"Greatest business 

idea of all time!"

Google chief gushes over Uber's

huge success in user experience

30 Oct'14

It’s official: Uber’spresence in Boston is booming. Travis Kalanick, the co-founder and CEO of Uber, was in town last night to keynote the 5th annual MassChallenge (start-ups) awards...

Baidu: blowout
web performer

Momentum maintained as
mobile search exceeds PC’s

Adveo: adverse
trends unabated

Prospects poor given printer ink
plunge w/no new categories

HP Sprout's 3D

printing at last

Will enterprise solution Multi-

Jet Fusion be a game changer? 

29 Oct'14

CEO Dion Weisler of HP's Printing & Personal Systems soon to be renamed HP Inc. demonstrated its first real innovation for years albeit 3 years late with new 3D technology for enterprise and consumer markets

Applied's five buys

boost sales growth

Expansion in oilfield supplies;

+ bearings in Mexico & Australia

29 Oct'14

Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT) a leading industrial supplier reported growth for Q1'15 sales and earnings ended September 30, 2014 primarily from acquisitions...

Arrow electronics
regains its spark

Solid components and enterprise

software sales bring market gains

SPOT buys

another dog 

Better backed mongrel

adds to kennel collection

28 Oct'14

You couldn't make this stuff up! SPOT aka Spicers/Officeteamhas acquired Buro aka Net Stationers/Canopy Group, a customer & competitor. It smells like a revival of Jeff Whiteway's failed old PALS act and another nail in the wholesaler's coffin...

Acco  s l i d e
softens slightly

Good Back to School sales

provide temporary respite

Plantronics post

sounder growth

Unified Communications &

Bluetooth headsets strong

Will Amazon be

#1 wholesaler?

Broadest business supply range,

personalized service & webstores,

super reseller systems support.

28 Oct’14 (Complete)

Like many, we have grown up within the structured thinking of the OP industry. Is all this tradition going to be smashed by the carefree “everything to everybody’ attitude of Jeff Bezos’beast Amazon? Is he spending like a drunken sailor or investing heavily in empowering local resellers?

MSC Industrial
growth slowdown

Industrial supplies giant boosted
by Barnes buy, but weak outlook

U P M under

paper pressure

Declining sales continued;turns

to plywood pricing for profits

28 Oct'14

UPM Kymmene the world’s #3 papermaker reported declining sales but increasing profits for Q3’14 ended 30 Sep’14

Reinvestors not

overspenders!

Investment in talent, software &

marketing taken from revenue;

unlike old capex conventions 

27 Oct’14 (18:00ET Updated)

Fast growing companies like Google and Amazon are continuously under fire from analysts for ‘overspending’that lowers profits. These leaders are driven by customer needs and long term ROI...

Twitter takes off

in sales and usage

Skeptics defied as broadcast

reach and market effect excel

27 Oct'14

Twitter,the premier permission based broadcasting & marketing service (not social media), reported soaring revenues and usage in Q3’14 ended 30 Jun’14. All dealers should master Twitter, the best promotional tool available...ask Amazon!

Lost Iguana!

Lost 'HP way'!

'Make IT matter' no longer?

No innovation. Split decision.

27 Oct'14

HP's latest 'total tech solution' TV ad aimed at kids perfectly exemplifies its disconnect and remoteness from its target audience. Moreover, its decision to split the company between hardware and software was ill timed...

Apple Pay to

predominate

The new preferred pay way for

living, social & business expenses.

Walmart & CVS insane to reject? 

27 Oct’14

We believe Apple Payfinger print ID payments will be a huge boost personal productivity; cut down waiting time at stores and simplify business expense accounting…

3D maker market:

mass momentum

Gartner: Maker sales growth

forecast 2X pa through 2018

27 Oct’14

Proficiency Post has been highlighting the huge opportunity for dealers to sell and service 3D printers since 2011. Now Gartner says the market is poised for explosive growth over the next few years…

Can C a n o n

check collapse?

Printers, copiers & camera

demand slipping and sliding

27 Oct’14

Canonreported financial results for Q3’14 ended 30 Sep’14, that appeared in denial about the secular demand declines and gloomy prospects in its core businesses...

