'Fakebook' fraud?
FTC regulators investigating Facebook for mishandling/selling users’ personal information have set their sights on CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, exploring his past statements on privacy; seeking new, heightened oversight of his leadership & record busting penalties
Do Workplace
Company workplace wellness programs — efforts to get workers to lose weight, eat better, stress less and sleep more — are an $8 billion industry in the U.S. Recent research reports heathier behaviour, but not necessarily healthier results? We discuss findings...
Z o o m IPO
Video collaboration specialist Zoom's (CEO Eric Yuan, pic left) successful IPO today represented a major milestone, but mostly an indictment on tech giants repeated disappointments, who failed to embrace cloud computing & caused too many meeting problems, writes ZDNet's Larry Dignan
Sycamore Partnrs:
Vulture capitalist Sycamore Partners owner of Staples & Essendant recently hiked the former's debt load by $1Bn to $5.2Bn, with estimated interest payments of $400m+ pa or c3%/sales. Many analysts ask: Is this a repeat of the ToysR Us bankruptcy situation; and Sycamore's Nine West demise? We discuss... Complete
SPRichards spring
Genuine Parts Company (GPC) parent of NAPA, Motion and SPRichards reported slowing growth rates in Q1'19. CEO Paul Donahue commented that "progress continued in stabilizing the OP business"
A c m e United
Acme United today announced slower sales growth in Q1'19 financial results. Sales of core cutting tools slowed whilst moving successfully into safety products....
AOPD: Refreshed.
AOPD the original contract sales group, met in Carlsbad (CA) last month with members and vendor partners. We discussed plans and progress with executive director Mark Leazer.... Weekend
AMZN abandons
Amazon said it will shut its China webstore by July and divert its focus to marketing AWS cloud services and foreign imports directly in the world’s most populous nation.
Steelcase Flex
Leading collaborative furnituremaker Steelcase launched Flex, an integrated collection of furniture designed to facilitate on-demandteamwork and drive increased productivity
Pepsi powers
PepsiCo the giant food & beverages marketer to consumers and business with $64Bn in sales continued to outperform its rivals in excellence, innovative snacks & ethical trading in Q1'19
Bunzl build up
Bunzl, the international business supplies distributor today announced its trading statement for the Q1'19 to 31 Mar'18. Both the rate or organic growth and acquisitions has slowed down consderably over the past year
IBM strategic
International Business Machines (IBM) resumed its 7 years revenue slide in Q1'19. Can CEO Ginni Rometty survive the continuing downward pressure after years of tryting to transform the old tech giant?
User behaviour
Marketing Week's Charlotte Rogers reports that research shows marketers are shifting away from classic demographics to find more accurate ways to segment users based on their behaviour and personal interests...Updated
Paper price hikes
Paper and packaging public company market capitalisations fell today on weak industry demand data. The 20% price hikes over the past year have suppressed demand even more and analysts expect the latest price increase proposals to be reversed...
W e s t c o a s t 's
Leading independent UK technology wholesaler Westcoast, that surpassed $3Bn sales in 2018 with double digit growth rates plans, to expand warehouse space with a major new facility in Andover. We spoke with MD Alex Tatham
Brother in arms
Brother Europe MD Phil Jones has reinforced his channel commitment and opens up about taking advantage of consolidation by competitors and battling imitation supplies.
"Tomorrow's News Today,
not yesterday's news tomorrow."
Do Workplace
Company workplace wellness programs — efforts to get workers to lose weight, eat better, stress less and sleep more — are an $8 billion industry in the U.S. Recent research reports heathier behaviour, but not necessarily healthier results? We discuss findings...
Sycamore Partnrs:
Vulture capitalist Sycamore Partners owner of Staples & Essendant recently hiked the former's debt load by $1Bn to $5.2Bn, with estimated interest payments of $400m+ pa or c3%/sales. Many analysts ask: Is this a repeat of the ToysR Us bankruptcy situation; and Sycamore's Nine West demise? We discuss... Complete
User behaviour
Marketing Week's Charlotte Rogers reports that research shows marketers are shifting away from classic demographics to find more accurate ways to segment users based on their behaviour and personal interests...Updated
Retail retreat
The NYTimes reported yesterday that "planned retail store closures in the US already exceed 2018 total". A similar story applies in bigbox business supplies, with Staples & Depot expected to merge or accelerate closures this year...
Staples rebrand
Staples rebrand of its logo, webstore and 5 new private labels under the 'WorklifeFulfilment' byline has attracted much interest in marketing circles e.g. Forbes. We discuss the comments, criticisms and conclusions ...Updated
Marketing to baby
Marketing segmentation this century has coralled consumers into age groups: Baby Boomers, 'GenY' aka 'Millennials' & 'GenZ'. Its not working its 'marketing mush'. It's more about attitude not age writes FT's Michael Skarpinker
Batten down for
Economic data across advanced global economies have deteriorated since Q3'18, indicating fading growth and the need to prepare for slowing demand reports the Financial Times. Gear your business to help customers save money & time... Provide Managed Productivity Services! Here's how....
Private L a b e l
Staples launch of 'Worklife Fulfilment' products is the latest bigbox to push private label following Amazon, Depot's Workonomy; and fated Adveo & old OfficeMax iterations. Meanwhile, core delivery service competence drags. What's the motive? Where's the valid user research? Where's the vendor partnership? Updated
Acco's analysts
Ex-leading OPmaker Acco Brands made an investors presentation yesterday trying to convince that its cost cutting actions & late, copycat entry into adjacent business supply categories was credible. No chance! .... Complete
Cut 'CostToServe' Hidden costs are a burden to productivity for distributors & customers. Growing competition is forcing businesses to digitize to stay productive & maximize use of technology, to boost profitability. We explore options & best practice .... Updated
'Fakebook' fraud?
A c m e United
Z o o m IPO