Will AMZN's CRaP
Amazon's etail growth rate has slowed dramatically over recent quarters. Meanwhile, it's cutting its 'CRaP' defined products; shifting to imported private label; cutting back on small vendors; and splitting deliveries into multiple drops. We discuss the consequences...Updated
Apply sanitizer
A shortened 15sec application and a simpler 3 step technique for use of alcohol-based hand rub is as effective in reducing bacteria as the 30sec application & 6 steps recommended by WHO, and should improve hand hygiene compliance.
E p s o n i n k s Epson, the leading printer and visual presentation products maker continued to flatten in all its product categories in Q4'19 ended 31 Mar'18
UPM price hikes
UPM Kymmene, the world’s #3 papermaker, again reported declining printer paper demand, offset by big price increases, as it 'repurposes' mills to biorefining, energy & plywood production...
Amazon ascent
Amazon's powerfulgrowth decelerated dramatically, but with record profits in Q1'19 boosted by higher product prices and moderated investments in distribution. Business supplies (now 15% mix) growth slowed to its lowest rate ever.
A v n e t r o l l e r
Avnet, the slimmed down $20Bn in sales, leader in electronics distribution and services decelerated sales growth in Q3'19, but reported a strong sales pipeline
Starbucks brews
International coffee giant Starbucks boosted sales at US cafes with new tastes and flavours. Now its speeding up its delivery service in partnership with Uber Eats....
Knoll kicks on
Knoll, the leading office furnituremaker, resumed strong growth in the office market in Q1'19 with the strategic growth 'Lifestyle' segment boosted by its European acquisition
PCA packaging
US #3 packaging maker Packaging Corporation (PCA) reported steady Q1'19 financial results. Packaging grew boosted by acquisitions, whilst paper volumes declined dramatically....
PCM's pretence
US-based international IT reseller PCM continued its series of dealers acquisitions in the UK. However, its core US business continued to decline as it walks away from low margin public customers. How real is its long term intentions?
Essity emerging
Essity, the hygiene & health group spun out of giant papermaker SCA, resumed steady growth progress in Q1'19. Recently it announced an operational management structure that may bode badly for innovation focused on customer collaboration?
UPS' weather
UPS the global #1 logistics service growth rate flattened in spite of record ecommerce market activity in Q1'19 e.g. Amazon. Is it suffering complacency e.g. blaming poor weather v more agile competitors?
IP flat packaging
International Paper reported flat demand in packaging and printed papermaking in Q1'19. Can CEO Mark Sutton continue the reinvention into a power packaging and hygiene products maker?
Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain (IRM), ex-global leader in information services reported poor Q1'19 results. Moreover, its intransparent reporting appears geared to disguise its slow decline and reactive move into digital & cloud storage
Xerox sales in
Xerox Corporation reported serious declines in Q1'19. Can activist Carl Icahn's appointed CEO John Visentin rescue the tailspinning old tech giant given the complication of Fuji's winning appeal over the foiled merger. Pressure mounts for a fire sale.....
MMMomentum in
The mighty 3M today reported slowing sales in most business supply categories in Q1'19. The office sector, once powerful, has fallen behind hygiene, safety and health care category trends that are all slowing down
"Tomorrow's News Today,
not yesterday's news tomorrow."
Etailers escape
Five years ago, we reported that the rapid OP etailer expansion was peaking, as a result of Amazon's aggression and the incidence of high customer churn from its disloyal 'casual dating' model. Progressive resellers exercising a deep customer intimacy model have achieved sustained success as etailers escape the market...
Etailers maul
Seeking Alpha analyst Wolf Richter reports on the rise and rise of ecommerce at the expense of retail stores especially, the mall locations. We discuss and analyse his findings... Later today
Is it all clicking
"Wayfair, the #1 US furniture reseller is a newly minted Fortune 500 entrant. It has two visionary founders, 2,300 data geeks, and skyrocketing sales. Now it just needs to turn a profit" writes contributgor Jeffrey O'Brien. We discuss his article plus its growing delivery service issues weighing on the brand
AMZN v Walmart
Walmart's steady growth trend has attracted praise from financial press. However, its important to get real when comparing progress v #1 Amazon. Godzilla's US sales online are 6X v Walmart from faster webstore experience & delivery service. We compare the key metrics.....Updated
Will Tariffs trump
The huge hike in tariff rate to 25% proposed on Chinese imports will almost certainly be passed on where possible to consumers. However, will businesses resist particularly on paper-related private label products? Updated
Disconnected
Late last century, normal OP dealer motivation was maximising margins and maintaining relationships with stationery buyers. Enter the digital 2000's, Amazon has led the market with personalised service beyond the buyer to Lucy, the typical user chooser, with faster delivery service across a broader business supplies selection. Time to go beyond the buyer! Complete
Will Bain expand
VC Bain Capital an original investor in Staples has invested in the FM/Hygiene supply market in recent years. In 2017, it bought a top hygiene brand Diversey from Sealed Air and last week took a majority stake in Eastern US jansan reseller Imperial Dade. What's the plan? We look at the options to invest further or flip? Complete
Will A l i b a b a
Alibaba, the Chinese based global ecommerce marketplace giant, formed a 'collaborative partnership' with Office Depot last month. What is Alibaba's intent given that it has yet to penetrate the US market successfully? Complete
Fastest delivery
"Traditional retailers "Walmart and Target are a step ahead of Amazon in delivery moving to same-day" according to retail equity analyst John Zolidis. Keep up, Amazon have been delivering same day to the world's major cities progressively since 2014.
Will AMZN's CRaP
Amazon's etail growth rate has slowed dramatically over recent quarters. Meanwhile, it's cutting its 'CRaP' defined products; shifting to imported private label; cutting back on small vendors; and splitting deliveries into multiple drops. We discuss the consequences...Updated
Stanley's Smart
Home Depot's
Printers plunge