Portucel paper's 

positive progress

Navigator brand papermaker

advances in declining market 

27 Oct'14

Portucel Group, one of the lowest cost agile, paper makers with prominent brands in Pioneer and Navigator reported strong sales but lower profits in 30 Sep'14....

Top 10 Most

Connected

Personalities

The ‘who you know’ not, what

you know people in the market

26 Oct’14 (Updated 10:00ET)

We recently read an interesting feature in the latest GQ magazine on the most connected people and thought it would be interesting to run a similar exercise in the office market. We list some of the most popular industry personalities nominated by OP executives and published today...

PaperlinX paper
over the cracks

Continuing losses, downward
sales trend; no sign of recovery

Philips: LED lights
the way forward

Strong personal health/lifestyle
sales offset healthcare slowdown

A u d a c i o u s

ADAPTATION

The NE Interior Designers’

Fashion Show extravaganza

24 Oct’14

Last night at the Boston Convention Center, the IIDA New England Fashion Show attracted 1200+ interior designers and clients to its 16th renewal. It was a spectacular show, report and pix (courtesy of Kim Neal Photography) follow…

Avnet advances

fast in electronics

Electronics marketing sales gains

offset by slow growth Tech sales

24 Oct’14

Avnet Technology, a $28Bn in sales, global leader in technology distribution and services reported improving sales and profitability in Q1’15 ended 27 Sep’14

P&G to sell

Duracell…

Who will recharge its

battery power now?

24 Oct’14

As expected Procter & Gambleconfirmed plans to exit its Duracellbusiness, with plans to hive off the #1battery brand company with $2 billion in global sales…

UK Excellence Awards Dinner

The 2014 BOSS

Award winners

Old School brands/cats success.

Top progressive reseller repeats

24 Oct’14

The Annual BOSS Excellence Awards Dinner took place at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham last night, celebrating achievements in the UK OP industry. We publish the winners in each category...

Antalis & Arjo

retrench again

Added Xerox paper volume

slows printer paper plunge

24 Oct’14

Sequana, parent company of leading European papermaker Arjo Wiggins and distributor Antalis reported continued decline in printing papers. Like many complacent players it seems to blame economic factors not user trends...

Mighty Microsoft

higher on Cloud

Commercial strength offsets

Surface wounds & Nokia nasties

23 Oct’14

Microsoftreported better than expected results for its Q1’15 ended 30 Sep’14. Since CEO Satya Nadella took over as CEO market capitalization has increased 20%+...

Amazon attack

accelerates again

Sales growth in tech & business

services 30%+; GP up to 28.9%.

Invests heavily in distribution/IT 

Amazon.com, the world’s #1 eMassmarketer, maintained its mighty sales momentum in Q3’14 with $90Bn sales within reach in 2014. This Godzilla, stealth attacker has grown nearly 4x to $20Bn in business supplies in 5 years, without independent dealers reacting. Jeff Bezoscontinues to invest heavily in distribution...

Ingram mobilizes

resurgent growth

Wholesaler drives huge mobility

& cloud sales in US & Europe

23 Oct’14

Ingram Micro,the world's largest technology wholesaler with $44Bn in annual sales, reported super powered market share growth in Q3’14. The Verizon mobile contract win was a major factor..

Domtar paper

demand down

Personal Care sales strong

w/production capacity boost

23 Oct’14

Domtar Corporation reported Q3’14 financial results ended 30 Sep’14. Its investment in personal care is paying off to compensate for sliding paper volumes

United maintains

growth gains

Strong FM, industrial, OP sales

offset flatliningIT & furniture 

23 Oct’14 (Complete 13:00ET)

United Stationers,the US#1 business supplies wholesaler, yesterday reported strong sales for Q3’14 to 30 Sep’14. The positive momentum looks set to continue into 2015...

Acme’s sharper 

& stronger edge

Continued strength in US

dampened by Euro weakness

23 Oct’14
Acme Unitedtoday announced continued strong results for Q3’14 financial results to 30 Sep’14 in spite of falling sales in Europe...

MMMomentum

rate decelerates

Office products demand drops

again. Health care stronger...

