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EVOcative fears
of failure inflame
Narrowline. Bad service levels.
No investment.17yrs of losses
EVO Group the management owned OP distributor (inc.VOW, Banner, Staples, Complete, Exertis) reported 2025 financials 6mos later than usual. After 17yrs of decline: core sales halved, zero profits, poor service levels, little range development; the BIG persistent question is: how long will 'vulture' lenders tolerate poor performance from ceo Andrew Gale's team? Full analysis here, first...
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Graham Cundick,
Viking legend dies...
Top international merchant
Helford #1 brand developer
Really sad and tragic news. Graham Cundick the master merchandizer was Viking legend Irwin Helford's first international executive appointment back in 1990. For 8yrs he led the UK, European & Australian expansion building sales way beyond US revenues. We pay tribute to Graham, along with industry leaders and friends who last met with him for dinner in July...Updated daily
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MillerKnoll: Hybrid
office growth slows
Prices hide -40% volume fall
v'19. Global retail improving
Miller Knoll the recently relegated #2 US furnituremaker, maintained its focus on hybrid offices, but with limited success. Can interim CEO Jeff Stutz be more transparent than his predecessor? He said "We delivered strong earnings, above expectations, reflecting solid execution" Really profits were down, yet GP was +3.2%/points from price hikes? Full report analysis here, first
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Böttcher blocks
expansion plans
Huge U-turn for self styled,
fast growth proclaimer
German €1Bn sales business supplier Böttcher has abandoned plans to expand into the Austrian market, saying the cost and regulatory burden no longer makes sense. Udo Böttcher ceo/founder, said "Another market can bring compliance costs before additional sales generate a return". Very strange admission? Full story here, first...
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BOSS/Gfk study
beyond parody?
OP Industry needs growth
support not graveyard data
The BOSS/Gfk Panelmarket report is out tracking product categories in the Office & Stationery sector. This micromarket data appears to completely ignore that the macro market is down over -50% since 2019. 'Fiddling while the home burns' is an obvious observation? What members want is more market analysis of the huge opportunities in broadline business supply. Full story here, first...updated
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ExaClaire explains
continued decline
Paper and Stationery maker
reports parallel market drop
Exacompta Clairefontaine the French based paper and stationery maker reported disappointing H1'26 results. Secular market decline and poor 'back to school' demand exacerbated its future survival. Can Francois Nusse turn around the -20% decline since 2020? Full story here, first...
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Staples: Makes
choices HARD?
New campaign obsolete
v AMZN one source era
40yrs after opening its first store, Staples marks its anniversary with a new promot campaign. It's built around "the idea businesses have a choice on how work gets done: Hard way v Easy way". Too late given Staples' slow half-service reputation? Full analysis here, first...
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BIC: B a l o n e y
Infused Claptrap?
Plan: "Penetrate, simplify &
adapt locally to fuel growth"
BIC outlined its strategic roadmap to 2030 with an ambition to reignite growth via value creation. 'BIC to the Future' relies on a more focused portfolio across four major categories, stronger market execution and brand investments. CEO Rob Versloot said "We want to make BIC top of mind across markets". Good luck given stationery's -40% demand demise and lost consumer interest. Full story here, first...
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Suzano suffer price
+ volume pressure
Pulp & Paper volumes down.
Higher pulp prices soften hit
Suzano the Brazilian based pulp and paper producer, reported recovering sales volume and huge pulp price increases CEO Beto Abreu commented on falling demand trends and lower pricing pressures. Full results analysis here, first...
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Essendant WARN
Act escape exposed
Vulture Sycamore's crude try
to rob redundant employees
Vulture Voracity exposed again! When Sycamore decided to shutter its Essendant OP wholesale business last summer, Proficiency Post reported its awful non-communications with employees, suppliers and customers. On 3 Aug'26 it confirmed its closure stating it would pay 60 days WARN Act severance to 15Oct for 400 employees. Today, it announced closure 1Sep, plus an illegal 30 days cut decision. The protest starts here, first....updated
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