WFH Winners
Amazon's amazing 40% growth to reach $10Bn in business supplies during the Covid quarter exposed the huge deficiencies in service levels from traditional OP dealers. Amazon became the default 'first call' supplier for 'Everything WFH supplies'. In spite of its dominance, many responsive progressive dealers pivoted powerfully to the new immediate market standards. We highlight the winners....Updated
Less means more
There's no doubt after 5mos of Covid lockdown & 'WFH' that future trends have been brought forward. Consider the acceleration in technology use by all ages: MCommerce, less commuting, Zoom meetings & conferences; hygiene, safety, health & wellness awareness; protective packaging. Moreover the shift towards a greener more sustainable world. We discuss the trends. Updated
Print/papermakers
Most leading OP, Paper & Print makers reported severe sales declines in Q2'20. Printer Paper demand is down 60%+ since 2008; another -30% in Q2;the shift to hygiene and packaging is huge. We analyse Q2 results. Updated today for Domtar
Deceitful Depot
Newly named ODP Corporation (ex-Office Depot-OfficeMax), sank at a deepening rate in Q2'20. OP core sales were crushed with hygiene essentials in retail & online softening the decline. We analyse CEO Gerry 'Smudger' Smith's hollow & misleading commentary and update on the 'white knight' life saver.
Will SPR investors
After many failed attempts Genuine Parts finally sold SPRichards to an Investor Group led by TSR's enterprising chief Yancey Jones (pic left). What's the plan? Will it continue a buying group bias or invest in broadline business supply to compete with Amazon? We review
Genuine parts with
Genuine Parts Company (GPC) the $19Bn parent of NAPA, Motion andnow sold SPRichards, reported a steady performance in the Covid hit Q2'20. CEO Paul Donahue made little comment on the disposal of the SPR business.
Shopify soars
Shopify the specialist MCommerce platform for business supply entrepreneurs grew rapidly in Q2'20 to 1Million independent partners. It has reinforced marketing prowess with distribution services; can it match Amazon's delivery execution?
Will SPR investors
After many failed attempts Genuine Parts finally sold SPRichards to an Investor Group led by TSR's enterprising chief Yancey Jones (pic left). What's the plan? Will it continue a buying group bias or invest in broadline business supply to compete with Amazon? We review
Acco: slip, slides
Acco Brands, ex-OP brand leader, continued to report a steep sales decline in Q2'20. The complacent CEO Boris Ellison has failed to adapt to the broader business supply market opportunities and continues to double down in the extinct OP segment?
Poly plummets
Poly (ex-Plantronics), former leader in audio & video comms for business, reported disastrous sales in Q1'21 including the extravagant, failed Polycom merger. The new interim chief, has written off substantial goodwill on the deal and now presides over a sinking ship
PCA: Paper crash!
US #3 packaging maker Packaging Corporation (PCA inc. Boise Paper) reported collapsing Covid hit Q2'20 financial results. Packaging sales were resilient whilst paper volumes plunged by half
L y s o l lifts
Reckitt Benckiser, the £15Bn UK based international consumer hygiene & health products giant, reported powerful results spiked by Covid induced demand for sanitisers and cleaning supplies
Slimmer Systemax
Systemax, the newly focused industrial supply reseller, withdrew from the IT business, with the sale of its French business, to focus on US w/Global Industrial Supply. Sales were down only slightly supported by strong PPE sales
Starbux burned
Starbucks, the international personalised coffee services giant, reported Q3'20 results which as expected were dire during the 3 month China & US market lockdowns. CEO Kevin Johnson opened up China w/US progressively opening via mobile & drive thrus
Kodak's medical
At the direction of President Trump, the US International Development Finance Corporation signed a letter of intent to lend Kodak $765m to commence a Pharma operation to make the controversial & unproven hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) drug.
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