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Year XVII No. 75
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December 2019
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Latinamerican Digital Magazine
Schneider: Delicately Featured.................................................................7 Organization by Global Notes.....................................................................9 HSM: From waste to packaging material..................................................11 Christmasworld 2020................................................................................ 12
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Regional Brief.............................................................................................. 15 Philipp Ferger Interview............................................................................ 21 Enterprises in Movement......................................................................... 25
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Delicately featured Schneider launches a new product for lovers of bulletjournaling, lettering and pastel colors: for the first time exhibited at the Insight-X fair in Nuremberg, the popular and award-winning highlighter “Job” by Schneider is now available in six new and discreet pastel colors.
The new highlighters are available in pastel colors: turquoise, mint, vanilla, peach, lilac and pink. Schneider is especially proud of these new colors. Not only because of the expansion in the range of colors and that are especially aimed at creativity enthusiasts, but also because Schneider itself develops and produces colors. Since February Schneider has its laboratory equipped with advanced technology, where it has begun to manufacture its own inks. During the development of the new inks for pastel highlighters, special attention was paid in order to make them totally harmless to humans and nature.
Pastel colors - they are not a boring thing at all! Like the standard "Job" of fluorescent colors, Schneider offers these new Job colors with the same light intensity. In addition, in combination with a striking letter, written with a fountain pen, an ink roller or a pen, the words highlighted with pastel tones are really refreshing. Not only the brightness of the color is excellent, but also the overall design of the highlighter: it has been awarded the prestigious “red dot” award and the IF Design Award.
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In addition to water, renewable raw materials represent the largest component of these inks. Mainly food dye inks are used. The inks meet the requirements of the standard for toys (EN 71-3 and 71-9). As of now, both the bright fluorescent colors and the new soft pastel colors are produced exclusively by Schneider. The colors are light resistant and work on plain paper, copy paper and fax paper.
The highlighters write with the beveled tip in two 1mm and 5mm stroke widths. The markers are available on a display of 35 units and in a case with four or six markers.
So, if the yellow fluorescent tone is too strong and striking, you can use a peach or vanilla color to add a touch of elegance to the agendas.six new and discreet pastel colors.
Job Pastell A highlighter with an excellent result
Made in Germany
Write It Job Pastel The smart highlighter with brilliant performance won the iF design and the red dot awards. The large ink content can highlight more than 15,000 words. Pastel colored ink is used for plain paper, for photocopying, faxing and is light resistant. www.schneiderpen.com
Organization by Global Notes
G
lobal Notes, a division of AMC AG, has about 30 years of experience in the adhesive notes industry and guarantees the high quality standards associated with “Made in Germany”. Over the years, Global Notes has become a modern manufacturer of sticky notes, which includes a wide variety of high quality products and continuous innovations. Since 2013, Global Notes has been represented in the creative sector by products for creative minds of all ages. The main capability of the production of adhesive notes is also the special feature of inFO Creative products. The adhesive notes have an ultrasensitive adhesive, can be removed without leaving residue and can be repositioned repeatedly without losing adhesion. This is due to the special water-based adhesive without solvents.
KANBAN self-adhesive whiteboard
Power Notes – for difficult challenges Global Notes has launched its new Power Notes in various colors and shapes. Adhesive notes with triple adhesive strength compared to the standard range. Power Notes are ideal for special requirements that go beyond the usual use of a sticky note. This includes, for example, adhesion to special substrates, such as rough walls or leather surfaces. The new Power Notes can also easily deal with a powerful wind of an open window.
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A novelty presented by Global Notes is the KANBAN self-adhesive whiteboard, one of the most popular tools in project management to increase productivity through the visualization of tasks and workflows. With the Global Notes KANBAN self-adhesive whiteboard, the organization of tasks becomes easy and efficient. Write them briefly and concisely on the small sticky notes provided and prioritize them in color. The workflow starts from left to right. Never lose sight of work in progress. The Kanban whiteboard is perfect for scheduling daily business, making a specific project or following the progress of a team. It is simply done to help improve work. Discover the world of sticky notes and self-adhesive applications. For more information about the company and its products, visit the home page: www.globalnotes.de
! More than a sticky note! For detailed information visit: www.globalnotes.de or contact Peter Czemetschka pc@globalnotes.de facebook.com/AMCGlobalNotes
globalnotes.de
youtube channel
GLOBAL NOTES - a division of AMC AG Advanced Methods of Coating
From waste to packaging material The HSM ProfiPack C400 and HSM ProfiPack P425 packaging machines bolster up used carboard and make universal packaging material which is as good as new. This saves costs and, at the same time, is a sensible and practical contribution to environmental protection. The existing models have been functionally and visually completely revised and now boast new features. Cutting and bolstering in one work process – no time is wasted cutting the cardboard to size. The HSM ProfiPack C400 is a compact tabletop device with a non-slip stand. The HSM ProfiPack P425 is a stand-alone device with castors and parking brake. Both models are flexible thanks to the single-phase power connec-
tion. The cushioning volume is also variably adjustable – depending on the requirements of the application. The processed packaging material can be used wherever required and provides an optimum protection for objects – as padding mats, padded packaging or to fill up empty spaces. The user benefits with the packaging machines in two ways: he saves the procurement of packaging material and at the same time reduces his disposal costs. Made in Germany The high quality materials and proven HSM "Made in Germany" quality guarantee you are receiving a safe and durable machine.
