Beyond OPocalypse to
Before the Coronavirus pandemic tragedy the OP market was collapsing with paper & printer makers running below half 2010 demand levels. The 'Essentials' supply focus is a stark reminder that unless business suppliers' service includes hygiene & safety, refreshments, foodservice, IT & packaging products, the future is bleak. Every cloud has a silver lining.... Weekend
'Essentials' ease
The CV shutdown of all businesses except 'Essentials' supply by national & local government in US & UK would normally close office supply dealers. Those progressive resellers that have embraced broadline business supplies, have continued inc. home delivery, even though it means more, smaller individual drops at higher cost to serve....
Mask up delivery
"The coronavirus (CV) pandemic shows the need to overhaul how to treat delivery & frontline customer service teams" writes Business
Insider's Diana Enriquez. Good advice for dealers in business supply to ensure service teams 'mask-up' to reassure customers & get CV tests if they sense the symptoms... Updated
Hygiene Suppliers
The Coronavirus pandemic has hammered consumers & business supply demand with worse to come. Meanwhile, food & beverage, pharmacy & home technology suppliers are booming inc. makers & distributors that responded to the urgent need for greater personal protection & higher hygiene standards.. We review case studies... Updated
Buybacks v
Veritiv, the tailspinning US #1 paper merchant just announced a share buy back plan at a time when sales & profits were crashing pre CV. Meanwhile, many corporations are calling for bail out support from government as survival becomes their priority. How do they reconcile this greed with the CV pandemic about to explode across the US?
Amazon Care:
Amazon is teaming up with a new research effort in Seattle’s King County — one region of Washington most impacted by the virus — to pick up and deliver tests for coronavirus COVID-19. The SCAN monitoring program is backed by Gates Foundation to learn how the pandemic is speading
MacPapers sold
Mac Papers, the $1Bn in sales SE US paper merchant, has sold its business to a venture capitalist group. Given the decline of this market sector we wonder how long before this distributor will be turned over for sale again?
Amazon's next
Amazon announced its checkout-free technology would be available to any retailer that wants it. Coined "Just Walk Out", the service tracks customers throughout a store, if they pick up an item, leave with it, they are billed. No cashiers, no interaction, just go!
Best Buy/Staples:
Best Buy CEO Corie Barry issued an COVID-19 update for customers and employees: “We are seeing a surge in demand for products people need to work or learn from home", Similarly Staples retail stores report heavy demand for not only hygiene supplies but PC's, IT accessories and video comms
AMZN anchored
With retail stores closing from the CV pandemic, more consumers are turning to Amazon for faster deliveries. This has resulted in surging sales for its 3rd party sellers, but now it has frozen delivery of 'non-essential' products, the reverse is happening
France fines big
As news of the €1.24Bn ($1.36Bn) fine slapped on Apple, Tech Data and Ingram Micro sinks in for the IT market CRN asked a number of distributors what it means for partners' dealer base "It's caused us to review our own practice" one replied
Cintas secures
Cintas, the uniform & business services specialist, posted impressive Q3'20 results and progressed along its 'Ready for the Workday' strategic direction shift at higher profitability....
Buybacks v
Veritiv, the tailspinning US #1 paper merchant just announced a share buy back plan at a time when sales & profits were crashing pre CV. Meanwhile, many corporations are calling for bail out support from government as survival becomes their priority. How do they reconcile this greed with the CV pandemic about to explode across the US?
Chainsaw chases
Legendary activist investor 'Chainsaw' Carl Icahn has increased his stake in heavily indebted Newell Brands (e.g. Papermate, Sharpie, Rubbermaid) mirroring similar moves at HP & Xerox. Previous form points to a takeover of executive management and savage cost cuts. Get ready for a rocky road Ravi (Saligram ex-OfficeMax messer)
Z o o m Video
Video collaboration specialist Zoom (CEO Eric Yuan, pic left) continued its relentless progress by outstripping traditional competition. Fuelled by soaring demand caused by remote working and social spacing from the Coronavirus its stock market capitalisation has soared 3.5X since its April'19 IPO
"Tomorrow's News Today,
not yesterday's news tomorrow."
