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
Mobilegeddon
Webstores that aren’t mobile-friendly are seeing up to a 10% dip in organic traffic, according to the new Adobe Digital Index.
SPR: growth
Genuine Parts Company (GPC) parent of SPRichards and Motion Industries today reported flat sales and profits growth for Q2'15 to 30 Jun'15. SPR was boosted by OfficeMax OP contract gains...
Jumped Jet
Despite steep losses and looming competition with Amazon, etailer Jet.com is in talks for capital infusion that could value it at $3 billion
AMZNIFICATION
The ultimate disruptor Amazon celebrated its 20th Anniversary on Wednesday with a blow out Prime Day sale. Most damaged resellers are in denial e.g. Grainger; dismissing them as unprofitable. Don't underestimate Robin Hood...
The productivity
Google chief economist Hal Varian says sluggish US/UK productivity doesn’t reflect a high-tech wave of innovations that save people time and money. We agree and discuss why...later today
Otto offload
Printus, the #2 German business supplier confirmed the long rumoured purchase of embattled Otto Office.
Uber overtakes
UPS/FedEx and taxis are losing business delivery and travelers to ride-hailing services like Uber, a survey by Certify shows.
BTS'15 spend
National Retail Federation amd International Council of Shopping Centres have published pessimistic reports on the 2015 Back to School season. Why in such a strong economy?
Knoll knocked
Knoll, the leading office furnituremaker, announced slower growth results, but higher profits for Q2'15.
Grainger grinds
WW Grainger, the $10Bn in sales, leading North American broadline supplier of FM, maintenance and business supplies today announced slow Q2'15 financial results.
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