Jet Boosted
We met with Julian De Salay owner of JB Office the Chatsworth (CA) based office supplier at EPIC & Essendant's CORE events. We discussed his successful formula for rapid growth recognised by Inc. magazine and plans for the future in a highly competive market.... Updated
Rise & Rise of the
MPS is dying! Long live "Managed Technology Services' providers that drive productivity improvement for customers. We profile the Top 7 independent resellers that are leading the US market and making regional acquisitions to fuel expansion... Complete
Meituan's modern
Bloomberg Businessweek's front cover splashes 'The Greatest Delivery Empire on Earth' referring to China's leading food & supplies delivery service, Meituan. We analyse the story and compare w/US & UK equivalents
ServiceNow stars
Leading digital workflow productivity provider to the enterprise market ServiceNow recently reported stellar results. We discuss with CEO John Donahoe his "make work better for people" mantra & report on Compass case study
"Don't ignore
Steve Haworth CEO of EVO Business Supplies, the VOW wholesaler, & Banner contract stationer duo, last year separated operations. Last week, we discussed with him progress, new developments & VC owner Endless' investment plans. Complete
#STRESS Test!
Last Thursday, we spoke w/Staples CEO Sandy Douglas & Essendant president Harry Dochelli to discuss the #STRESS strategy. Will the vulture Sycamore owned $15Bn combo provide the 'growth' support dealers need to counter attack v godzilla Amazon? Updated again
Mills Office
Canada's most progressive business supply reseller Mills Office Productivity (Vancouver) is celebrating its 70th year. Sales have doubled since 2013 through organic and acquisitive growth. We talk with owners Brad & Blair Mills about their remarkable progress and future plans...
Commercial's Eco
Leading UK business services provider Commercial's MD Simone Hindmarch describes the company's sustainable ethos and how customers are now leading the environmental conversation
Mighty M/Soft's
Forbes' Alex Konrad interviewed CEO Satya Nadella on "How Microsoft got its groove back". He has transformed the software giant into a cloud, business enterprise software, unified comms & laptop leader.
Is Imperial hubris
Imperial Dade Group, a leading US Jansan & Food Service provider has rolled up 17 acquisitions in recent years to approach $2Bn in sales. Now its slip is starting to show with no integration plans evident, how long will PE backers prolong investment?
Progressive
At EPIC Event & Expo for ISG/TriMega members we were struck by the buoyant mood despite the perfect storm of the Amazon attack, wholesalers' withdrawal, STRESS disruption & the OPocalypse. We interviewed 3 progressives on future prospects....Later today
The Wayfair Way
Is Boston’s Wayfair the next Amazon in its specialty space?The home & office furniture etailer harnesses customer metrics to personalise a broadline service that has produced explosive sales growth forecast to reah $6.6Bn in 2018. We speak with CMO Ed Macri
Bigbox electronics retailer, Best Buy was dying, but now its bouncing back. It's not just selling electronics. It's providing “personalised technology services' to consumers at home and in business....
Anglo advances
Gary Naphtali has been a progressive name in the UK OP market for 30 years. In 2016 he led a management buy out of Anglo Office. After losing some large contracts, he's powering back pursuing his single source 'managed productivity services' vision. We met with him on Tuesday.... later today
Office O r a c l e
Last Wednesday, we visited the progressive business services reseller Office Oracle in Charlton, SE London. Its positive spirit and energy was infectious, a typical throwback to the glory days of Copygraphic, Dudley & Cartwright Brice. We met with dynamic duo Matt Phaure & James Hawkins ...
Fellowes' Family
John Fellowes is the 4th generation leader of Fellowes Brands founded by Harry back in 1917. Originally the Bankers Box storage company and now reinvented via organisation, shredding, purifiers and now ergonomic furniture into a modern day productivity powerhouse ...Complete
"Tomorrow's News Today,
not yesterday's news tomorrow."
Etailers escape
Five years ago, we reported that the rapid OP etailer expansion was peaking, as a result of Amazon's aggression and the incidence of high customer churn from its disloyal 'casual dating' model. Progressive resellers exercising a deep customer intimacy model have achieved sustained success as etailers escape the market...
Etailers maul
Seeking Alpha analyst Wolf Richter reports on the rise and rise of ecommerce at the expense of retail stores especially, the mall locations. We discuss and analyse his findings... Later today
Is it all clicking
"Wayfair, the #1 US furniture reseller is a newly minted Fortune 500 entrant. It has two visionary founders, 2,300 data geeks, and skyrocketing sales. Now it just needs to turn a profit" writes contributgor Jeffrey O'Brien. We discuss his article plus its growing delivery service issues weighing on the brand
AMZN v Walmart
Walmart's steady growth trend has attracted praise from financial press. However, its important to get real when comparing progress v #1 Amazon. Godzilla's US sales online are 6X v Walmart from faster webstore experience & delivery service. We compare the key metrics.....Updated
Will Tariffs trump
The huge hike in tariff rate to 25% proposed on Chinese imports will almost certainly be passed on where possible to consumers. However, will businesses resist particularly on paper-related private label products? Updated
Disconnected
Late last century, normal OP dealer motivation was maximising margins and maintaining relationships with stationery buyers. Enter the digital 2000's, Amazon has led the market with personalised service beyond the buyer to Lucy, the typical user chooser, with faster delivery service across a broader business supplies selection. Time to go beyond the buyer! Complete
Will Bain expand
VC Bain Capital an original investor in Staples has invested in the FM/Hygiene supply market in recent years. In 2017, it bought a top hygiene brand Diversey from Sealed Air and last week took a majority stake in Eastern US jansan reseller Imperial Dade. What's the plan? We look at the options to invest further or flip? Complete
Will A l i b a b a
Alibaba, the Chinese based global ecommerce marketplace giant, formed a 'collaborative partnership' with Office Depot last month. What is Alibaba's intent given that it has yet to penetrate the US market successfully? Complete
Fastest delivery
"Traditional retailers "Walmart and Target are a step ahead of Amazon in delivery moving to same-day" according to retail equity analyst John Zolidis. Keep up, Amazon have been delivering same day to the world's major cities progressively since 2014.
Will AMZN's CRaP
Amazon's etail growth rate has slowed dramatically over recent quarters. Meanwhile, it's cutting its 'CRaP' defined products; shifting to imported private label; cutting back on small vendors; and splitting deliveries into multiple drops. We discuss the consequences...Updated
Stanley's Smart
Home Depot's
Printers plunge