Fakebook fails
"Facebook loves to pass the buck" writes NYTimes' Kara Swisher. "Most of us fear that it will continue to take a hands-off approach to policing its platform. And that’s exactly what it plans to do".
R e t a i l
The financial media e.g. CNBC, WSJ, FT has been rhetorical in promoting the 'strong consumer' during 2019, almost to the point of denial of the economic slowdown. Now facts are being reported from leading 'WATCH' retailers that confirm sales growth has stalled, hit by tariffs and economic uncertainty. We preview and analyse Q4'19 results. Updated
Business users
Even as more B2B transactions close digitally, many buyers say the experience of interacting with a sales rep is superior to gathering pre-purchase information on their own, Caroline Robertson of Forrester Research writes.
The Rise & Rise
'It's happening in a big way': Top execs at ThredUp, Rebag, Rent the Runway & Urban Outfitters discussed the circular economy during NRF's Big Show. Will 'ReCommerce' catch on in the business supply market & where? Already PC maker HP's DaaS has reported strong demand. What's next?
HP's hopeless
The absurd $33Bn bid by Xerox driven by Chainsaw Carl Icahn for the 6X larger HP Inc. should not be happening, HP's board is behaving like an underdog talking about an unconvincing "undervaluation" rather than dismissing the dinosaur copier giant, or more positively counterbidding and taking over Xerox's better equipped direct salesforce
Sonos sounds off
Speaker maker Sonos, the heart of the Amazon's Echo and Google Home voice assistants is suing the giants for abuse of power, report NY Times' Jack Nicas & Daisuke Wakabayashi. This is just another example of Godzillas' chainsawing of partner trust in the interests of market dominance. We discuss
Uni-Commerce's
A 'Unified Commerce' environment is where customers can experience a brand in its entirety; and marketers get a 360view of the customer. Resellers must not only offer personalisation online and offline, but in the space in between research and buying says Kibo's Meyar Sheik.
OP d e a l e r s'
The slowing US economy; the secular decline in paper-related office supplies; and the tardy transition to the buoyant business supply has put severe pressure on regional family OP dealers. Slowing demand and Staples & Depot's acquisition drive fuels uncertainty: sell or invest? We review the future options for the Top 75 dealers in the US and UK. Updated
Old Pointless
OPI/Martin Wilde Associates is launching its 'State of the OP Industry' report. What's there to know? It's dying and unless participants compete by reinventing themselves to provide users with personalised productivity services in the broadline business supply world they can wave goodbye....
FedEx: fatefully
FedEx CEO Fred 'Smug' Smith just reported bare bones Q2'20 results. As expected it suffered serious declines in sales & profits, inspite of big price increases. Smug continued his arrogance towards the media and is losing out to Amazon, USPS & UPS with an outdated, inferior service model
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