Event: North American

Back once again: NAOPA 2021

NORTH AMERICAN OFFICE PRODUCTS AWARDS PREVIEW

Following a brief hiatus in 2020 due to coronavirus, the much-anticipated

North American Office Products

Awards (NAOPA) are back with a bang. There are a few exciting changes for the 2021 awards, including a new industry partnership and updated categories.

The NAOPA are organised by OPI and, for the first time, in association with Independent Suppliers Group (ISG). Now in their 11th year, the winners will be presented during the eagerly awaited Industry Week ’21, powered by ISG, taking place in Orlando, Florida, from 7-12 November (for a preview of Industry Week, see OPI July/August 2021, page 48).

Unsurprisingly, there have been tweaks to the awards to reflect the current industry situation, with five main product categories representing the much broader array of business supplies available within our sector.

The shortlisted entries for NAOPA 2021 span the full gamut from traditional office products to the latest in technology, as well as innovations in cleaning, disinfecting and sanitising to help combat COVID-19 in the workplace.

The shortlist for the Best Product categories and Innovation of the Year is as follows:

BEST PRODUCT – CORE BUSINESS PRODUCT

3M – 3M CLAW Drywall Picture Hanger 3M – Post-it Flex Write Surface Avery – Avery PermaTrack Metallic Asset Tag Labels COLOP – e-mark Kensington – UVStand Monitor Stand with UVC Sanitization Compartment

BEST PRODUCT – FACILITIES, BREAKROOM, SAFETY & INFECTION CONTROL

3M – Scotch-Brite One Step Disinfectant & Cleaner ACCO Brands – Leitz TruSens Z-3500 Smart Air Purifier Fellowes Brands – AeraMax Pro Kensington – UVStand Monitor Stand with UVC Sanitization Compartment OttLite Technologies – OttLite Sanitizing Desk Lamps

BEST PRODUCT – FURNITURE & DESIGN

C-Line Products – Chair Cubbies Ghent – Pointe Mobile Glassboard & Partition Special-T – CORE by Safe-T Special-T– LINK Flip & Nest Collaboration Table Victor Technology – DC830B 3ft Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk

BEST PRODUCT – TECHNOLOGY

COLOP – e-mark Kensington – StudioCaddy with Qi Wireless Charging for Apple Devices Kensington – VeriMark Guard Fingerprint Keys OneScreen – OneScreen GoSafe Xebec – Xebec Tri-Screen 2

INNOVATION OF THE YEAR

3M – 3M CLAW Drywall Picture Hanger 3M – Post-it Flex Write Surface Kensington – StudioDock iPad Docking Station Kensington – StudioCaddy with Qi Wireless Charging for Apple Devices Newell Brands – Sharpie S-Gel Pen

There have been tweaks to the awards to reflect the current industry situation [...] representing the much broader array of business supplies

For more information about the North American Office Products Awards, please visit opi.net/naopa2021

As with previous years, the NAOPA are split into two sections – vendor and individual awards, the latter of which comprise three accolades: Young Executive of the Year, Professional of the Year and Industry Achievement. These awards focus on people who have made outstanding contributions to the independent dealer channel in the North American business supplies industry.

One of the highlights of the product-related vendor awards is the popular People’s Choice (details of all the finalists can be found on pages 100-103), which is open to OPI readers in the US and Industry Week attendees.

All NAOPA winners will be revealed during Industry Week.