Buying groups
belong to a
bygone era!

If marketing to users is #1 priority,
what tools do dealer groups provide?

27 Oct 10 (Updated)

First of all we apologise for the protracted delay in publishing the Proficiency Index Annual Review of OP Dealer Groups. Unfortunately, some groups have declined to participate. As the priority has shifted away from buying at lower prices, towards marketing at lower costs, are they afraid to expose their shortcomings? We focus on 10 key marketability services that groups can offer members and have rated all groups in the US and UK, regardless of their wish to be involved.

Guilt grabs
green gains

Peer pressure pulls the crowd

in subtle social standards shift

22 Oct 10
A real-life experiment in engineering green behavior unfolded recently in the US capital. Wall Street Journalreporter Stephanie Simon discusses here the true motivation in getting more consumers to go Green. Analysts discuss the value of efforts to promote more environmentally friendly habits among people

100 Greenest Public Companies

Newsweek top
rates OP leaders

Dell#1 and HP#2 with Office
Depot and Staples in top 30

21 Oct 10
Last Monday, Newsweek magazine published its list of the greenest publicly traded companies. The goal was to quantify companies’ actual environmental footprint, policies, and reputation.  It was terrific to read about OP and technology players success in the knowledge that many UK and US independent resellers (listed below), could not be included, but would have scored highly…

Depot’s illegal
disclosure deeds

SEC slap Odland’s wrists for serious leaks and overstating vendor rebates

21 Oct 10
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) today announced enforcement actions against Office Depot, CEO Steve Odland and ex-CFO for violating disclosure regulations by informing investment analysts that the company would not meet analysts' earnings estimates facilitating a share price fall and thus a buying opportunity for insiders…

Exclusive Interview

Sargent steps up 
specialist services

Staples Soulman shares strategies: store brands, sustainability, competition, CXP integration and executive experience

21 Oct 10 (Completed 1430ET; 1930GMT))
Last Friday, we met with CEO Ron Sargent, now in his 21^st year of service at Staplesand 28 months on from the last interview, the day after the acquisition of Corporate Express.

We discussed latest market developments… 

Staples starts
sustainability race

Suppliers set a cost and carbon cutting challenge

17 Oct 10
Staples the global #1 office products reseller, announced last week its new corporate strategy to drive sustainability innovation in product manufacturing, packaging and distribution by challenging its key suppliers to join it in a "Race to the Top."

Depot fix Arkansas

Outrage at renewed contract award. Are they living under a stone?

15 Oct 10
In spite of overwhelming evidence that office supply bids are routinely rigged, and manipulated by Office Depot to give them an unfair advantage, the taxpayers of the State of Arkansas appear to be poised to become the latest victims in a long line of pillaged State coffers.

Iron Mountain
bridge the gap

From physical to digital information and document services provider

11 Oct 10
Bob Brennan,CEO of the #1 information management services provider Iron Mountain (IRM) gave a powerful address at its Annual Investor Day in NY  last week. We bring you the fascinating highlights from a 3 hour presentation.

Exclusive insights

Depot buy-off
NIPA contract?

Staples decide to stick with NJPA to pursue government contracts

7 Oct 10
There appears to be no limit to the depths that Office Depot will sink in order to get in the back door atUS Communities. We reveal how Depot will oust Staples as the $50m National IPAcontract holder…

Webstore Survey #5

Unlock your
p o t e n t i a l !

UK webstores probably 2 years
behind best US user experience

5 Oct 10
We apologise for the delay in reporting Round 5 of the Proficiency Index Webstore Review.We have completed over 50 reviews and this time wanted to highlight best practice in the UK. There are still too many top resellers with password protection restricting open user access inside their customers.

Report will be completed later today including comparison with a new US rising star