Page 8 - BOSS Today Issue 50

BOSS Today #50
“I believe our industry post
COVID-19 could be, albeit
smaller, a more vibrant
industry.”
Emily Jones
Fellowes Brands
“The challenge to reach,
service and support the
home workforce will
bring new opportunities
via the new styles of
products in use.”
Sean Starkey
Durable
“We have seen sales
increase for greener
products, especially where
people are using them in
their own homes.”
Frances Stephen
Springfield Solutions
I believe that post Easter we will begin to new way of working, and I don’t see that
see green shoots of recovery and then I’m changing in the future.
anticipating and hoping for a significant lift-
off come summer. Those businesses that Opportunities for the
still have significant working capital, are sector in 2021
appropriately geared and suitably efficient
to benefit from a welcome boom. Simon Drakeford: The opportunities for
our sector are Ecommerce, homeworking,
Emily Jones: Unfortunately, I believe we remote selling, diversification and the
may see a few more businesses in the
‘roaring twenties’ boom in Q3.
industry struggle to survive over the next
few months. However, I also strongly Emily Jones: The main opportunity I see is
believe a lot of businesses will strive to showcase the industry is still relevant
and become a more versatile and viable and is able to be agile and adapt no matter
versions of their former selves. I believe what the environment or situation. Many
within the sector are paper based but have
our industry post COVID-19 could be, albeit
smaller, a more vibrant industry. expanded into PPE, ergonomic products,
Steve Haworth: I think we will eventually home working, differing services etc. This
shows that not only are we aware that
look back on it as having been a catalyst the world around us is changing, we are
for much needed positive change and a real embracing these changes and making
example of just how valuable, dynamic, every challenge faced an opportunity
responsive and customer focused our grasped.
channel really is.
Stuart Login: Overall the reseller market
What trends can we expect? will continue to move into the wider
Sean Starkey: Certainly the shift to online, business supplies market, broadening their
offer and service provision to meet the
but also the digitisation process has been changing market requirements. I think we
accelerated somewhat. The Work from will see consolidation in this space in the
Home trend has also embedded itself firmly coming year, which will be an opportunity
into our working lives as well. The challenge
for some.
to reach, service and support the home
workforce will bring new opportunities via Steve Haworth: Accelerate all the positive
the new styles of products in use. changes from 2020 that have in some
respect been forced upon us, and don’t
Geoff Betts: The decline of both car snap back to the way it always was! A
journeys and flights will have been massive opportunity for independent
impacted forever from a business resellers.
standpoint. Working from home has
become the norm and it may be that going David Langdown: To be the biggest brand
forward we will split our time between in your area and to deliver customer
home and the office. The impact that will service and relationship benefits that your
have on transport and the services that competitors cannot compete with. Utilise
provide for the population generally will be the logistics and distribution expertise of
significant. the wholesaler and focus on what only you
can do.
Stuart Login: Clearly the digitisation of the
workplace has had the greatest impact on Key priorities for
volumes and working patterns – a new business in 2021
hybrid of working away from the office
with occasional days in face-to-face Philip Beer: Looking after each other’s
meetings with colleagues has become the physical and mental well-being. Being fast
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