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  • hybrid office zoom mtg 22Furniture mkt on
    high hybrid alert!

    Corp office recovery softer.
    Strong WFH demand slows


    Furniture Market Review Q4'22-23: Covid crushed the corporate furniture market. Leading makers still report -30% demand declines compared with the 2019 norm. During Covid, WFH suppliers like Amazon, Wayfair, DWR (MillerKnoll) exploded with record revenues, now normalizing. We review leaders disappointing results and the new hybrid work developments accelerating the wellness & ergonomics movement e.g. Fellowes. Updated for Steelcase/MillerKnoll

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  • Emperor no clothes 23Old OP Emperors

    have no clothes!

    Trad product sellers outed
    by productivity srvcs shift


    There's been much recession talk recently: macro economic headwinds, high inflation, depressing optimism. How much is real given the huge prices boost on lower volumes? Whilst ex-leaders eg. Acco, HP, Newell, 3M & VOW decline despite complacent commentary, progressive players reinvented to meet the 'personalized productivity service' needs of users. We highlight losers and the big winners..Complete

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  • resilient leaders 23Bouncebackability
    Index Leaderboard

    Q4'22 analysis highlights
    resilient Winners v Losers


    Reports are all in for Business Supply players in Q4'22. Predictably they show inflated profits but weak sales recovery v pre-Covid 'norm' Q4'19. Proficiency Index reports the Leaderboard of makers, wholesalers & dealers' 'Bouncebackability' performance. It covers 100 leading paper & printer makers, hygiene, foodservice and packaging suppliers, OP/furnituremakers and retailers Updated

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  • Screen Shot 2022 12 09 at 2.14.03 PMHealthy Hygiene
    market normalizes

    Who won/lost market share?
    Price inflation average +12%


    Hygiene is now #1 business supply category alongside technology. Progressive business suppliers: brandmakers, dealers have pivoted into hygiene, safety, foodservice & packaging, WFH-tech & wellness services. Proficiency Index Q4'22 analysis is almost complete with brand volumes slowing, boosted by double-digit price hikes. Updated for KPTissue, Sappi & Suzano. Diversey delayed to 22Mar

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  • women marketeers top 9 jul16Top 50 Women
    Marketers 2023

    Leaders in creativity, sales,
    brand growth performance


    Marketing to businesses by brandmakers & resellers was traditionally dominated by men. As we celebrate International Women's Day, Proficiency Index recognises the most successful women leaders. This is 16th edition of 'Top 50 Women in Business Supply', the market's real growth achievers, including new entrants from progressive independent dealers.

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10 Mar 23
Updated: 12 Mar 23
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commodity cliffGerman staty mkt
forecasts deluded?

Understated demand drop
Overstated growth to 2030


A new report by Marketmedia24 forecasts German stationery market growth up to 2030? Unbelievable? The European office supply market volume was down -50% from pre Covid 2019 norms in 2020; and still down -20 to 25% in 2022. Given the inefficiency of paper based communications and the digital transformation that accelerated through Covid, how can it forecast anything other than massive decline?

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10 Mar 23
Updated: 13 Mar 23
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cooper dan novatechNovatech nooses
more MPS prey 

Managed print industry
consolidation continues


Leading US managed print services provider Novatech has expanded its coverage and portfolio with the acquisition of another MPS operator headquartered in Tennessee. Industry consolidation slowed during Covid, now its reviving in 2022/23

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10 Mar 23
Updated: 12 Mar 23
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Fellowes Brand Revamp 23Fellowes refines
furniture strategy

'Unleash worklife potential'
goal.Trendway/ESI merged


Much admired hygiene & wellness products marketer Fellowes Brands has made an exciting start to 2023 with the launch of Rising its ingenious colorful monitor arms; Array, the advanced air quality system in June at the 'Design Days' opening of its innovative office design centre in Chicago; and now the merger of furniture makers Trendway/ESI into 'One Fellowes' contract furniture brand. We discuss plans and trends with ceo John Fellowes...Updated

