Page 14 - BOSS Today Issue 18

Special Report
FM Supplies

FM SupplieS: Mountain

or Molehill?

Is the end nigh for traditional OP items, and is this the dawning of the

age of FM supplies? Martin Wilde looks at the evidence…

n the last few years, it has At the vanguard of this has focus on one or two categories containing a vast assortment
Ibecome clear that there has been FM supplies. only and - as such - have no of subcategories, such as
been a significant shrinkage in need for this umbrella term. storage, materials handling
demand for traditional office Nailing jelly to the wall Indeed, investigating this products, professional tools
products (OP). Even in the But what do we mean by “FM market can - at times - feel like and access equipment (eg
formerly fast-growing EOS and Supplies”? It’s certainly not a nailing jelly to the wall. What steps and ladders).
cut paper sectors, there is now universal term (in the US, for product categories are to be n Cleaning Supplies: the
an underlying decline - or, at example, they will talk about included? For example, are second largest sector, worth
best, a plateau - in volume “cleaning and breakroom mailing and packaging supplies - according to trade
demand. Since these products products” or “maintenance and part of FM or OP, or are they an association CHSA - just
account for the majority breakroom supplies”). Indeed entirely different category? over £1bn, and split
of most OP resellers’ sales, it’s worth remembering that - Historically, Martin Wilde between chemicals (£600m),
recent years have seen both outside of the OP industry - the Associates (MWA) has defined paper products (eg toilet
OP resellers and wholesalers term “FM supplies” has little real the sector using five product rolls) (c£400m), and another
searching for new product currency: B2B buyers will tend categories: £300K in machines and
categories which would to focus on individual products n Industrial Equipment, Tools sundries.
best suit their logistics and or subcategories, while even & Supplies: the largest n Catering Supplies: the third
marketing models. specialist “FM resellers” tend to and most diverse sector, largest category, and mainly

14 BOSS TODAY | July/August 2013

FM supplies.indd 2 25/07/2013 15:37