Page 3 - BOSS Today Issue 12

contents

Issue 12 | May/June 2012

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Welcome 4 From the top
BOSS Chief Executive Michael Gardner introduces the issue.

This month we are bringing a keen focus on those items within the product range 6 Briefing
that don’t always get the limelight. These are products to make the office a more
comfortable place, for example, such as some of the ergonomic furniture Fellowes Members Day, Paper Forum.
provides. Or hot beverage machines – we often overlook them, but can you
imagine what many of today’s offices would be like without them?
We also take a look at ancillary machines. All of your customers probably have 10 Office machines
computers and printers, not to mention photocopiers, but how keen are they on
some of the other technology as well? Is the scanner really becoming an office How popular are more peripheral office machines?
essential? And is the fax machine still serving a useful purpose? You can find out
by reading on.
What’s interesting about many of these products is that they can be beneficial 14 Anniversary
to your bottom line precisely because they are more unusual. That means they Integra celebrates its 15th birthday
haven’t been commoditised, so they are still something you as a dealer can be
more creative with.
We are not going completely off-centre, however. One of the most central issues
in our industry at the moment is the rising price of paper. This month we bring news 17 60-Second Interview
of a groundbreaking Forum later on this year which aims to bring office suppliers, Rob Jenkins of Integra and the BOSS Board.
printers and paper suppliers together for the first time to thrash out a way forward in
the current climate.
You’ll also be pleased to know that we are once again taking entries for this 18 Office drinks
year’s BOSS Awards – the most prestigious event in the office supplies industry’s
calendar. You can find out more about the event itself on page 26. The closing date Is there mileage in extending your offer to include coffee and tea?
is still two months away, so you won’t have an excuse for not entering something or
someone this year.
In among our regular profiles, we take a look at how the injection of some new 22 Office comforts
enthusiasm from new owners across the English channel helped turn King’s
Lynn-based Tollit & Harvey into a success story again. What ancillary products can do to your business.
And we celebrate the 15th birthday of Britain’s oldest office supplies dealer group,
Integra. As you’ll find out if you read on, the group has seen many changes over its
decade and a half, not least the way it puts together its famous catalogues. 25 Business turnaround
As ever, do keep letting me know what you think of the magazine.
How Tollit & Harvey came back into profit again – and keeps on growing.

26 BOSS Awards
Get your entries in for the event of the year.
Note: Over the next few issues
we will be adding QR codes like
the one on the front cover of
reader for your iPhone or smart 28 Trends
this issue. Download a QR code
Helen Dunn, BOSS Today Editor phone to scan the QR code and
e: helen.dunn@bpif.org.uk discover lots more. GFK figures show writing instrument buyers are switching to quality.
Marketing & Communications Director: Alison Harper
e: alison.harper@bpif.org.uk t: 020 7915 8390 34 What’s on?
Editor BOSS Today: Helen Dunn e: helen.dunn@bpif.org.uk t: 020 7915 8320
BOSS Board of Directors: Alan Ball, Philip Beer, Geoffrey Betts, Adrian Butler, Rob Jenkins,
Mark Knibbs, David Langdown, Sean Starkey Diary of upcoming events.
Membership Director: Dale Wallis Regional Directors: Bob Davies – South East, Marcus Clifford – Eastern,
Dawn Reid – Midlands, Daniel Godden – South West, Chris Selby – North West, Kate Dallas-Wood – North East
BOSS Federation Chief Executive Officer: Michael Gardner
Concept and Design by:
e: info@thepagedesign.co.uk t: 01526 353555 w: www.thepagedesign.co.uk
Sub Editor: Peter Baber
Photography: istockphoto, Shutterstock, Olivia Shaw, Hari Parmar
Advertising and Sponsorship: Mark Wilkins t: 01753 714999
BOSS Federation: 2 Villier’s Court, Meriden Business Park, Copse Drive, Coventry, West Midlands CV5 9RN t: 0845 450 1565
30 Business insurance
Printed by: IOS, Innovative Output Solutions, Evolution House, Choats Road, Dagenham, Essex RM9 6BF
Print sponsored and printed by: IOS, Innovative Output Solutions
Why it doesn’t always pay to keep the same broker.
Paper sponsored by: Antalis McNaughton
Cover: Claro Silk 250gsm Inner pages: Claro Silk 150gsm 32 HR
A case about Weight Watchers could have implications for you.
Boss Today 2012 Issue 12 All rights reserved. Boss Today is circulated to members of the BOSS Federation. Reproduction in
any form, or by any means, whole or in part without written permission from the BOSS Federation is strictly prohibited.
May/June 2012 | BOSS TODAY 3
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