23 Oct’14

The mighty 3Mtoday reported record sales and profits in Q3’14 ended 30 Sep’14 with rates of growth decelerating in all categories except Health Care and US

One WESCO

powers forward

Strong growth from integrated

services and new capital projects

23 Oct’14

WESCO,the $10Bn in sales leading provider of electrical, industrial, and MRO supplies, today announced continued powerful results for Q3’14 results

Logitech losing

its momentum

Turnaround on track? Mobile 

speakers strength offset by

weak tablet accessories

23 Oct’14

Logitech International, the personal technology accessories marketer today announced flat sales again, but improved profit results in Q2’15 ended 30 Sep’14. Is it suffering analysis paralysis?

Dealer Alert!

Are you suffering…

Market myopia?

Fire your worst sales person &

hire a good marketing manager 

23 Oct’14

According to latest research small resellers focus on cost cutting and improving gross margin %’s rather than investing in marketing, webstore development or technology…

Trailblazer tribute

to Blaisdell's best

Progressive family business fired

up & on course for 33% growth

22 Oct’14

Prestigious Fortune Magazine has recognized outstanding Oakland reseller Blaisdell’s Business Products in its US-wide Inner City 100 list. We spoke with a delighted chief Margee Witt…

3D Systems: Deep

Dive Down again

Optimistic board disappoint

investors with profits warning

22 Oct’14

Shares of replicator maker 3D Systems (DDD)fell more than 15% in morning trading after warning investors that Q3’14 would not be as good as expected

BiC’s growth &

margins shaved

Lighter sales offset slowdown in

pens, shavers & promo products

22 Oct’14

Bic, the pen, shaver and lighter maker, published its Q3’14 financial results to 30 Sep’14. Apart from the strong lighter sales its traditional products growth is slowing down

Xerox sales

sliding again

Services growth stalled in

spite of signings success?

22 Oct’14

Xerox Corporation reported disappointing results for Q3’14. When will its much advertised services drive produce growth?

Dealer Alert!

Buying makes you

f-a-t and sterile

Personalised marketing makes

you low cost, lean and agile

22 Oct’14 (Complete 12:00ET)

Too many OP dealers are still obsessed with buying power in a new market where users want a personalised, mobilized, rapid response service across a broad business supplies range...

Stora Enso: paper
sales slide softens

World #2’s new CEO Sundstrom

talks about its transformation

Mayer’s Yahoo

so much ballyhoo

Marissa’s milky way to highway

paved with platitudes, publicity

gaffes and poor performance

21 Oct’14

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayerhas failed to increase core ad sales in a strong market, since joining 2 years ago. Moreover, shielded by the Alibaba stake, she has diverted attention from poor performance by purchasing a host of incidental media companies…

Staples: sleazy

hackers at work?

US Secret Service investigates

security breach at NE superstores

21 Oct'14

US #1 OP reseller Staplesmay have difficulty in finding an "Easy" solution to a data breach that the US Secret Serviceis now investigating...

Hygiene King

K-C FORCE-ful

International sales boost with

Professional sales progressing

21 Oct’14

Kimberly-Clark (K-C) the global personal hygiene brands manufacturer, reported solid Q3’14 results. Continuous improvement processes are working…

Lexmark ramps up

MPS market share

Strong software solutions growth

offsets printer supplies decline

21 Oct’14

Lexmark International,surprisingly reported better financial results in Q3’14 after a long run of downward trends in sales and profits. Software/MPS sales now represent 32% sales

Apple aces high

in business market

Uber personal productivity tools

outpace same-old Samsung set

21 Oct’14 (01:00ET updated, complete)

Apple,the world’s #1 business tech provider, announced blockbuster results for Q4’14 ended 27 Sep’14. According to latest research it now dominates progressive companies’ technology usage soon to be expanded by the IBMconnection, ApplePayand AppleWatch..

Microsoft chief to

break boy's club?

