Page 5 - BOSS Today Issue 51

INTRODUCTION BOSS Today #51

OPENING UP

s I sit here writing this on our website www. our new Bids Skills training
Afrom my home office, bossfederation.com workshops, which are coming
I look out of the window, On page 21, we speak to soon.
inspired to see how nature Darren Lloyd of United, I’d like to urge you to help
is reawakening in the spring who is chairing our newly- in getting information about
sunshine. I can’t help but established Resellers’ the BOSS Business Supplies
feel the green shoots of Forum. He talks us though Charity to the people that
optimism for our industry his thoughts on a reseller really need it. The Charity
as the country and our renaissance and how he’d awards quarterly grants, one
economy is starting to wake like to ensure that his sector off special support packages
in tandem. As restrictions is well represented in the and emergency Covid grants. Cheryl Lamont
are easing, kids are back at future. There will be many people in BOSS Commercial Director
school and over half of the I’m delighted to welcome our industry who have been
adult population has been three new BOSS members: furloughed, have had their encouraging more people to
vaccinated, we really are Trade Supply, sales-i and hours reduced or have been join our community to access
now in a position to review, Smart Business Supplies. Turn made redundant as a result of our network of leading ideas,
refocus, replace and restore. to page 26 to read more about the pandemic and the difficult insight and business support.
As one of the many people these businesses and how economic conditions, and we I hope to see some of you
in the UK who has started a they’d like to engage with us. want them to know that the (virtually) at our upcoming
new job during this pandemic, We investigate the factors BOSS Charity is here to help. forums and workshops. I
I am yet to meet any of my driving the 300-400% Many of these people are no would welcome any feedback
BOSS and BPIF colleagues in increase in freight costs on longer in the workplace, so it on these or any of our other
person. As we look forward, I page 10. Here, key industry is more difficult than ever for BOSS member services. We
join many across the industry players share their thoughts the Charity to communicate are keen to hear from our
who are making plans, with and we examine how with them. Please share our members to ensure we fully
fingers crossed, to hold distributors have creatively message and help us reach understand your challenges
live events and face to face tackled this issue. those who need our support. and can provide access to
meetings later in the year. We continue to deliver Full details of how you can relevant and valued support
In the meantime, our BOSS value to our members help are available on page 6. and services. Please don’t
team continues to provide through our series of Finally, I’d like to introduce hesitate to get in touch at
opportunities for you to webinars and low cost a new member of the cheryl@bossfederation.co.uk
connect virtually through training workshops, please BOSS team – Jack Massey,
our forums, webinars and see page 30 for full details. Membership Advisor. Jack
events. In February, we Highlights are workshops on: has a great experience
ran an inspiring Leaders Introduction to Print, Team of our industry, having
of the Future Conference, Leading, Negotiation and previously worked as an
with a range of experts Persuasion and Customer Account Manager at VOW
and interactive sessions – Service. We are also running a and, more recently, with an
continuing to connect the HR Forum/Employment Law office products reseller, so
industry virtually. Turn to Update and Health Safety has great understanding of
page 8 to see highlights from and the Environment Forum many within our sector. Jack
this fantastic event. If you in April and May respectively. is a most welcome addition to
missed it, all of the content Keep an eye on our website’s our small BOSS team; he will
from the day is available Events section for details of be making connections and

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