Blaisdell's Give
Blaisdell's, the leading office dealer based in Oakland (CA), continued to blaze a trail in Northern California. It acquired Give Something Back in Jan, and we spoke to owners Margee & Mike Witt about integration progress and plans. Coming on Tuesday
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.
"Tomorrow's News Today,
not yesterday's news tomorrow."
Will ODP Federate
Beleaguered Office Depot made its 10th dealer acquisition in May, since its Federation drive started in Oct'17. PP sources understand another batch may join in Q3. Given Depot's fragile market capitalisation, what are wholesalers doing to defend a potential dealer exodus? Updated
Staples stokes up
As indicated at Essendant's CORE event in Feb, Staples has combined purchasing power and demanded substantial cost price reductions from vendors. The big question is what savings will be invested in dealer competitiveness and how much pocketed by vulture capitalist owner Sycamore Partners? We discuss... Updated
Papermakers'
The Big 3 US papermakers' cartel behaviour persists. After the Georgia Pacific mill closure saga induced panic buying ahead of a phantom March price increase, distributors stocked to the rafters. Now with demand sliding are the domestic makers propagating near capacity limits to boost another price increase claim? On Monday inc latest papermakers reports
Dealers' decision
Back in 1994, the OP wholesalers led the stockless dealer drive that fuelled the expansion of single source supplier success. Now with uncertainty surrounding wholesalers' future, its decision making time for dealers. We explore the options available for those who are committed to becoming broadline business suppliers. Updated
Logistics leaders
Q2'19 results season is upon us with consumer & business supplies' brand CEO's expected to report a further slowdown that started in Q3'18. Leading laggards are the logistics giants including FedEx, JBHunt, XPO, CSX & UPS. We preview the trends....Updated
'Paperless' paused
Big businesses have removed or changed their messaging since the inception of pro-paper campaign group Two Sides in 2008. Accused of 'greenwash' those promoting a paperless comms future based on greater speed, efficiency and carbon emission reduction should be regroup and focus on the positives of digital comms.
Will AMZN Prime
The ads are incessant for Prime Day, Amazon’s two-day shopping event for members only, July 15 and 16. Perhaps you even caught the live-streamed Taylor Swift concert that kicked off the festivities. Fast Company's Mark Wilson reckons its a con. We discuss his case....
Fakebook fine a
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has agreed to a $5bn settlement with Facebook over it's deceitful use of private data. e.g. selling info to Microsoft. 'Fakebook' even violated a firewall & budgeted the penalty precisely. Who's Zucking who?
Newell Brands in
The collapse of the Newell house of brands post the disastrous $16Bn Jarden acquisition in 2016 continues. The uncertainty hanging over the heads of executives leading valuable assets is palpable. What's next for brands like Rubbermaid, Papermate/Sharpie, Dymo, Elmers? We discuss.... later today
Can SPOT stop
Vulture capitalist Better Capital owner of SPOT, the mongrel mix of Spicers & Officeteam, has reported 2018 financial results. As expected it continued to bleed losses from mismanagement of a dealer group contract and huge paper price increases. Surely, CEO Jon Moulton (pic left) will terminate its tortuous tenure soon?
What Lucy wants
A c m e United