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  • productivity stairway to heaven 2017Death of Indie
    dealers greatly 

    exaggerated?

    Market trends turn against
    impersonal, cold bigboxes


    Does size matter? The office market over the past 35yrs has been dominated by bigboxes & Amazon's lead in business supplies, points to a continuation. But emerging trends show the big guys are declining fast & Amazon peaking. The rise of progressive resellers providing 'personalised productivity services' embracing mobile technology, can & will succeed.. Tomorrow

     Read More

  • Screen Shot 2019 04 20 at 11.25.07 AM'Industry Week'
    plan quashed 

    Plan B? Go for IDC
    'Biz Productivity' show


    The Business Supplies Association (BSA) plan to rationalise vendors' heavy schedule of 20+pa shows & create an 'Industry Week' has been quashed. Understandably, leading wholesalers & resellers wouldn't cooperate. Great idea, so what's Plan B?  We feel consideration be given to a more customer centric 'Business Productivity Show'  for the IDC. We spoke w/BSA pres Barry Lane... Monday

     Read More

  • Screen Shot 2018 12 14 at 3.24.27 PM'Fakebook' fraud?
    FTC focus...Zuck

    CEO wilfully broke privacy
    Firewall, faces $23Bn+ fine


    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 

     Read More

  • Screen Shot 2019 04 19 at 2.25.47 PMDo Workplace
    W e l l n e s s
    programs work?

    Changing behavior; gains
    in motivation prove tough


    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...

     Read More

  • Screen Shot 2019 03 01 at 11.44.11 AMA c m e  United
    loses sharpness

    Shifts focus to safety
    tools & First-aid kits


    Acme United     today announced slower sales growth in Q1'19 financial results. Sales of core cutting tools slowed whilst moving successfully into safety products....

     Read More
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Details
16 Apr 19
Updated: 16 Apr 19

Screen Shot 2019 03 12 at 12.16.43 PMW e s t c o a s t 's
wholesale wave 

Doubles warehouse space
to provide logistics services


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 

Read more ...

Details
15 Apr 19
Updated: 15 Apr 19

jones phil brother handsBrother in arms
w/dealer channel

Jones describes progress
from SMB to enterprise mkt


Brother Europe MD Phil Jones has reinforced his channel commitment and opens up about taking advantage of consolidation by competitors and battling imitation supplies. 

Read more ...

Details
15 Apr 19
Updated: 16 Apr 19

guernsey trucksECi delivers
service tracker

Dealers' route optimizer


to boost productivity

 
ECi Software has launched a new Fleer Optimisation tool to its Proof of Delivery software. This should result in greater productivity and facilitate 'same day delivery' service opportunities for progressive dealers....

Read more ...

Details
15 Apr 19
Updated: 16 Apr 19

Screen Shot 2018 12 04 at 9.17.51 AMImperial bags
NE clean deal

Rolls up 19th buy serving
NY, NJ, CT, PA markets


Imperial Dade the $1.7Bn in sales, US paper, packaging & jansan distributor, largely serving Eastern Seaboard markets, confirmed its 19th acquisition today after a recent pause in its rapid roll up programme.

Read more ...

Details
15 Apr 19
Updated: 16 Apr 19

Screen Shot 2019 04 15 at 10.44.53 AMNew Chief steps
up at Best Buy

Strategic growth initiatives
bring leadership succession


Leading US electronics retailer Best Buy has announced that the board elected CFO Corie Barry  (left) to become the company's new CEO effective in June...

Read more ...

Details
14 Apr 19
Updated: 15 Apr 19

Screen Shot 2019 04 14 at 6.16.36 PMP&G warns off
FBook & Google

Call for more quality, civility,
transparency and privacy

 
P&G’s brand boss Marc Pritchard (pic left) believes the digital media industry needs to move beyond “endless retrofitting and clean-up” to creating a “new media supply chain” focused on quality, civility, transparency, privacy and control. About time and well stated...

Read more ...

Details
14 Apr 19
Updated: 14 Apr 19

doomed catalog retailRetail retreat
runs rampant 

Buying habits change
puts bigboxes in peril


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...

Read more ...

Details
13 Apr 19
Updated: 13 Apr 19

Screen Shot 2019 04 13 at 12.15.02 PMEx-Xerox spinoff
in Icahn X-hairs

Activist's designee resigns
in Conduent board coup?


Xerox spin off Conduent's market cap dropped 6% yesterday after activist shareholder Carl Icahn's (pic left) designee Michael Nevin resigned from the board and cited chairman Bill Parrett among his reasons for leaving. The typical Icahn incited board battles rage on...

Read more ...

Details
12 Apr 19
Updated: 15 Apr 19

Screen Shot 2019 04 14 at 8.16.01 PMSycamore sign
Goldman veteran

Specialist retail banker to
bolster profit performance


Vulture capitalist Sycamore Partners owner of Staples & Essendant have appointed a new president to "partner with management teams to improve profitability" of its network of retail companies. Will this signing accelerate investments or divestments?

Read more ...

