Staples strips to
It's now 3 months since vulture capitalist Sycamore Partners owned Staples parted ways with chief Sandy Douglas. Meanwhile, proxy chairman John Lederer has assumed control without appointing a replacement? Will it ever happen and how will this affect the future of its $14Bn business delivery interests inc. wholesaler Essendant? Updated
B2U marketing
Business supply resellers (B2B) need to make digital connections and provide personalized experiences when selling to users (eg. Lucy, beyond the trad buyers. Here are 3 strong digital ways for dealers to reach Lucy (B2U marketing) provided by experts Mike McLaren of MerkleB2B and Julia Doheny of B2B International. We discuss...
"You can't be fired
Amazon continues to grow its broadline business supplies category to an estimated $60Bn+ worldwide in 2021. Our conversations with contract OP dealers indicate a huge underestimation of Amazon's penetration in corporate accounts. Moreover, it is now #1 wholesaler to dealers in all the major marketplaces.... Updated
Beyond paperclips
2021 will be the 10th year running we have urged OP dealers to move from the paper dominated office supply market towards the paperless office where users need tools & services to help gain productivity e.g. IT, hygiene, ergonomics. Here's our latest practical guidelines & progressive dealer case studies to aid your transition...Updated
Bouncebackability
Reports are flowing in fast for business supply players in Q2'21 and predictably show strong positive growth v Q2'20, but how do they compare with the pre-Covid 'norm'? Proficiency Index reports the leaderboard of vendors, wholesalers and dealers' 'Bouncebackability' performance v Q2'19. Updated daily... Full commentary inc. Target, Walmart, Home Depot, PFG/Vistar
PFG/Vistar: food
Performance Food Group, the leading US food & beverage services wholesaler reported a huge organic sales increase in Q4'21 as businesses/restaurants returned towards normal. The major acquisition of fresh food broadline leader will boost sales by 50% in 2022.
Samsonite saved
Global luggage leader Samsonite after a spectacular fall from travel bans in 2020 recovered lost ground in H1'21. Can new CEO Kyle Gendreau carry forward after the fraud investigation scandals of 2020?
Target's terrific
$100Bn+ in sales Target, reported terrific Q2'21 results from continuing strong 'essentials' demand. CEO Brian Cornell described key success factors as: higher traffic, ticket values and maintained online ordering in food, bevs & WFH improvement categories from personalised Shipt same-day delivery!
The E-waste
“Reverse logistics”—the process of handling returned merchandise—has become increasingly complex. Resellers have to determine whether each returned item is fit to go back on shelves, can be refurbished, or must be scrapped. Florida based goTRG provides an international service that lifts, separates and recycles responsibly
HDepot's WFH/DIY
Home Depot the $150Bn+ home & business improvement supplier continued to benefit from the Covid lockdown with huge DIY demand, and a strong recovery in its PRO business supply activity, especially SMB. More homes are being retro-fitted to office space for WFH execs and student's remote learning.
Walmart growth
US #1 retailer Walmart reported flattening sales inQ2'22, including online demand & delivery. It continued to copy Amazon's
initiatives albeit with less success & benefited from store collection and higher ticket values
Imperial doubles
VC Bain Capital owned Imperial Dade, continued its rapid roll-up of regional hygiene, food service & packaging suppliers in the US. Its latest moves stretch coast to coast along a path pioneered by Bunzl. The big question now is whether Bain will back brand and systems integration or asset strip and flip?
KP Tissue rolls
KP Tissue (ex-Kruger) the Canada based leading international brand tissue maker, suffered a huge drop in demand in both consumer & business supply markets as retailers de-stocked from the abnormally high demand during the Covid year
Raja packs up
Vulture capitalist Aurelius acquired Office Depot Europe in Sept'16, has finally completed the sale of al its failing parts. European packaging powerhouse Raja Group moved into the OP market 2 years ago, with the acquisition of some Staples European assets. Now it has doubled up by buying Depot's carcass
Paper-Printerless
Most leading OP, Paper & Printermakers have now reported Q2'21 results. Printer paper is down 70%+ since 2008. The shift to hygiene & packaging products is huge. The Covid crash caused users to accelerate the move towards digitisation as print diminished. We analyse results to date...inc Verso, Smurfitt & KP Tissue
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