The Paperless,
The global Covid lockdown will likely reignite trends that emerged over the past 20 years. The printer 'paperless' plunge; 'officeless' orientation; and now the 'touchless' trend towards higher hygiene & safety. Moreover, a resurgence in sustainability practices to cut carbon emissions; and ironically, greater human touch. We analyse these movements Updated
Glocalisation Up!
In 1994, John Naisbitt wrote the Global Paradox book, that successfully predicted the growth of independent businesses. #Glocalisation paralleled that prediction where products/services were created for global consumption and personalised to suit local culture. This trend is rising thru Covid. We discuss the many successful brand case studies.
Print/papermakers
Most leading OP, Paper & Print makers have reported severe sales declines in Q1'20 to date. Printer Paper demand is down 60%+ since 2008; the exodus to hygiene and packaging is huge. We analyse the market and update on a daily basis. Updated for Konica Minolta today
The Office is Dead!
"Farewell, office. You were the last boundary between work and home" writes NYTimes columnist Jennifer Senior. "The office shaped identities in ways workers never knew". Yes, the 'Officeless' trend started 10yrs ago, but the power of physical community & teamwork contact should not be underestimated...Updated
High order values.
A primary focus for OP dealers has been lowering buying price to achieve GP% improvement. Progressive dealers in broadline business supply have achieved greater success by 2X order values & lowering cost to serve. We highlight examples... Updated
Costco comps
Leading international reseller Costco Wholesale experienced a demand surge when the Covid crisis broke in February with a double digit growth surge in March. Sales returned to their normal strong pace in April with a number of in store promotions set to resume
D e l l delivered,
Dell Technologies reported declines in core servers and storage categories in Q1'21, but a return to profitability. VMWare continues to be the consistent high growth performer, responding to coporates need for WFH IT networking and security
Unjust UPS ups
United Parcel Service (UPS) is adding “peak” surcharges for customers inundating its delivery network with packages & oversize items during Covid. This unprecedented move to recover a flood of shipments & higher costs seems dumb. Watch fading FedEx copy & crash, playing into the hands of #1 ecommerce delivery service Amazon.
How WBMason
US #1 independent business supplier W.B. Mason "didn’t do home deliveries until Covid forced its hand" reports WSJ's Drew Fitzgerald. CEO Leo Meehan: "We found something we like". We review the interview & comment on how WB's same day, personalised delivery will beat Amazon & Staples in its growing marketplaces.
TechData tanks
Tech Data, the $37Bn in sales global #2 tech wholesaler reported disappointing results for Q1'21. The former growth leader in 2018/19 has reversed course and losing share to regional rivals in US & Europe. Now in the hands of vulture capitalists. What's next?
Poly plummets
Poly (ex-Plantronics), ex-leader in audio & video coms for business, reported disastrous sales in Q4'20 including huge losses from the extravagant, failed Polycom merger. Complacent CEO Joe Burton has departed to be replaced by an interim chief, who has written off substantial goodwill on the deal
HP inks Heavier
Old tech giant, HP Inc's printer sales continued to plunge at a rapid rate in Q2'20. Management is in complacent denial after another weak performance. Will long serving CEO Enrique Lores be able to reinvent the fading force given the distraction of the postponed Xerox merger?
Amazon leads in
As Amazon accelerated its 20%+ annual growth in products delivery to $160Bn in 2019, it largely used USPS, UPS and FedEx for delivery. It's same day delivery ambitions overstretched the leaders causing Amazon to drop fossilized FedEx and drive its own fleet plans. In just a few years it now leads the ecommerce logistics world
Konica contracts
Konica Minolta the $10Bn Japanese MPS/printer group published declining Q4'20 results today. Will it accelerate Its acquisition drive to compete with Xerox/HP's moves for the few large MPS providers remaining?
Steelcase steels
Leading premium furnituremaker Steelcase announced the return of most of its workforce from layoffs as government restrictions related to Covid began to ease. Sales and order flow were hit hard across the world
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