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29 Jan 23

Updated: 30 Jan 23

The $100Bn Battle
in Business Supply
market. Who wins?

VCs: Advent; Pvte: CNG;
Public: FEMSA; or AMZN?

The Broadline Business Supply market is hot with growth activity as the #OPocalypse occurs. The new '$100Bn Battle' no longer includes dinosaur bigboxes Staples & Depot. It involves real 'venture' capitalists eg. Advent; public giants e.g. FEMSA & Grainger; and encouragingly major private forces e.g. CNG, Lyreco, WBMason & Raja. Who wins v Amazon? We analyse and compare leaders' growth plans. Complete

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27 Jan 23

Updated: 30 Jan 23

Chatlines cheat on
customer service!

Handle calls personally,
not with cold, phony robots

Major resellers are fond of multi-$M marketing campaigns promising 'personal customer service'. In reality, their everyday customer experience is cold, impersonal and exasperating. We discuss the main culprits using robotic chatlines, outside and inside the business supply market... Monday

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26 Jan 23

Updated: 29 Jan 23

WallSt's 'Recession'
obsession outlook?

NORMALIZATION stupid?
Consumer, jobs, profits OK

Wall Street doomsayers have been 'recession obsessed' since Jan'22, particularly by CNBC's pundits. What do leading economist, bank and industrial commentators think? Leading Bank of America remains optimistic, reporting strong consumer spend higher than pre Covid 'normal' 2019; lowering inflation and strong corp profits. We analyse the WSt 'Wolf cry' forecasts v MainSt reality... Updated

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24 Jan 23

Updated: 24 Jan 23

Furnituremakers'
hybrid office plans?

MillerKnoll, Steelcase, HNI,
Haworth future prospects?

The office is going through a megashift. It's changed from a static corporate officespace to a mobile and productive 'hybrid anywhere office'. While Steelcase is still the most admired furnituremaker, it has focused on cost-cutting, diversifying into education and D2C. How will it compete with more agile, user focused rivals eg Miller Knoll, Haworth, HON/AllSteel?

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22 Jan 23

Updated: 22 Jan 23

Does EVO know
how to Complete?

Can Endless loser's hybrid
reseller survive new mkt?

The demise of UK's #2 OP reseller Complete Business Solutions reminded many of the ruinous ragbag rollup of Garner Bennett 20yrs ago. The common fault line: 'No integration of systems or focus on organic growth'. Now it's been saved by major creditor EVO Group (ceo Andrew Gale, pic left), how will subsidiary Banner manage the many parts, given its losing record in the growing business supply market? Complete 

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21 Jan 23

Updated: 22 Jan 23

Will CNG broaden
biz supply range?

Will narrowline SPR acq'n
open one source strategy?

Central National Gottesman (CNG), the $9Bn privately owned (Wallach family, Andrew and Kenneth, pic left) paper and packaging distributor acquired US#2 OP wholesaler SPR on 11Jan. The big question, apart from distribution system synergies: will it adopt a broadline business supply wholesale strategy, absent this century; and open up opportunities for single source supply 'stockless' dealers? We discuss...Complete

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18 Jan 23

Updated: 19 Jan 23

VC Vora mounting
ODP takeover bid?

Mkt cap +45% since Oct
despite desperate decline

On 28 Dec'22 VC HG Vora Capital took an 11% stake in ODP Corp aka Office Depot plus a board seat. This recalls similar moves by activist Starboard back in 2015 when it pushed for a merger with Staples. Will Vora pursue a full takeover; acquisition of Staples from Sycamore; or, at least a leadership shake up, firing incompetent ceo Gerry 'Bizarro' Smith? We analyse moves...

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17 Jan 23

Updated: 18 Jan 23

B2B pundits miss
B2U megatrends

Highlands experts: 'trends
impacting channel' alert!

"The experts at Highlands outline 4 key trends impacting the B2B distribution channel to keep an eye on" posted partner Gordon Christiansen. We review their reasonable predications, but feel they've missed 'the elephant in the room': the diminished power of B2B buyers; the megatrends toward D2C, B2U marketing; and the massive AMAZONIFICATION impact!

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17 Jan 23

Updated: 18 Jan 23

OPI: Obsolete.

Pointless. Insular

New era, Old perspective
Useless impractical stuff

The OPI prospectus for its 2023 State of the Industry (SoTi) report describes the challenges under an odd 'Emerging from Turmoil' title. Where's it been for the past 10yrs, when questions raised, have been answered by progressive makers, distributors, dealers and Amazon the #1 broadline business supply wholesaler? All reported regularly in Proficiency Post & Megatrends 2023? We critique...

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17 Jan 23

Updated: 17 Jan 23

'Workplace' term
soo Woebegone

Mob/hybrid AZUREs drive
paperless-anywhere office

The digital age driven by Apple, Google & Amazon exploded from 2007, sparked a new entrepreneurial revolution where smart mobiles enabled 'paperless, anywhere offices'. Welcome to the new Age of AZUREs (A-Z, Ubiquitous, Resourceful, Entrepreneurs). How will dealers service their needs?  First, listen, then offer a personalised productivity service to suit...

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