Nadella talks inequality; huge

investment to compete on cloud

Microsoft has already proven its potency in the cloud era, and is one of three companies with the scale, resources, and know-how to dominate the booming $100 billion market, CEO Satya Nadella told CNBC today

PCA packaging

power; paperless

Acquirer of Boise reports organic

growth in containerboard sales

Packaging Corporation (PCA) today reported Q3’14 financial results to 30 Sep’14. Packaging powers forward whilst paper volumes continue to slide

The myth of

MPS success

Is it just a dealer fad or

a cannibalizing contest

between old tech giants?

20 Oct’14

Managed Print Services (MPS) has been a hot topic for 6 years now and it features again at Photizo Group’s Transform conference starting today. OP dealer reps have been slow to adapt and sell it professionally to CFO’s. Meanwhile, the top printermakers dominate this diminishing market...

Yahoo: Mayer’s

tailspinning tale

Too late, or is it last, last chance

saloon for messer miss Marissa?

20 Oct'14

Yahoochief Marissa Mayer will seek to fend off a challenge from activist investor Starboard Value LPthis week, by detailing her plan to turnaround the struggling web ad business. Do you think she cares this much?

SPR: stronger

performance

Higher sales/profits from NAPA,

Motion & electricals businesses

20 Oct’14

Genuine Parts Company (GPC) parent of SPRichards & Co and Motion Industries today reported strong sales and profits for Q3’14 ended 30 Sep’14. The OfficeMaxwholesale contributed addition contributed significantly....

IBM: Is Rometty’s

head under Cloud

Big Blue behind the ballgame.

Will Buffett bale like Tesco?

20 Oct’14

Shares of the old tech giant IBMfell by more than 8% in pre-market trading today, after it posted disappointing quarterly results. It's 10th quarter of declining sales... 

Desperate Depot

disintegrates daily

European exits just another step

towards death by a 30,000 cuts

20 Oct’14 (Updated 06:00 ET)

It’s time for Office Depot’sCEO Chainsaw Roly Smithto come clean about his plan to halve its 66,000 sales and distribution resource to save $1.5Bn. Investment analysts seem blind to its hopeless plight…

Tailspinning

telesales tales

Bigboxes banish reps; resort

to cold, cheap call centers

20 Oct’14

Beleaguered bigbox Office Depotpredictably is savaging its salesforce and shifting its CRM efforts to regional call centers in its continued effort, to cut the fat and the muscle, of a once great #1 reseller…later today

Can these

e l e p h a n t s

d a n c e  again?

10 former growth giants whose

glory years may have departed

19 Oct’14 (Complete)

We are very optimistic about the ‘personalized productivity services’ market future. We’re encouraged by new converts’ success stories. But, we’re disappointed by the dinosaur tales of denial and decline...

Exceptional,

Personalised

Productivity

One Source Wonderful:

Leaner, Cleaner, Greener.

19 Oct’14 (Complete 21:00ET)

It’s the final day of an EXCEPTIONAL week at the 10th Annual WBMason Sales Conference & Consumer Show. The message was clear: the phenomenal force of customer intimacy is on the march…

Apple: it’s all

‘Appening…

High expectations for Mac, iPads,

iPhone, iOS8, Watch, Pay devs.

19 Oct’14

Tomorrow’s results are expected to be another blow out Q4 for Apple with market capitalization up 32% since the Q1’14 report. We can’t wait…

Excellence.

Expertise.

Exceptionalism.

Meehan’s crescendo address

elevates & energizes salesforce 

19 Oct’14 (Completed 20:00ET)

This was the best event in WBMason’s 10 years conference history. CEO Leo Meehan has assembled an exceptional leadership team that presented results and plans impressively…

Google go-go

machine slows

Is Express delivery investment

v Amazon harming margins?

16 Oct’14

Slower growth in Google advertising, heavy spending to compete with Amazon in search and delivery seems to denting confidence in the web giant…

An orchard of

Apple growth...

Cook launches skinny new iPads,

iMac, iSight, iOS and Pay service

16 Oct’14

Apple CEO Tim Cook & team offered few surprises, but plenty of “gorgeous’ new hardware and software at its special event in Cupertino earlier today..

