Page 6 - BOSS Today Issue 54

BOSS Today #54

A NEW WORLD

THE INDUSTRY

LOOKS TO A FUTURE

BEYOND THE PANDEMIC

Opportunities and Challenges For

Our Industry in 2022

ven for an industry that has seen n Steve Haworth, Group CEO, EVO Group
Ecountless revolutions over the past few n Mark Wilkinson, Regional Vice
decades, the last two years have been President – UK & Ireland,
especially turbulent: the COVID pandemic ACCO Brands
has seen demand for ‘traditional’ office- n Simon Drakeford, CEO, EO Group
working-based supplies plummet, a rapid n Jeanette Bresitz, Managing Director,
shift online, a boom in home working, Office Friendly
technology and – of course – PPE
products, and the need for distributors Opportunities
to pivot rapidly from one to the others. First, we asked what opportunities the “More and more resellers
Combine that with international factors panel saw for our industry in 2022.
such as Brexit and the container shortage Virtually all of them regarded the (at will need an on-line
crisis – along with rapid changes of least partial) move back to the workplace strategy, as well as an
ownership and the demise of some as the most significant springboard for offline sales strategy.”
players of all sizes – and it is clear that recovery and opportunity, as Bresitz
we have ridden an unprecedented storm noted: “’Back to Work – getting people Mark Wilkinson,
since early 2020. re-energised and out of pandemic mode Regional Vice President –
As we turn into 2022, what specific and being re-focussed on business being UK & Ireland,
storms will our industry be riding this back to normal (whatever that now looks ACCO Brands
year? BOSS Today asked four leaders of like for their clients) and re-engaging face
key businesses in our industry to gaze to face.”
into the future and report what they Indeed, it was acknowledged that the
could see: demand profile and product mix is likely

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