Page 28 - BOSS Today Issue 25

Special Report - 2014 Review

2014

REVIEW

BOSS invited a number of key industry spokesmen to review
this year and found that the 2014 trend towards merger

and consolidation is expected to continue into 2015.

ow did the UK OP ✱ Simon Drakeford: our experts felt that the year “Despite the supply chain issues
industry fare in 2014? CEO, Euroffice had been better than they had we have faced in recent times, we
HWho won? Who lost? ✱ David Fielding: Managing previously expected in terms of are seeing more dealers in growth
How confident can the industry Director, Heatons demand for OP, largely because than previously. Confidence
be about 2015? With Christmas Office Solutions of a return of growth and is returning, which helps the
approaching, we contacted ✱ Aidan McDonough: confidence to the overall UK larger capex projects (furniture/
‘seven wise men’ from the Managing Director, economy: technology), together with an
manufacturing and distributor Integra Office Solutions overall improvement in the
communities: “I believe that it was better: general economy: increased GDP/
and asked them ten key questions based on the general economic lower unemployment and stable
✱ Philip Beer: Managing about their perceptions of 2014 improvement, there was a more interest rates.”
Director, Hamelin Brands and their expectations for 2015. positive atmosphere in the market Aidan McDonough
✱ Darryl Brunt: Sales and As we will see, these could be place. Having said that, the core
Marketing Director: summarised as ‘constant change OP products of paper and ink/ Indeed, both of the respondents
UK and Ireland, Fellowes UK is here to stay’… toner are being challenged by who felt that 2014 had been
✱ Chris Collinson: Managing the technology offering, and our worse than expected focussed
Director, Superstat 1. Was 2014 better or industry has seen some interesting much of their attention on
✱ Aidan Doyle: Managing worse for the UK OP consolidation.” these supply chain issues:
Director, Staples Advantage industry than you Aidan Doyle
UK & Ireland expected? Why?
On balance, the majority of

28 BOSS TODAY | December 2014/January 2015

2014 Review.indd 2 09/12/2014 11:34