Hybrid work is
Is the 'Greenwash'
There's been much PR and social media postings by makers and distributors promoting their sustainability credentials. How much is genuine and how much is sham posturing aka 'greenwash'? Certainly there are doubts about printer paper claims given the toxic journey between makers, distributors, users, mailing and recycling. We explore....Updated
Depot distraction
Beleaguered bigbox ODP Corp (aka-Depot-Max) has leaked that more acquisitions under its faux 'Federation' distraction platform can be expected. With many dealers under pressure post-Govt Covid relief, could major Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas' resellers be in play? We discuss ceo Gerry 'Bizarro' Smith's latest attempt to distract attention away from its dire demise...
S t o c k l e s s
Is the end nigh for stockless dealers? Back in the 2019 'normal' days, dealers were struggling with a slowing economy. Then, Covid crashed the corp office market. Then, Government relief ran out last year. Now consolidation is happening? Moreover, wholesalers raised prices above inflation squeezing dealers competitiveness? The BIG question is how will transactional dealers survive? Should we expect larger progressives to lead an acquisition wave in the business supply market? We investigate latest market views. Later today ...
Are limping locals
'Buy Local' campaigns have been promoted by dealer groups for 30 years, largely as defensive plays v bigbox attacks. But, what user benefits do they offer in terms of personalized productivity gains v the increasingly local and faster Amazon army of resellers? We discuss and offer guidance...Updated
Activism beats
Apart from a minority of progressive resellers, most OP dealers behave complacently towards the increasing certainty of the 'paperless office'. Who should be driving the new agenda in their broad interest? Dealer groups? Wholesalers? We express a view... Updated
Samsung sack
Samsung Electronics confirmed that its mobile chief and another co-CEO would step back from day-to-day operations, as the tech giant looks to new leadership to revive its once-booming smartphone business.
Northeast Knoll
Office Resources, #3 contract furniture dealer in Boston has acquired fellow Knoll dealer Offices Limited, based in New York City. We spoke with principal Kevin Barbary
Single source
The single source dominance of Staples/Depot in the corporate market threatens to thwart its merger. Nevertheless, the fragmented SMB market (10-1000 employees) is following its lead into single source suppliers e.g. Amazon & WBMason. Updated
Amazon demos
Amazon on Sunday showed off a new drone prototype for its planned 30-minute unmanned delivery service.
Amazon's Super
Black Thursday/Friday shopping online rose 26% with 40% via mobile. Amazon dominated again with sales up over 30%, according to IBM's final report.
#SPLODGE
The #SPLODGE merger is highly unlikely to gain FTC approval next week, without selling its Depot contract division, for example. Who can buy: Amazon, Grainger or perhaps SPRichards? Here's why...
Grainger moves
Grainger, the $10Bn leading industrial/MRO supplier, hosted its annual investment analysts' day updating on its future plans...
S t a r W a r s
With less than 3 weeks to the new Star Wars movie (18 Dec), many brands are jumping on the bandwagon, so evident at Big Buyer in Bologna. We review the logic of these 'brand partnerships'.
Hallucinating
HP CEO Meg Whitman, a favourite CNBC contributor, gets a pass from critics, apparently because of her charm offensive. Why can't these intelligent analysts see through her strategy-free, empty rhetoric?
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not yesterday's news tomorrow."