HSM ProfiPack – packaging material for free The HSM ProfiPack packaging machines are a brilliant solution for all shipping and storage areas. Old cardboard packaging becomes universally applicable packaging material. You do not need to buy new packaging material such as bubble
wrap or packaging chips. This saves costs and at the same time makes a meaningful and practical contribution to environmental protection.
Various products perfectly packed
Safely pack different objects easily and save time as well.
Learn more: www.hsm.eu/ProfiPack
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Ecological and economical HSM ProfiPack turns your old cardboard into high quality packaging material!
Learn more: www.hsm.eu/ProfiPack
Christmasworld 2020 New approaches to better business Amazing and inspiring! Christmasworld offers the international decoration trade new and attractive products for the most demanding and emotional time of the year. Like no other fair for the consumer goods sector, Christmasworld focuses on the point of sale experience as a success factor. Once again, it will be the essential business and purchase order platform from January 24th to January 28th, 2020. Around 1,000 exhibitors are expected to participate in the world’s leading trade fair for holiday and seasonal decorations. Social change and digital transformation are leading the way to a modified consumer behavior and new business models.
Shred – don‘t bin it. With HSM document shredders. HSM document shredders support you with the compliance requirements of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) of the European Union.
“See, taste, smell and feel are the unbeatable advantages of buying offline. In addition, the exchange of information within the “community”, something of increasing importance for the younger generation, cannot be reproduced online.
Why did it have to be me?
More information: www.hsm.eu/data-protection Maria T., 38, Doctor
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In the future, sales will be generated through the shopping experience and not only through the product itself. Being part of a brand or lifestyle is a new shopping incentive and, for this, Christmasworld offers inspiration unlike any other consumer goods fair. Christmasworld combines emotion and business with the magic of presentation to generate business success�, says Eva Olbrich, director of Christmasworld, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH. With its range of products, from handmade Christmas tree ornaments to large-scale illuminations for shopping centers and urban centers, exhibitors can reach commercial buyers of retail channels of all kinds, from small gift boutiques to shopping centers, from DIY and MIY markets to furniture stores, from florists to garden centers, and even representatives of local authorities, as well as hotel operators and visual marketing specialists, all of whom seek Christmasworld inspiration.
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Seasonal Decoration at its best
24 to 28-1-2020
Here you will find the greatest variety of holiday ornaments and decorative items for this season. info@colombia.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +57 3045885904
Do not miss this opportunity! christmasworld.messefrankfurt.com
regional
brief
Brazil: Acco Brands buys Foroni Acco Brands strengthens its presence in Brazil with the acquisition of Foroni, one of the largest manufacturers of school and office supplies in Brazil, on August 2. The acquisition of Foroni will increase the operations of the North American brand in Brazil and Latin America and strengthen its leading position in the market. We are excited to add Foroni and its brands to our portfolio of consumer and school products. Together, Tilibra and Foroni will offer an unprecedented option and value for Brazilian commerce and consumers, and will position ACCO Brands for faster growth” said Boris Elisman (photo), president and CEO of ACCO Brands”. This acquisition is consistent with our strategy to expand into geographies and categories of fastest growing products, add consumer-centric brands and diversify our customer base” he added.
Mexico: The alliance between OXXO and BIC can reconfigure the sector The French manufacturer and the chain of proximity stores have just signed an agreement that will not go unnoticed. To the quality and offer of BIC, the presence of OXXO will be added throughout the country to sell together an important assortment. From now on to find a pen, colors, markers and graphite pencils, Mexican consumers will only have to go to one of the more than 10,000 stores that OXXO has in Mexico. “Two large companies come together to offer simple and everyday options available to everyone and at any time. The alliance we formalized at BIC will facilitate the lives of our customers, not only because of the fast access to convenience stores but also because of the quality and durability of our stationery products” said Cedric Fort (photo), General Director of BIC Mexico. Undoubtedly, this new alliance - which awaited the back to school day to be announced - will reconfigure the already complex panorama of the sector in Mexico. OXXO, with sustained growth, reported that it had grown 11.3% in the last quarter with a 7.5% increase in the average sales ticket.
