Cover Stories

Everyone understands just how hard the COVID-19 pandemic hit the independent office supply industry. But the commercial furniture sector proved to be the silver lining for many dealers, keeping them afloat—and even ahead—when office products took a dive. And this momentum is gathering pace as businesses use interior design and furniture to lure workers back…

Technology continues to advance at a phenomenal pace and is transforming and streamlining traditional systems and processes. In this issue, we take a look at the latest technology offerings available to the IDC and how dealers are utilizing them to best advantage.     ECI: “We use it for everything” Having used ECI’s digital design,…

Jan/san is becoming an increasingly important part of the office supply dealer’s mix, and we are becoming increasingly adept at winning customers from other resellers, Lisa Veeck explains Outsiders might think that the COVID-19 pandemic is what encouraged office product dealers to throw their hats into the janitorial supply ring. But nothing could be further…

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…