Page 20 - BOSS Today Issue 5

Business tools

THE OFFICE PRODUCTS INDUSTRY
PAST,

PRESENT,

FUTURE

Michael Gardner offers his overview
of industry trends

efore 1990, the office and strategic developments.
products industry Demographics have impacted
Bwas straightforward. on the industry. In the UK the
Manufacturers supplied to population has grown from 57
wholesalers (and to retailers) and million in 1991 to 59 million
wholesalers supplied to dealers in 2001; it’s expected to reach
who supplied the end users in 63 million in 2011, 67 million
small offices, medium to large in 2021 and 72 million in
corporate organisations and to 2031. Employment in industry
local and central government. sectors saw a reduction in the
Margins were reasonable at each traditional blue collar industries
stage in the supply chain and the of manufacturing, utilities and
industry was stable. construction and an increase in
business services, government
Looking back and financial services (white
Products were traditionally collar industries requiring office
envelopes, cut office paper, products).
writing instruments, filing The market in the late 1980s
supplies and desktop accessories. and 1990s evolved with the
The industry expanded in formation of office superstores,
the early 1990s to include mail order direct, large corporate
office furniture, presentation stationers created by mergers
and planning supplies and of larger dealers in the UK, the
electronic office supplies (EOS,IT privatisation of the HMSO and
Consumables). the formation of Dealer Groups
The market started to change to protect the smaller dealers.
in the late 80s and early 90s The number of wholesalers in the
as a result of both economic market declined through merger

20 BOSS TODAY | October 2010

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