Latest News

Technology trends

Bring your own
mobile devices

IT departments control mentality
challenged by mobile pros

By Sue Tabbitt

9 Apr’12

As gadgets like smartphones and tablets become ubiquitous, organisations are being forced to jump aboard the BYOD bandwagon…

Read more: Tech trends: Bring your own devices

U n i t e d’s emarketing drive

accelerates…

Personalisation, DIY options,
to enhance user experience

7 April’12 (Complete)

United Stationers launched its eDeals emarketing program back in 2009 with 48 resellers piloting the scheme. Today there are over 250 resellers involved. We talked to marketing manager Keith Ruehl (pic left) about progress and plans...

Read more: United's emarketing drive accelerates

Depot's defective
chairs recalled

Cheap Chinese own brand
leather seating…a fall hazard

6 Apr’12

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Office Depot announced a voluntary recall of its private label leather chairs…

Read more: Depot's defective chairs recalled

Services sectors

soar in US/UK

Double dip recession denied,
business investment trends rise

5 Apr’12

In spite of cynical press headlines there are clear signs that the economic situation on both sides of the Atlantic is improving particularly in the dominant services sector...

Read more: Services sectors soar in the US/UK

Personalisation:
Amazon’s edge

Content is king for Kindle Fire

4 Apr’12

An Amazon executive said that personalization, innovation and scale helped it better target its customers and create relevant experiences….

Read more: Personalisation: Amazon's edge

Lucy visits webstore
before reseller call

Most user-choosers check online
for convenience ahead of price

2 Apr’12

Latest research reports that the most valuable customers visit reseller’s webstore before making a store visit or making a telephone buying call. Is your business webstore open 24/7 and market priced?

Read more: Lucy visits webstore pre-reseller call

Can Meg halt

HP’s copy
Kodak course?

Serious questions for print and PC

giant's deckchair shifting CEO

2 Apr’12

Camera film kings Kodak experienced a long slow death. Could a similar decline be afflicting the PC/printer supplies industry?

Read more: Can Meg halt HP's copy-Kodak course?

Amazon advance
batters bigboxes

Why Wal-Mart, Best Buy and

Staples should worry about

the #1 etailer

1 Apr’12

Five years ago, the world’s largest retail chain didn’t have to worry much about the world’s largest online marketplace. It does now…

Read more: Amazon advance batters bigboxes

Android set
to ape Apple

Smartphone failure fails
to faze tablet attempt

31 Mar’12

Google undaunted by a short-lived attempt to market and sell smart-phones is now trying the approach with tablet computers in a quest to capture market share from Apple's iPad.

Read more: Android set to ape Apple

HP disintegrates
its webOS team

Where is it going with its $1Bn
mobility software investment?

30 Mar’12

Hewlett-Packard has confirmed that Sam Greenblatt, the CTO of the company’s webOS business unit, has left that role.

Read more: HP disintegrates its webOS team

Desperate Depot
to savage salesforce?

Another cost cutting drive
towards invasive, ineffective
teleselling call-centres

30 Mar’12

Office Depot's opening of a major telephone sales call center in Austin (TX), we believe is a precursor to another savage cut back of its outside sales force. Next step? Will they outsource the core as before?

Read more: Desperate Depot to savage salesforce?

Apple crushes

B l a c k b e r r y

Executive exodus and heavy

losses drain desperate

smartphone maker

29 Mar’12

Blackberry maker Research In Motion (RIM). announced a series of high level departures, including its former CEO, as it reported a huge loss in Q4’12

Read more: RIM Blackberry Financial Review Q4'12

Best Buy reacts

to Amazon attack

CEO Dunn in denial with

diversionary downsizing
and multichannel spin?

29 Mar’12 (Complete)

Best Buy, the world’s leading consumer electronics retailer, today reported another set of disappointing results for Q4’12 ended 3 Mar’12. We were reminded once again of CEO Brian Dunn’s (pic below) defensiveness in dealing with analysts at the webcast…

Read more: Best Buy Financial Review Q1'12

Is Synnex sales
slip showing?

Tech wholesaler services
continued to drive margin

28 Mar’12
SYNNEX Corporation the $10Bn business services wholesaler, yesterday announced its financial results for Q4’11 and year ended 29 Feb’12

Read more: Synnex Q1'12 Financial Review

Lucy loves iPad’s
browse and buy...

Leading marketers optimise
catalog experience for users

28 Mar’12

The flippy catalogue flopped on PC’s but the iPad experience creates an enhanced user experience that leading catalogers are waxing about…

Read more: Lucy loves iPad's browse and buy catalog

High iPad demand
from tech-savvies

Will Kindle Fire users convert too?

27 Mar’12

Given that Apple sold 3m new iPads less than four days after its March 16 debut, it should come as no surprise that demand for the device is running high...

Read more: High iPad demand from tech savvies

Plantronics’ plan
for productivity

HQ carries workplace wow factor

27 Mar’12

Plantronics’ new UK headquarters is a testimony to the US company’s position as one of the world’s leading suppliers of hands-free headsets for phones.

Read more: Plantronics plan for productivity

Office Depot wins
complaints award!

Multiple Stevie Awards again
for customer service success?

26 Mar’12

Beleaguered bigbox Office Depot, recently announced some good news to lighten its heavy load. The tailspinning tales of trivia continue...

Read more: Office Depot wins complaints award

Ingram Micro’s
mobility moves

#1 tech distributor follows
#2 Tech Data initiative

26 Mar’12

The world’s #1 wholesaler, Ingram Micro has launched a new Mobile Business Unit and hired a new vice president and general manager to run the group in North America.

Read more: Ingram Micro's mobility moves

Can  A m a z o n
upset Apple cart?

Competing directly in media,

devices and etail webstores

25 Mar’12

Amazon and Apple have both embraced the post-PC digital world. Although Apple reigns in the mobile ecosystem, Amazon is quickly picking up steam and may pose a threat to the marketing giant…

Read more: Can Amazon upset the Apple cart?