Grainger gains

greater OP share

Mobile webstore buys now 30%

of business supplies purchases

16 Oct’14

WW Grainger,the $10Bn in sales, leading North American broadline supplier of FM, maintenance and office products today announced impressive Q3’14 financial results to 30 Sep’14

The digital

disconnect

Keurig’s Coffee Connections

survey reveals new behaviours

16 Oct’14

It is no secret digital technology is taking over our lives, and face time with friends and loved ones is decreasing because of it. Does this disrupt or enhance communications?

Bunzl buys and

bundles again

FM distributor delves into

detection & detention supplies

16 Oct’14

Bunzl, the international distribution and outsourcing group, today reported interim results for Q3’14 adding its 13 acquisition of the year. Beware the wretched stretch...

Vow’s Green

Light for growth

UK #1OP wholesaler switches

on its dealer strategy for 2015

16 Oct’14

VOW has announced its plans for Green Light 2015, its most interactive and ambitious event to date. This is a timely development given the UK wholesale market disarray...

Messy WHSmith:

slip sliding away

CEO Clarke continues the in

denial ‘cost cutting culture’ &

‘What Horrible Stores experience

16 Oct’14

WHSmith, the UK’s #1 High Street & travel location retailer, today reported results for year ended 31 Aug’14.. CEO Stephen Clarkecontinued Kate Swann’s 10 years of defensive commentary of declining sales and cost cutting...

HON heats up

growth rates

Strength in contract furniture

outpaces OP supply business

15 Oct’14

HNI (HON) Corporation, a leading US furniture maker, reported stronger Q3’14 financial results to 27 Sep’14. The furniture growth recovery continues...

Jabra jabbing

at Plantronics

Headsetmaker aims to grab

50% renewals market by 2016

15 Oct’14

Jabrahas launched an "aggressive" assault on rival Plantronics by tempting its resellers with rebates of up to six per cent on competitive deals.

WBMason Sales Meeting Day 1

30:20:10+180

New Masonites

"Fortress of Intimacy" intensifies

as Meehans' champion change 

14 Oct’14 (Updated 13:00 ET)

The magnificent Masonville march maintained its momentum at the 10th Annual Sales Meeting with the parading of 180 new additions to its Oscar winning salesforce. COO Chris Meehan (pic left) compered a celebration of champion performances…

Google Express’

same day service

Underestimated rival expands

partnerships with Costco et al

14 Oct’14

Googlesays that it is expanding the same-day delivery service it launched in the San Francisco Bay area in March 2013...

Yahoo: Mayer on

way to highway?

CEO Marissa’s hopelessness

trapped in the headlights

13 Oct’14

What will happen to Yahoo, really? And, what will happen to CEO Marissa Mayer and will it be sooner or later? USA Today’s Michael Wolf thinks so...

Prospecting’s

a campaign!

Most accounts are won after

9 calls; most sales people

give up after one call

12 Oct’15

Entrepreneur Magazinerecently published an article by sales strategist Marc Wayshak, highly relevant to the behaviour of OP sales reps…

The Furniture

Phenomenon

The sit-stand movement drives

comfort, workplace wellness &

high productivity performance 

12 Oct’14 (Updated)

Furniture market growth is back, driven by increasing investment in workplace wellness, ergonomics to improve productivity, comfort and prolong life expectancy. Dealers are hiring specialists again as businesses refresh the office environment.

The myths of

collaboration?

Maximise transparency.

Minimize turns/distance

Eliminate dead ends.

11 Oct’14 (Complete)

IFMA Boston held a well-attended event last night to listen to Herman Miller’shighly regarded strategist Margaret Serratopresent the BIG Idea on workspace planning to maximise collaboration and productivity…

Selfies’ single

source service

Advertisers scan photo sharing

sites to search brands & target

10 Oct’14

Most users of popular photo-sharing sites like Instagram, Flickr and Pinterestknow that anyone can view their pictures if shared publicly. This is now a popular source for savvy marketers to track brand behaviour...

WB: Personalised

delivery whenever

Preview of Oscar themed

10th Annual Sales Meeting 

& Office Productivity Show 

10 Oct’14 (13:00ET)

We look forward to attending one of the highlights of the OP calendar next Monday, the week long 10th Annual WBMason Sales Meetingand Office Productivity Showin Foxwoods, (CT). We spoke with marketing chief Lindsay Picardabout what's in store... 

