R e t a i l
The financial media e.g. CNBC, WSJ, FT has been rhetorical in promoting the 'strong consumer' during 2019, almost to the point of denial of the economic slowdown. Now facts are being reported from leading 'WATCH' retailers that confirm sales growth has stalled, hit by tariffs and economic uncertainty. We preview and analyse Q4'19 results. Updated
HP's hopeless
The absurd $33Bn bid by Xerox driven by Chainsaw Carl Icahn for the 6X larger HP Inc. should not be happening, HP's board is behaving like an underdog talking about an unconvincing "undervaluation" rather than dismissing the dinosaur copier giant, or more positively counterbidding and taking over Xerox's better equipped direct salesforce
Target's tumbling
Leading US retailer Target reported decelerating sales growth trends in recent quarters compared with 2018. Q4'19 sales, including the Christmas-Thanksgiving holiday, sales fell in organic terms for the first time in recent years
Read More
Purell's pure
Effective 1 Jan GOJO Industries, the Purell hygiene brand maker, named Carey Jaros as CEO. We interview Carey about her plans to accelerate the growth of the 'Purell Solution', to holistically fight the spread of illness causing germs. Tomorrow
Read More
2020 Predictions:
What will happen with Amazon, Apple, Staples, Essendant, SPR, Depot, WBMason, HP/Xerox, Uber, Imperial Dade, SPOT (Spicers-OfficeTeam), EVO/VOW, Westcoast, dealers, groups, wholesalers, manufacturers in 2020. Here are our predictions.... Complete
Complete makes
The UK's #1 independent office supplier Complete Business Solutions continued its rapid roll up of regional OP dealers. We spoke with CEO Rich Coulson about integration of systems and distribution from its new National DC in Birmingham
Manufacturing
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted again in December, and the overall economy grew only +1.3%, according to the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) Index This confirms the slowdown in demand reported by leading consumer brand makers & retailers over the past year
JBHunt acquires
Top Innovators.
Fast Company & Time magazinesrecently reviewed the most innovative companies of 2019; and Forbes magazine the best breakthrough innovations. We feature the most innovative leaders and best innovations in the business supply/personal productivity marketplace…Complete
Bleeding SPOT
Vulture Better Capital reported interim results for SPOT, its doglike duo of Spicers-Officeteam to 30 Sept'19. Typically, it blamed UK market conditions for its poor sales, profits & capital value performance? Meanwhile, progressive broadline wholesalers enjoyed a banner year in a buoyant business supplies market...
Uni-Commerce's
A 'Unified Commerce' environment is where customers can experience a brand in its entirety; and marketers get a 360view of the customer. Resellers must not only offer personalisation online and offline, but in the space in between research and buying says Kibo's Meyar Sheik.
Best Performers
The #OPocalypse aka perfect storm impacting the office supply market had its most damaging affect in 2019. Even the more powerful, progressive broadline business suppliers had a tough year; Amazon's high growth rate halved & regional indies only expanded via acquisitions. Proficiency Index reviews best performers in each category. Updated
China tariffs
A new US Federal Government report shows how 'Trump’s tariffs have backfired". Instead of reviving industry, the study finds it did the opposite and increased costs for makers and consumers substantially.
OP d e a l e r s'
The slowing US economy; the secular decline in paper-related office supplies; and the tardy transition to the buoyant business supply has put severe pressure on regional family OP dealers. Slowing demand and Staples & Depot's acquisition drive fuels uncertainty: sell or invest? We review the future options for the Top 75 dealers in the US and UK. Updated
Progressives in
The bigbox share of the US-UK markets tumbled again in 2019. Disintegrating Depot and stalled Staples lost another $2Bn sales and Amazon's growth slowed. Progressive independent resellers, MSP's continued to gain market share.... Updated
"Tomorrow's News Today,
not yesterday's news tomorrow."
