Cover Stories

Most independent dealers are more than happy to see 2021 draw to a close in the hope of a bright, shiny new year. Yet with continued pandemic uncertainty, an economy that may be on the brink of going rogue and the vague underlying feeling that the world is a bit off-kilter, most dealers are wondering…

Consider these impressive statistics from the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI): 94 percent of people remember a promotional product they received in the past two years. 89 percent of people remember the advertiser on that promotional product. 83 percent of people like receiving a promotional product. 30 percent of consumers made a purchase after receiving a…

The education sector is becoming increasingly important for many independents. With a name like the Knowledge Tree, it should come as little surprise that up to 97 percent of this independent dealer’s business comes from the educational sector. Of course, the school buildings in Memphis, Tennessee—as everywhere—were closed for much of 2020 by the pandemic….

Few, if any, product categories offered by independent dealers were hit harder than breakroom supplies during the pandemic. David Guernsey, president and CEO of Guernsey Inc. in Dulles, Virginia, sums it up in simple terms: “If you drive down the main streets of Washington, D.C., all you see is empty parking lots. If there are…

E-commerce is nothing new for the IDC: most dealers have had sites for online purchasing for decades now. However, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, e-commerce has gone stratospheric; and Amazon’s vicelike grip on the digital marketplace has continued to tighten. As a result, independent dealers are finding it increasingly vital to find new…

The COVID-19 pandemic left a lot of businesses and workers scrambling to make the home-office connection. This created a prime opportunity for many independent office product dealers to delve deeper into the technology accessory business. The dealers we spoke to acknowledge that while this isn’t what kept their doors open during the shutdown, the stay…

With the pandemic on the wane, employees are heading back to the workplace—if they haven’t already. However, given the emphasis on social distancing, health and hygiene, along with the advent of hybrid working, today’s office is likely to be a very different working environment. What opportunities does the “new normal” hold for furniture dealers? Michelle…

We’re all guilty of kicking the proverbial can down the road at times, but when it comes to technology, that would be a grave mistake in today’s increasingly online world. However, as Heike Dieckmann discovers, solutions are out there… BMI: Facilitating growth Eaton Office Supply is a 106-year-old company that sells and services office products,…

COVID-19 upended the world as we knew it in 2020, creating untold challenges and disruption, but also unprecedented opportunities. With the virus still not under control, 2021 is promising to be one helluva ride   For those of us expecting to start 2021 with some sense of normalcy, we’ve been sorely disappointed—on many levels. Not…

While the pandemic has hurt many dealers’ traditional office supplies sales, the channel has enjoyed some success with jan/san and PPE. We have also witnessed the birth of some new categories that have emerged in direct response to COVID-19—but which may be here to stay For years now—both in trade show seminars and, indeed, in…