Details
12 Apr 19
Updated: 12 Apr 19

Screen Shot 2019 04 02 at 2.59.13 PMStaples rebrand
draws skeptics

Forbes writers: 'Complex
solution...simple challenge'


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

Read more ...

Details
12 Apr 19
Updated: 12 Apr 19

Beaumont tim nemoUK Dealer Groups
consolidation...on

NEMO merges Office Club.
Next: Integra & Superstat?


Following the big consolidation moves in OP dealer groups in the US, as many have predicted defensive moves are afoot to merge UK dealer groups. The first announcements were made today, expect more to follow in the months ahead... 

Read more ...

Details
11 Apr 19
Updated: 11 Apr 19

florness don fastenalFastenal fast
forward growth

Vending sales stronger
espec. onsite locations


Fastenal, the $5Bn in sales, US reseller of MRO, vending supplies, maintained its double digit pace of growth in Q1'19. Can its momentum continue in the industrial sector through 2019?

Read more ...

Details
11 Apr 19
Updated: 12 Apr 19

baker doug ecolab brandsEcoLab merger
in CMA probe

Regulator checks duopoly
high price risk w/Holchem


US market leader Ecolab’s purchase of UK cleaning chemicals maker Holchem is being investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), after competition concerns were raised.

Read more ...

Details
11 Apr 19
Updated: 12 Apr 19
Bezos amazons robin hood
Details
11 Apr 19
Updated: 12 Apr 19

WHSmith slideWHSmith slide
slowed by 'slime'

Messy customer service
survives on cost cutting


High Street & Travel retail stationer WHSmith, continued its cost cutting agenda as its reputation for shoddy customer service deteriorates further. In denial, its complacent CEO Stephen Clarke commented on a 2% decline as its "best in a decade"!?

Read more ...

Details
11 Apr 19
Updated: 11 Apr 19

PC market plungePC sales sink in
consumer market

Biz market boosted by final
Windows10 refresh year


Global PC shipments declined signifiantly in Q1'19 according to leading market researcher Gartner. The leading brands HP, Lenovo and Dell consolidated their leadership positions in business and consumer markets

Read more ...

More Articles ...

  1. Tesco 2018/19 Financial Review
  2. Logitech lifts takeover talk
  3. PC & mobiles market slowdown
  4. MSC Industrial Q2'19 Financial Review
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Latest Frost Bites

Death of Independents greatly exaggerated

productivity stairway to heaven 2017Death of Indie
dealers greatly 

exaggerated?

Market trends turn against
impersonal, cold bigboxes


Does size matter? The office market over the past 35yrs has been dominated by bigboxes & Amazon's lead in business supplies, points to a continuation. But emerging trends show the big guys are declining fast & Amazon peaking. The rise of progressive resellers providing 'personalised productivity services' embracing mobile technology, can & will succeed.. Tomorrow

Read More...

BSA's Industry Week plan quashed

Screen Shot 2019 04 20 at 11.25.07 AM'Industry Week'
plan quashed 

Plan B? Go for IDC
'Biz Productivity' show


The Business Supplies Association (BSA) plan to rationalise vendors' heavy schedule of 20+pa shows & create an 'Industry Week' has been quashed. Understandably, leading wholesalers & resellers wouldn't cooperate. Great idea, so what's Plan B?  We feel consideration be given to a more customer centric 'Business Productivity Show'  for the IDC. We spoke w/BSA pres Barry Lane... Monday

Read More...

Workplace Wellness programs - Do they work?

Screen Shot 2019 04 19 at 2.25.47 PMDo Workplace
W e l l n e s s
programs work?

Changing behavior; gains
in motivation prove tough


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...

Read More...

Marketing: User behaviour beats Demographics

Personalised emarketingUser behaviour
bts demographics

Personalised marketing the 
new segmentation strategy


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

Read More...

Sycamore Partners: Beauty or BEAST?

Screen Shot 2019 03 27 at 12.32.29 PMSycamore Partnrs:
Beauty or BEAST?

Analysts: Is $1Bn loan hike
a road to ruin e.g.ToysRUs?


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

Read More...

Retail retreat runs rampant

doomed catalog retailRetail retreat
runs rampant 

Buying habits change
puts bigboxes in peril


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...

Read More...

Staples Rebrand draws skeptics

Screen Shot 2019 04 02 at 2.59.13 PMStaples rebrand
draws skeptics

Forbes writers: 'Complex
solution...simple challenge'


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

Read More...

Marketing to Baby Boomers mistake

Screen Shot 2019 04 09 at 12.49.49 AMMarketing to baby

boomers mistake

'Forever Young' Gen prove
its about 'attitude' not age


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

Read More...

Global Slowdown happening - Prepare!

Screen Shot 2019 03 04 at 11.56.31 AMBatten down for
global slowdown

Corp growth decelerates
in US/EU, B2B/B2C mkts


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....

Read More...

Original Brands v Private Label War ignites

Screen Shot 2019 04 04 at 1.16.16 PMPrivate L a b e l
propagandists?

Bigboxes battle brands w/
"users indifferent" rhetoric?


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

Read More...

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