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12 Aug 20

Updated: 12 Aug 20

Office printing
to rebound??

Quocirca research on
plunging market seems
phony & protectionist

IT decision makers predict office print volumes will bounce back, but recovery may be short-lived as transition to a hybrid workplace gathers pace, according to new Quocirca research that explores the future of the hybrid digital workplace. We analyse and compare with PP research sources that challenge their optimistic findings

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10 Aug 20

Updated: 10 Aug 20

WFH Winners
expose Losers

Personalised productivity
service providers to users
gain local brand identity

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

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10 Aug 20

Updated: 10 Aug 20

Less means more
P r o d u c t i v i t y

Wake up to new Touchless
Paper/Officeless, Spotless
Wasteless business world

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

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29 Jul 20

Updated: 30 Jul 20

Will SPR investors

expand biz supply?

Is narrowline 'holesaler
just a buying group play?

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

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28 Jul 20

Updated: 28 Jul 20

Amazon's single

source savings

Forrester finds 5X ROI
on broadline biz supply

Leading market researcher Forrester studied the economic impact of Amazon's business supply system by engaging with large & experienced C-level corporate executives. We examine the benefits, cost savings, automated processes and breadth of choice. 

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23 Jul 20

Updated: 23 Jul 20

Alibaba ads office
supplies in US mkt 

Who'll deliver to customers
via its unfriendly webstore?

Alibaba $72Bn in sales, primarily serving the China e-marketplace ($1Tn in gross merchanting value), is making its long awaited move in the US office supply market. The clunky webstore is up and running, but brand sources are difficult to identify; and delivery methods opaque. Will Office Depot be 'Faking Care of Business'? 

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23 Jul 20

Updated: 23 Jul 20

Hygiene & safety
supplies > OP mkt

IT, coffee, water, PPE, Pkg,
ergonomics exceed paper

The Covid crisis has punctured the OP market. It has accelerated growth categories in IT, hygiene, safety, refreshments, food care & ergonomics. The health, wellness & environmental care market is making the trad paper related supplies market look redundant; a huge risk to dealers that have not adapted to the new market dynamics. 

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22 Jul 20

Updated: 22 Jul 20

China outsourcing
outstrips tariff toll 

No evidence 'Made in US'
revival in Covid Depression

It’s a moment of reckoning for global supply chains that snake around the globe; crises have just kept coming. First the prolonged US-China trade war, then Covid snarled shipments, stalled international travel and shut factories. But, US government rhetoric has not overcome the uncertainty caused by tariffs and US economic depression 

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16 Jul 20

Updated: 18 Jul 20

Who wants pencils 
especially premium
pvte label pencils?

Old bigbox agency theory
getting tired and weary

Staples in 2019 was the latest bigbox reseller to launch a private label premium office products range, following failed attempts by OfficeMax, leading wholesalers and Staples again, back in the 90's. When will these professional marketers get: it's not about better product, its about better service?

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16 Jul 20

Updated: 16 Jul 20

Vultured resellers
vulnerable as ever 

Take leveraged buyouts w/
$Bn in debt. Add Covid. Stir

Takeovers by vulture capitalists have dropped dramatically, Reseller buyouts in recent years are in distress, as debt and Covid take their toll. In the business supplies market, Staples/Essendant, Depot Europe, Staples Solutions, Spicers, VOW & Veritiv vulture owned resellers are reeling. Who will declare bankruptcy? We review the main suspects. 

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