Hope honoree

raises record...

Office Depot's Steve Schmidt

achieves $12.5m. HP in 2015

10 Oct’14

Over 600 OP executives past and present attended City of Hope's 2014 Spirit of Life Gala Dinnerat Chicago’s Navy Pier last night. Honoree Office Depot's Steve Schmidt...

Nadella’s gender

pay  g a p  gaffe

Microsoft chief apologises

for wrong ‘karma’ comment

10 Oct’14

After making a serious mistake onstage at a women’s tech event yesterday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadellaissued a memo to employees apologizing for comparing pay issues for women to “karma.”

Amazon to open

NYC retail store

Speculation on pre Christmas

launch. What is purpose?

9 Oct’14

Amazonchief Jeff Bezosis investing again. Is it a PR/showcase move to try and match Apple? A pick-up point for shoppers or, a serious launch in retail stores? Shortly

Mobile marketing

reaches puberty?

Analytics advance by Google

lets ads to go beyond banner

9 Aug’14

The signs are there that it is becoming easier for marketers to demonstrate the business case for brand building on mobile, a shift brought into sharp focus this week by the announcements of Facebook and Google.

#AmazonWishList

for Twitter fans

Easy browse and buy shopping

links to build gift/event favourites

9 Oct’14 (Updated)

Amazon has ramped up its partnership with Twitterto allow shoppers to add items to their online wish lists by replying to tweets with the handle #AmazonWishList.

PC demand

slows again

Post Microsoft XP market

recovery in US/Europe. #1

Lenovo reaches 20% share

9 Oct’14 

Gartnersaid PC shipments fell 0.5% in the third quarter but that results were stronger in Western Europe and North America.

Staples gets

fit for business

Reinvents HQ to enhance

employee health & wellness

8 Oct’14

Staples, the #1 OP reseller has opened a new health and fitness center at its HQ in Framingham (MA). We spoke to chief culture officer John Burke.

Bisley opens first

US showroom…

Can Be bold strategy win

for British furnituremaker?

8 Oct’14

Bisley’s new showroom opened in Manhattan this week with a steady stream of New York designers and dealers making the trek to its Flatiron District space that feels a bit like England in the New World.

Batteries behind

tech power pace

Slow progress perplexes users

and device developers alike

8 Oct’14

While the computing power of microchips doubles every 18 months, the capacity of the batteries that devices depend seemingly moves at snails pace...

Dell delights in HP halving whole

Re-iterates his commitment to total end-to-end tech provider

8 Oct’14

Michael Dellhas taken a sideswipe at arch-rival HP, tweeting that "in light of industry uncertainty, Dellhas never been more certain". HP reacted defensively…

Costco captures
more commercial

Expands business delivery service
hubs into more US main markets.

Embraces Google Express service

8 Oct’14 (Complete)
Costco Wholesalecontinued its relentless progress with impressive results in Q4’14, topping $110Bn sales for the year. OP dealers should not underestimate this brilliant marketer...

2014 WebWatch Round 6

Pinnacle:
Powerful v poor webstores?

Wake up! Complacency reigns. Wanted: user & mobile friendly, minimum clicks user experience 

7 Oct’14 (Updated 18:00 ET)

After publishing the WebWatch 2014 Leaderboard yesterday we review all members of Pinnacle Groupahead of its conference this week. Check to see if they have optimized the shopping experience for users inc.mobile. Complete with ratings; individual critiques follow this week

ZenOffice seals

deal with Baron

Personal productivity services

provider expands in Manchester

7 Oct’14

ZenOfficehas announced the acquisition of Baron Stationers, the dealer based in Heywood, Greater Manchester. We spoke with MD Les Kerr…

Dealer Alert!

‘Wear Your Own Watch’ wave up

Resellers urged to get ready to integrate wearable tech

7 Oct’14

Resellers have been urged to act now to help prepare businesses for the "inevitable" security issues that will be thrown up when wearable technology enters workplaces.

Will Weisler win or waste HPInc?

Can new chief's focus & love for PC’s, printers reinvent hulky tech dinosaur alone? 

