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What women
really want!

Recent research helps brand
owners meet their different needs

 

4 Jul 10
There continues to be a significant gender bias in the way we perceive brands, according to the results of recent research, which leaves many brand owners still figuring out how best to meet the needs of women.

 

Resellers and manufacturers should heed this advice....

Read more: What women really want

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Proficiency Index

New survey starts today
The wonder 

of web-stores
First annual 10 point review 

of best resellers’ web-stores

4 July 10 (Updated 1800ET; 2300 GMT)
Yes, it’s survey time again. Following last year’s hugely popular review of resellers’ brand and logo images, we now review web-stores against a 10 point criterion. We start with some of the recognised best e.g. Amazon/Shoplet and draw comparisons with progressive dealers and etailers...

Read more: The wonder of webstores - Survey 1 Results

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Proficiency Index

How to track
the competition

6 secrets of market intelligence

 

12 Apr 10

Keeping a close eye on the competition is often thought to be a big boys' game. Many Fortune 500 companies have entire departments devoted to competitive intelligence (Ci). It’s not…here’s how you can improve your market intelligence.

Read more: How to track the competition

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80-90’s and 2009 compared

Top 30 US and Top 20 UK OP dealers league table

Superdealer Superstars

Leaders... rising stars… drop outs… newcomers... Twentyteen tips for top

 

30 Dec’09 (Updated again 1700 UK time; 1200 ET)

The bigbox share of the US and UK markets fell again in 2009. OfficeMax and Office Depot have now lost an estimated $5Bn in sales over the past 2 years. Independent dealers overall fell less than the overall market….the top 25 dealer share grew at the expense of the bigbox's demise and by extending sales into new categories.

Read more: Superdealer Superstars - Leaders of 80's-90's and 2009 compared

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Christmas 2009 Characters List

The stars? The wisemen? The turkeys? The crackers?

 

23 Dec’09

Our thanks go to all those that participated by putting forward suggestions for our Christmas Characters list. The nominations featured a number of surprises in turbulently tough year:

Read more: Christmas Characters 2009 List

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Nominations please

Christmas 
Characters
Poll 2009

 

Who was your star… your 
turkey… your wisemen… 
your cracker… your scrooge?

8 Dec 09
Enter into the Christmas spirit early. We invite you to nominate your Christmas  Characters for the tough and turbulent 2009.

Last year the poll attracted 400+ rersponses. There are 5 categories and we list last years top nominations:

Read more: 
Christmas 
Characters Poll 2009
 - Nominations please

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Who is OP’s…

C E O  of

the Decade?

Leaders from HP, Lyreco, 3M, Spicers,
SPRichards, Staples and United nominated

4 Dec 09

As we discussed Fortune Magazine’s selection of Steve Jobs of Apple as CEO of the Decade was undisputed. We received 835 nominations for the equivalent in the OP marketplace and it was a very close run contest. Here are the results and the winner is:

Read more: C E O of the Decade?

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2009 Office Buyer Survey Results

What do women want in business?

How have frugal times affected females? Do catalogues reach the right decision makers?

13 Aug 09 (Updated 1500 UK time; 1000ET)

Our latest 2009 Proficiency Index survey of UK women office buyers, primarily user choosers with executive power and influence, is more comprehensive than previous edtions. It provides tremendous insight into latest trends and how business has adapted to tough economic times.

Read more: What do women want in business?

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Proficiency Index US/UK dealer and user study

Disconnected… dealer priorities and user wants

Mind the gap! .................... Match the market needs.

13 Aug 09 (Completed 1300 UK time; 0800 ET)
We have just completed the annual Proficiency Index survey of ‘What do women want in business’ (9 Aug‘09). During the course of the survey our research team thought it would interesting to discuss dealers current top priorities and see how they matched up with businesswomen’s main concerns.

We also asked them what was important to them; their favourite stores and their awareness of local suppliers. We publish the fascinating results here.

Read more: Disconnected… dealer priorities and user wants

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Proficiency Poll - Top OP City Review

Go east young brand

Is there an innovation shift going on?

Will Boston win it again?

13 Jul 09 (Updated 12 noon UK time; 0700 ET)

In 2008 Boston(US) was Proficiency Post readers’ choice as the OP industry’s City of the Year. Early nominations for 2009 included Boston again, Chicago the home of OP; the Minneapolis area, New York and Seattle.

And the winner is….

Read more: Proficiency Poll - Top OP City Review Go east young brand Is there an innovation shift going on? Will Boston win it again?