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Details
10 Mar 23
Updated: 16 Mar 23
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resilient leaders 23Bouncebackability
Index Leaderboard

Q4'22 analysis highlights
resilient Winners v Losers


Reports are all in for Business Supply players in Q4'22. Predictably they show inflated profits but weak sales recovery v pre-Covid 'norm' Q4'19. Proficiency Index reports the Leaderboard of makers, wholesalers & dealers' 'Bouncebackability' performance. It covers 100 leading paper & printer makers, hygiene, foodservice and packaging suppliers, OP/furnituremakers and retailers Updated

Read more ...

Details
10 Mar 23
Updated: 17 Mar 23
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Screen Shot 2022 12 09 at 2.14.03 PMHealthy Hygiene
market normalizes

Who won/lost market share?
Price inflation average +12%


Hygiene is now #1 business supply category alongside technology. Progressive business suppliers: brandmakers, dealers have pivoted into hygiene, safety, foodservice & packaging, WFH-tech & wellness services. Proficiency Index Q4'22 analysis is almost complete with brand volumes slowing, boosted by double-digit price hikes. Updated for KPTissue, Sappi & Suzano. Diversey delayed to 22Mar

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Details
9 Mar 23
Updated: 17 Mar 23
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Screen Shot 2023 03 13 at 2.24.02 PMEco champ Essity
eliminates CO2

Top tissue & towel brand
invests in sustainability


Essity, the top international hygiene & health supplies maker, reported a powerful 'bouncebackability' performance from the pre-Covid norm in Q4'22. CEO Magnus Groth's growth strategy is bearing fruit v K-C, GP,  P&G with strong volumes plus a powerful commitment to eco-friendly processes e.g. CO2 free production in its German mill. 

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9 Mar 23
Updated: 10 Mar 23
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PP Team 23💜Proficiency Post
Celebrates 20yrs!

1st Biz Supply Mkt Analysis
'Productivity w Personality'
Tomorrow's News Today!


Celebrate Good Times, C'mon!  20yrs ago today Proficiency Post was launched to provide a rapid, intelligent news service for the International Broadline Business Supply Market. The goal to provide insightful analysis & interviews with progressive leading brandmakers, wholesalers & resellers...First!  Our ongoing principle to help drive Productivity best practice services for user choosers in a Personalized way. The PP team looks forward with enthusiasm! 

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9 Mar 23
Updated: 9 Mar 23
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bianco dino KPT thumb other250 0KP Tissue's roll
back weakens

Business market returns
boosted by price hikes


KP Tissue (ex-Kruger) the Canada based international brand tissue maker, recovered from a huge drop in demand in both consumer & business supply markets during Covid, boosted by high 20%+ price inflation. We analyse ceo Dino Bianco's opaque Q4'22 report

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9 Mar 23
Updated: 9 Mar 23
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Roberts Miles DSSmith thumb medium300 0ECom packaging
powers DSSmith

Ex-Spicers owner benefits
from huge 20% price hikes


DSSmith, the $8Bn European packaging giant and  ex-owner of Spicers (until 2011), posted strong Q3'23 results to 31Jan'23. CEO Miles Roberts said it was boosted by the huge price rises on single digit volume growth in its ecommerce packaging business....

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Details
8 Mar 23
Updated: 9 Mar 23
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women marketeers top 9 jul16Top 50 Women
Marketers 2023

Leaders in creativity, sales,
brand growth performance


Marketing to businesses by brandmakers & resellers was traditionally dominated by men. As we celebrate International Women's Day, Proficiency Index recognises the most successful women leaders. This is 16th edition of 'Top 50 Women in Business Supply', the market's real growth achievers, including new entrants from progressive independent dealers.

Read more ...

More Articles ...

  1. International Women's Day: Embrace Equity
  2. Suzano Q4'22 Financial Review
  3. Moleskine 2022 Financial Review
  4. ABM Q1'23 Financial Review
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