'Seller Inflation'
Much admired economist Isabelle Weber came under fire last year from peers for proposing surging inflation caused by Covid could be countered by government price controls. Weber drew on her award-winning research that has now been redeemed in practice
Are limping locals
'Buy Local' campaigns have been promoted by dealer groups for 30 years, largely as defensive plays v bigbox attacks. But, what user benefits do they offer in terms of personalized productivity gains v the increasingly local and faster Amazon army of resellers? We discuss and offer guidance...Updated
Pivot from OP to
The OPocalypse is now! OP represents <10% of the broadline business supplies market mix. yet is still 60%+ of dealers sales; whilst being very weak in growth markets: Hygiene, Safety, Foodservice and Packaging (HySaFoPac). Time to reinvent into a business supplies reseller driving productivity services that consumers want. We provide guidance on how, but will dealers heed the call?... Complete
RTOffice? CEOs
"The Return to Office (RTO) whisperers have a plan" writes NYTimes' Emma Goldberg. "A niche group of consultants is trying to get workers back to the office. It’s not going too well". Top-down edicts from bosses make employees feel disempowered and know they don’t have to accept conditions that don’t suit them. We discuss the article and latest trends in hybrid work productivity...Updated
What Motivates U?
Throughout the past 50yrs the fragmented business supply market may be characterized by different interests between 'consumer benefit' driven brand makers and 'margin-minded' middle men. This general observation has been disrupted by successful progressive, productivity driven distributors like: 90s leaders United, Staples, Viking; and today's WBMason & Amazon... Updated
Brands urged to
Industrial Distribution reported an article by Groove Strategy consultants suggesting "brandmakers are missing an opportunity by not selling directly to users". Groove noted: "many dealer webstores show a vast need for improvement and fail to create a user friendly experience" We discuss....
Can HP hike up
Will CNG broadline
CNG the $9Bn privately owned paper & packaging distributor acquired US#2 OP wholesaler SPR in Jan. Three months on after welcoming new chief Bill Meany (Lindenmeyr Munroe), the big question remains: will it adopt a broadline business supply wholesale strategy? Will it open up growth categories for single source supply 'stockless' dealers? Can it really deliver the "whole package"? Updated
NORMALIZATION!
Proficiency Index follows all international economic trends. The financial market pundits have been recession obsessed since Oct'21; and are still doomsaying in spite of strong performance fuelled by buoyant, more productive consumers. GDP is growing ahead of the pre-Covid norm even as high inflation hiked prices whilst boosting corporate profits. We review latest trends ... Updated
FEMSA's Envoy:
FEMSA the $27Bn Mexican based convenience store & fuel station chain (Oxxo) shocked business supply markets in mid Feb, stating it was "exploring strategic alternatives" over its $2Bn+ Envoy rollup of US hygiene and packaging resellers. We update on the strategic options available (Report 22Feb'23). We fear this will not play out well and see major difficulties ahead...
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