymmene (#3) have now completed their Q4'11 reports. We analyse Stora today and comment on comparative performances...

Read more: Papermakers Q4'11 Financial Review

Silo’d Sony
sinking fast

Samsung TV’s make it suffer...

buys out Ericsson smartphones

5 Feb’12

Sony reported last week that it crashed into a huge loss in its latest Q3’12 financial review.

Read more: Sony Financial Review Q3'12