Bouncebackability
Reports are all in for Business Supply players in Q4'22. Predictably they show inflated profits but weak sales recovery v pre-Covid 'norm' Q4'19. Proficiency Index reports the Leaderboard of makers, wholesalers & dealers' 'Bouncebackability' performance. It covers 100 leading paper & printer makers, hygiene, foodservice and packaging suppliers, OP/furnituremakers and retailers Updated
Healthy Hygiene
Hygiene is now #1 business supply category alongside technology. Progressive business suppliers: brandmakers, dealers have pivoted into hygiene, safety, foodservice & packaging, WFH-tech & wellness services. Proficiency Index Q4'22 analysis is almost complete with brand volumes slowing, boosted by double-digit price hikes. Updated for KPTissue, Sappi & Suzano. Diversey delayed to 22Mar
Top 50 Women
Marketing to businesses by brandmakers & resellers was traditionally dominated by men. As we celebrate International Women's Day, Proficiency Index recognises the most successful women leaders. This is 16th edition of 'Top 50 Women in Business Supply', the market's real growth achievers, including new entrants from progressive independent dealers.
Office Mkt Legends
It's 10yrs since the top OP mega-independent dealer champs Lyreco's Eric Bigeard and WBMason's Leo Meehan met with Staples CEO Ron Sargent in Boston. We reflected on past glories, Covid, digital transformation and looked forward to a 'hybrid office productivity' future..Updated
Hybrid work future
The contrast in opinions over the 'hybrid work future' & the 'return to work', is stark. New thinking is positive about the huge rise in entrepreneurial productivity. Old thinking believes a return to corporate office control is inevitable. Are corporations underestimating the hollowing out of office space; the time waste and the need to trust workers' motives? Updated
Alibaba apes
China's economic growth is still running at an impressive 7% clip. Even more impressive is giant etailer Alibaba growing at 32% with purchases via mobile 62%. Inside story here:
#SPLODGE: Will
The odds of Staples gaining FTC clearance for its $6.3Bn purchase of rival Office Depot have improved according to a confidential report. It's case seems tenuous...
Amazon Prime's
Prime customers, estimated at 50 million as of Sept. 30, spend twice as much with Amazon as non-subscribers with 3rd party resellers now 60%+ of sales
Reinvent your
Interesting lead article in the Economist this week entitled 'Reinvent the company' inspired no doubt, by the new freelance 'on-demand' economy disrupting traditional taxi, hotel & business supply markets e.g. Uber, AirBnB & Amazon. Time to react is now!
Sealed A i r
Sealed Air Corporation, the the $7Bn maker of packaging for food and FM products today announced solid financial results for Q3'15 in spite of strong currency headwinds
U P M under
UPM Kymmene, the world’s #3 papermaker reported declining paper sales but strong biorefining revenues in Q3'15 ended 30Sep'15
Lexmark losing
Lexmark International, returned to its declining trend in Q3'15 which now looks like a terminal tailspin and/or fire sale
Smuckers on
Smuckers owners of leading food and beverage brands e.g. Folger's coffee is on the acquisition trail again...
StoraEnso paperStora Enso reported weak sales but flat profits in Q2'15. CEO K-H Sundstrom described transformation plans to cut paper capacity and investment in new growth opportunities...
Best Buy's
Under Best Buy CEO Hubert Joly and his largely female leadership team, the struggling electronics giant has recovered. Now it’s betting on improved customer service to restore the Brad Anderson's vision
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