7 Oct’14

Can Dion Weisler, the man set to lead new HP Inc. the PC/printer business connect his agile, aquatic days of youth in Australia to the tough market waters he’ll be navigating, or will he be anchored by antiquated products?

Wayfair pair

retain control

Stellar IPO success solidified

by etail leaders’ ownership

7 Oct’14

Boston Globe columnist Steven Syre has penned a great review on home/ office furnishing etailer Wayfair’s wonderful rise to its highly successful IPO last Thursday...

Container Store

stock collapsing

Retail funk continues for over

-priced, underdone experience

7 Oct’14

Shares of The Container Storefell 19% today, 60% year to date, after it reported flat sales trends for Q3’14. Start entertaining customers, stop blaming the economy…

Samsung stung by sinking sales

Demand for Galaxy S5 & Note tablets disappoint. Chips saviour

7 Oct’14

Samsung Electronics estimated Q3 operating profit has halved from a year earlier, hit by weak smartphone sales and hefty marketing and constant upgrade costs

Top 20 women

office marketers

The new productivity drivers.

Your nominations please…

7 Oct’14 (Updated 08:00ET)

Fortunemagazine published its list of the most powerful women in business. We want to recognize the growing population of top female sales marketing professionals that are leading the industry’s transformation from box-shifters to personal productivity service providers. Your nominations please…Free Access

HP: Halving off PC/Printing. Ink?

Old tech hulk closes on merger with cloud storage king EMC. Who wants Ink-redible cash cow 

6 Oct'14 (11:00ET Updated)

As reported on 25 Sep HP's been in merger negotiations with elephantine EMC ($60Bn market cap) for a year. Attracted by its 80% stake in cloud king VMware, HP said will offload its PPS (aka Ink) division to focus on Enterprise systems, but who wants it? We analyse CEO Meg Whitman misleading comments today on CNBC, as she moves deck chairs...

2014 WebWatch Round 5

Wonderful or

woeful webstores

Wake up! Complacency reigns.

Wanted: user & mobile friendly,

minimum clicks user experience

6 Oct'14 (Updated) 

After publishing the WebWatch 2014 Leaderboard last week we review some progressives and rising stars to see if they have optimized the shopping experience for users, especially mobile. Ratings complete; mini-profiles, critiques follow later today 21:00ET

BMI readying

mobile webstores

Big dealer software house

reacts to user demand

6 Oct’14

Last week, BMI,who specialize in larger OP dealer systems reported the imminent availability of mobilized webstores. Which dealer will react first? We discuss with VP sales Craig Greitzer

Mason momentum moves Midwest

Drives into Maryland, Pittsburgh and Ohio. Next stop Michigan? 

6 Oct’14 (08:30ET)

US #1Megadealer WBMason announced plans to go west last October. Today, it revealed the name of its biggest acquisition in Ohio. We spoke with Leo Meehan...

Mason’s magical

coffee blend...

Keurig to launch new brand

at WB’s conference next week

6 Oct’14

Keurig, the US coffee king has announced an exclusive agreement to offer Shazam coffee in K-Cups for WBMason, the #1 US megadealer. We spoke to Leo Meehan…

VOW advances at

Spicers expense

UK #1 wholesaler sales now 2X

rival: crumbling ‘Rock of Ages’

5 Oct’14

Vasanta Group,parent of UK’s #1 OP wholesaler VOW, continued to gain accelerating share of the market as rival Spicers suffers self-destruction. We hope to speak with CEO Rob Baldrey tomorrow…

BOOOOOOOM!

Economy roars

UP! Jobs, start-ups, freelancing,

part-timers, output, stockmarket,

tech Investments & productivity

5 Oct’14

Yes it’s all good news in the US/UK with GDP output rising with higher employment trends. Nevertheless, pessimistic commentary abounds in OP paper-related circles. Optimists unite and lead us to the new ‘personalised productivity services’ world…


Can catalogs! 


Invest & mobilize

your webstores!

WebWatch Leaderboard'14: Top

user friendly 
buying experiences 

5 Oct'14 (Complete)


After reviewing over 80 progressive resellers’ webstores the Proficiency Index WebWatch team lists its Top 10 to date. Standards have improved but, most are still too industrial and dealers too complacent about their most powerful sales and marketing tool. Open to view to non-subscribers

Pinnacle picks Preferred path

Peer group adds Dallas dealer in development drive. What’s next?

