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6 Jan 22

Updated: 6 Jan 22

C E S  2 0 2 2
Hot Consumer
E l e c t r o n i c s 

Samsung, Jabra, Targus,
Pickwheel, Magna Icon etc

A foldable smartphone, a tablet with light-powered wireless technology, a foot-controlled electric carrier and multiple empty booths greeted press and industry analysts attending CES 2022’s Unveiled event. in Las Vegas. CRN's Wade Tyler Millward selects and reviews 18 hot innovative products

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5 Jan 22

Updated: 5 Jan 22

HP's hypocritical
values exposed

Instant Ink pricing stealth
& pretentious CSR status

Old tech & printer giant HP Inc. is on a PR roll, with ceo Enrique Lores championing CSR credentials, #1 Newsweek ranking and success of its Instant Ink D2C subs service. We challenge HP's ethics given the environmentally unfriendly printing process and its stealthy pricing policies...

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5 Jan 22

Updated: 6 Jan 22

Paperworld 2022

cancelled & caput?

Frankfurt's stale stationery
showcase, museum done?

21st Century brand marketers abandoned Paperworld Frankfurt back in the 90's. Yet, still the old world stationery expo has not adapted to the new digital office world, inspite of its 'Future Office' rhetoric. Covid cancelled 2021's renewal and now organisers have been forced to cancel 2022 show. Is the end nigh?

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4 Jan 22

Updated: 5 Jan 22

MillerKnoll's new

hybrid work high 

WFH/Retail concepts offset
soft corp office demand

MillerKnoll the new #1, enlarged furnituremaker maintained its strength in retail, but the US contract market continued weak. Upbeat ceo Andi Owen focused on strong WFH demand with DWR home office concepts, mobile systems innovation and the integration of the Knoll acquisition 

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4 Jan 22

Updated: 5 Jan 22

Imperial bags
46th acquisition 

Rapid ragbag rollup raises
Bain's strategy questions?

VC Bain Capital owned Imperial Dade, continued the rapid roll-up of regional hygiene, food service & packaging suppliers in the US. The latest move in Salt Lake City (UT) stretches nationally along a similar path pioneered by Bunzl and followed by FEMSA-Envoy. The persistent question remains: will Bain back brand and systems integration; seek a merger with Veritiv, or asset strip and flip?

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4 Jan 22

Updated: 4 Jan 22

2022 Business
Supply Market
MEGATRENDS

......less Means More
P r o d u c t i v i t y 

Are we heralding in the Roaring 20's? Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Shopify have M-powered a new entrepreneurial revolution with affordable personal tech & immediate delivery. Covid advanced 2025 trends: #Paperless #Officeless #Touchless #Bigless #Wasteless & #Carbonless. WFH told us to connect with users by providing personalised productivity services + integrated same-day delivery. We guide on how dealers can take charge of their destiny? New Report inc. 2021 Market Review published today!

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4 Jan 22

Updated: 4 Jan 22

Power Productivity

or #OPocalypse? 

Who will seize the single
source biz supply market?

What will happen in 2022 with Amazon, Apple, Staples, Essendant, Shopify, SPR, FEMSA, Depot, WBMason, HP, U-Line, Imperial, EVO-VOW, Westcoast, Paragon, Lyreco, Raja, Bunzl, Brady, independent dealers, dealer groups, wholesalers, furnituremakers, paper-printermakers, MPS, OP makers; foodservice; hygiene suppliers; packaging; AI, robotics,Tech, cybersecurity; Hybrid-WFH; B2U marketing trends. PP's Top 20 predictions follow here

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3 Jan 22

Updated: 6 Jan 22

Reactive Ryman
cratered by Covid

Can stationery chain revive
w/o user-friendly webstore

UK stationery high street retailer Ryman Group reported devastating results to 31 Mar'21. Sales have sunk without a credible webstore solution. It has become a messy ecommerce-lite WHSmith, blaming outside factors for poor performance. 

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2 Jan 22

Updated: 5 Jan 22

Depot discharges
Compucom crime

Bizarro Smith's senseless
buy, sold for $700m loss

Office Depot aka ODPCorp finally executed the long awaited plan to sell its failing CompuCom Systems subsidiary in a deal worth up to $305m and make itself a more attractive acquisition target for rival Staples. Watch Staples chairman John Lederer move to close the retail acquisition in January....

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1 Jan 22

Updated: 4 Jan 22

MacFarlane packs
off labels operation

Doubling down investment
in protective packaging

European packaging giant MacFarlane Group has sold its labelling business to a rival greoup. CEO Peter Atkinson said the sale will enable a "greater focus of resources on growing protective packaging businesses both in the UK and Europe"

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