Cover Stories

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…

The jan/san sector has seen a considerable uptick in recent months. But while dealers across the country have shifted focus to maximize opportunities, they have often had to prospect in unfamiliar and sometimes unforgiving territory to source products    To say dealers have had a tough few months would be an understatement. During a period in which sales…

As we pass the half-year mark and business starts to return to some form of normal—whatever that may be—how has the IDC been weathering the COVID-19 storm and what is the outlook for the future? The COVID-19 crisis has affected pretty much every industry in every country around the world. Globally, thousands of businesses have…

Even without the coronavirus crisis, finding and hiring new employees can be a challenge. But the current marketplace is an especially tough one in which to recruit new employees, says Robin McMullen, HR specialist at Innovative Office Solutions, Burnsville, Minnesota. In February she pulled a report showing that while 2,000 customer service positions were open…

Technology for dealers has evolved and today offers excellent opportunities to manage dealer operations. From the front end, where customers view products and enter orders, to the backend, where purchasing, invoicing and all operations are managed, the latest systems offer numerous competitive advantages. How important is technology to dealer operations? Chip Jones, president at Minton…

As independent dealers move into the new decade, education sales offer an excellent growth opportunity. Classrooms have remained unchanged for most of the past century, but new takes on classroom organization open a world of possibilities. What some refer to as the Classroom in Motion offers a radically different look from desks lined up in…

There is a good deal of uncertainty in the air as independent resellers move into 2020. The Essendant-Sycamore deal hovers over the industry amid dealer concerns. Numerous promises have been made yet dealers remain unsure of what benefits might accrue. Almost simultaneously, buying groups are merging and if the results seem more universally positive, the…