4 Oct’14 (Complete)

Pinnacle Affiliates, the US large dealer group, as expected, has added another progressive dealer. We spoke with Kevin Johnson and Andrew Atkinson (pic left) about its conference next week, plus an update on development plans, including Warehouse Direct’s progress...

NOPA: State of OP Dealer Industry Report

Most dealers not webstore enabled

Is growth complacency OK given user disconnect/immobilization  

4 Oct'14 (Updated)

We’ve analysed the recently published NOPA ‘State of the OP dealer industry Report’. There were no surprises from the research save for the air of complacency surrounding growth forecasts for 2014. Sorry Monday

Marketing’s about conversations, 1st

Facebook, link-in, tweet & email all you like, but first call & listen

3 Oct’14

Marketing Week’s Mark Ritson is on the money again with his latest op-ed column promoting the importance of personalized marketing

Ingram inspires
at SMB showcase

600 resellers view the latest
from Apple, Microsoft, HP & Dell

3 Oct’14
After 10 years, Ingram Microthe world’s #1 IT wholesaler has bounced back on the showcase scene with its successful SMB Alliance event. Chief Brent McCarty (pic left)heralded a positive future for tech distributors…

Staples Refresh,

Recharge, Refuel

Breakroom tour demos to boost

power of employee productivity

3 Oct’14

Staples, the #1 OP reseller this week kicked off a nationwide breakroom promotional tour to encourage office workers across the country to take a break.

Analysts amiss again...

Depot: dangerous diversion for SPLS

Takeover of toxic, incompetents could lose $5Bn sales. Attack'em! 

3 Oct’14 (Complete)

Seeking Alpha’s analysts are at it again, telling readers that Office Depotis a “low risk bet” with an upside if Staples acquired the beleaguered bigbox. Truth is Staples has more to gain by focusing on its reinvention growth strategy and beating them on the street…

WOW! Wayfair’s

winning $3Bn IPO

Shares gain 30% on stockmarket

debut. Annual sales growth 50%

2 Oct’14

Wayfair,the rapidly growing home office furniture etailer, surged in its trading debut after pricing its IPO above the marketed range.

Microsoft moves

back w/Windows

Welcome to the lack of

conviction version W10

2 Oct’14

On Tuesday, Microsoft provided a sneak peek at its next operating system. One of the big reveals from the news conference in San Francisco is that it will go straight from today’s Windows 8 to Windows 10.

Amazon: low cost

local services pro

Marketplace develops for home

& small business inc office supply

2 Oct’14

Traditional dealers’ personal, local advantage in danger of destruction. Amazonis developing rapidly its marketplace for local services, a broad term that encompasses anything from handymen, office furniture and business services...

Retailers react

by right sizing.

Is it too late?

Leaders asleep at the switch as

leaner etailers eke market share

Fellowes captures

iPhone casemaker

Optrix joins innovative family

with mobile camera accessory

2 Oct’14

Fellowes Brands, has announced the acquisition of Optrix, a California-based innovator in the fast-moving action-sports photography category.

Pelikan hurt by Herlitz hold up

Consolidation inevitable after restructuring delays extended

2 Oct’14

Pelikan International frustrated over the delay in the revamp of its German-based loss-making Herlitz has proposed to consolidate its operations in that country.

Club Coffee: aim

to KO Keuring...

$600m lawsuit accuses leader

of disparaging & baseless lies

1 Oct’14

Keurig Green Mountainis spreading propaganda about competitors’ coffee pods to mislead consumers and coerce third parties into exclusive agreements, alleges Canada's Club Coffeein lawsuit.

Streaming Propaganda Of Terminators

Contradictory, heartless rant from Spicers’ detached chiefs

1 Oct'14 (Updated)

The Spicers/Officeteam (SPOT) CEO’s have issued a long-winded, contradictory communication to UK dealers trying to convince them of its integrity, by not competing in the market. It’s crude, contemptuous and self-serving, demonstrating a total lack of empathy with dealers’ feelings...