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
GoPro drives
With a lion’s share of the video camera market locked up, GoPro is turning to its next chapter: Virtual reality and drones. Re/Code's Kara Swisher interviews Nick Woodman
Staples funds
Since launching in February, Staples online financing service with Lendio has processed $1.5m in loans for dozens of small businesses...
T e c h D a t a
Tech Data, the global #2 wholesaler of tech products with $26Bn in sales, reported flat Q1'16 results again to 30 Apr'15. Excuses about selecting only profitable business were less than convincing...
EMC's Cloud
TechData takes
Costco captures
Costco Wholesale reported impressive market gains in its Q3'15 ended 10 May'15 results today. Growth is consistently strong for the $100Bn broadline business supplies reseller
Depot sitting
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission confirmed Office Depot has agreed to pay $3.4m in penalties over knowingly failing to report defects in office chairs. These problems were first exposed by PP in 2012 and again in 2014.
Everything
"In the new on-demand economy you can get whatever you want whenever you want it, except, perhaps, a full-time job with health care coverage," Mary Meeker told #CodeCon delegates
SPLODGE: Union
The American Posts Workers Union (APWU) has urged the FTC to block the proposed $6.3 billion Staples takeover of Office Depot. Whilst its stance is understandable, the merger will work in consumers' interest
C r u m b l i n g
Crystal Rock, the US Northeast water and OP dealer, announced another serious decline in financial results Q4'15 ended 30 Sep'15. The CEO is living in cloud cuckooland with his platitudinous commentary
"Tomorrow's News Today,
not yesterday's news tomorrow."
