Sycamore Partnrs:
Beauty or BEAST?

Analysts: Is $1Bn loan hike
a road to ruin e.g.ToysRUs?

Vulture capitalist Sycamore Partners owner of Staples & Essendant recently hiked the former's debt load by $1Bn to $5.2Bn, with estimated interest payments of $400m+ pa or c3%/sales. Many analysts ask: Is this a repeat of the ToysR Us bankruptcy situation; and Sycamore's Nine West demise? We discuss... Complete

Death of Indie
dealers greatly 

exaggerated?

Market trends turn against
impersonal, cold bigboxes

Does size matter? The office market over the past 35yrs has been dominated by bigboxes & Amazon #1 in business supplies, points to a continuation. But emerging trends show the big guys in deep decline & Godzilla grinding. The rise of progressive resellers providing 'personalised productivity services' embracing mobile technology, can & will succeed.. Updated

Private L a b e l
propagandists?

Bigboxes battle brands w/
"users indifferent" rhetoric?

Staples launch of 'Worklife Fulfilment' products is the latest bigbox to push private label following Amazon, Depot's Workonomy; and fated Adveo & old OfficeMax iterations. Meanwhile, core delivery service competence drags. What's the motive? Where's the valid user research? Where's the vendor partnership? Updated

Batten down for
global slowdown

Corp growth decelerates
in US/EU, B2B/B2C mkts

Economic data across advanced global economies have deteriorated since Q3'18, indicating fading growth and the need to prepare for slowing demand reports the Financial Times. Gear your business to help customers save money & time... Provide Managed Productivity Services! Here's how....

The US/Euro

Economies in
S l o w d o w n?

Big opportunity for single
source business suppliers

We forecast a US economic slowdown on 20 Aug'18 based on declining growth rates reported by business supplies' makers from Q2'18 thru' Q4'18 plus, pessimistic CEO 2019 outooks. It's happening! So what should dealers do now? Later today

Will Groups Grope
or Grab Future!?

Post-OP plans: #STRESS, 
AMZN attack & wholesaler
withdrawals focus minds

Last month the EPIC dealer groups decided to explore consolidation plans. The UK's 8 groups need to decide their futures too. This time a market driven agenda is needed not a bygone buying bias. Can groups adapt to the new broadline business supply future? Updated

M P S  i s  d e a d.
Long live M P S!

Make 'Manag'd Productivity
Services' your #1 priority

The Managed Print Services (MPS) evolution started around 2005; it has grown strongly as it cannibalised the transactional printing business. Paper & print demand continues in terminal decline and now the new MPS: providing 'Managed Productivity Services' for customers should be your priority....Updated

Productivity key
to 'Progressives'
growth success

Broadline business supply
from single source wins

We've spoken w/many leading OP dealers in the US/UK recently. Progressives are positive about future growth prospects and driving a personalised  'managed productivity services' agenda. Here are the key ingredients... Updated

Sycamore: Stick
Staples or twist?

Vulture Capitulation? Cash
withdrawals expose sting?

Sycamore Partners, which bought Staples in 2017 for $7Bn, is planning to recapitalize and load the bigbox with $5Bn+ in debt. Is the vulture capitalist planning an IPO, or typically a sell off, and if so to whom? 

'Industry Week'
plan quashed 

Plan B? Go for IDC
'Biz Productivity' show

The Business Supplies Asctn (BSA) plan to rationalise vendors' heavy schedule of 20+pa shows & create an 'Industry Week' has been quashed. Understandably, leading wholesalers & resellers wouldn't cooperate. Great idea, so what's Plan B?  We feel thought be given to a more customer centric 'Business Productivity Show'  for the IDC. We spoke w/BSA presBarry Lane... Updated