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25 a 28-1-2020 Frankfurt am Main
The visionary ofďŹ ce.
The future at your fingertips with the whole sector The latest developments in products, a meeting place to know who is who in the sector and, if that were not enough, a great offer to learn and be inspired. Discover tomorrow´s trends and products at the international reference fair in the field of paper, office supplies and stationery products for professional use. Get your tickets now!
The stationery trends.
paperworld.messefrankfurt.com
info@colombia.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +57 3045885904
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regional
brief
Costa Rica: Expo Pirámide Escolar 2020 Distribuidora Pirámide dedicated to the import and export of school items and office, held its twentieth 2020 School Pyramid Expo which was held from Thursday, July 25 to Saturday, August 3 at the Rafael Arena Event Center located in La Fortuna from San Carlos, Costa Rica. The offer of products offered by the brands Chenson, Zebra, Y-Plus, Norma, and Upak of which Pyramid has the exclusive representation for Costa Rica, made this EXPO a success since its customers had the opportunity to appreciate a great variety of products, news and make good negotiations. The prestigious Pyramid company was founded on June 10, 1977, becoming one of the most representative companies in Costa Rica dedicated to the sale and distribution of office and library items nationwide.
Ecuador: Scrap Party Third Edition For craft enthusiasts, specifically SCRAPBOOK, the third edition of the Scrap Party took place the past October 11, 12 and 13 at the Gran Hotel Guayaquil in Ecuador. People who attended had the opportunity to received scrap techniques, using materials such as: papers, inks, stamps, acrylics, cards, die cut, and other tools that allowed them to design and create products with custom shapes. Participants from several provinces of Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina and Panama were present.
25 a 28-1-2020 Frankfurt am Main
The visionary office.
Attendees spent three days full of learning with renowned workshops such as Elena Roche from Spain, Elvira Bellanero from Costa Rica and Mariela Papeletas from Argentina. At the end of the event they received the corresponding certificate of their participation.
The future at your fingertips with the whole sector The latest developments in products, a meeting place to know who is who in the sector and, if that were not enough, a great offer to learn and be inspired. Discover tomorrow´s trends and products at the international reference fair in the field of paper, office supplies and stationery products for professional use. Get your tickets now! paperworld.messefrankfurt.com
info@colombia.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +57 3045885904
The stationery trends.
January 25 – 28, 2020 Frankfurt, Germany
WHAT A
DIFFERENCE A
MAKES Creativity meets Business – FOR YOUR SUCCESS! Place your orders directly for a huge variety of products and make sure you‘re well prepared for the entire year! Discover new trends and expand your product range, know-how and sales! Attend workshops and lectures and make business contacts with manufacturers from all over the world! Order your reducedprice online ticket now!
info@usa.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +1 770 984 8016
creativeworld.messefrankfurt.com
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regional
brief
Brazil: Nykon® contributes to the fight against cancer Founded in 1998, Nykon® Stamps, is a pioneer in the manufacture of automatic stamps. For almost two decades, the company has continued to improve and innovate in the art of building its products. Each year, the Nykon® Stamps company participates in the “Pink October” campaign through donations to institutions that help fight breast cancer. In 2019, the chosen institution was the Flores de Aço group, based in the city of Tubarão-SC. Since 2013, the group has been providing support to patients facing cancer treatment. Nykon® customers who buy Pink, Lilac and Violet products will collaborate with “Pink October”.
Brazil: Kalunga will culminate this year with 225 stores Kalunga’s name was first heard in May 1972, which on the initiative of street vendor Damião García, began the story through a small stationery store in Rua Vergueiro, in the Vila Mariana neighborhood of São Paulo. His business began as an important paper wholesaler, with specific sales to companies and offices. In the 1980s, Kalunga took a turn toward retail. The brand gained national visibility on the Corinthians t-shirt, a sponsorship that lasted from 1985 to 1994. In the 1990s, the commercialization of products and technology began strongly, which further strengthened the company in the segment and gained greater visibility with the “individual” customer. With an effective, profitable and structured operation, he began to win the main cities of the country and went to other states besides SP. In 2010, the chain’s strongest expansion plan begins, opening more than 150 physical stores to date. Today, after 47 years of existence, we are more than 5,000 employees, we have 214 physical stores, by the end of this year (2019), we will have 225 stores in operation, Kalunga.com e-commerce and Telesales, as well as Spiral do Brasil that produces and develops exclusive products for the network and Copy Print, which is our fast digital graphics segment said Hoslei Pimenta - Kalunga Operations and Sales.
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VISIT US AT: KAWECO-PEN.COM
ONE MILLION WORDS IN A POCKET Kaweco writing instruments stand for quality and design. Tried and trusted products are made with love and cleverness, while using modern materials and colours - since 1883. In 1911 something remarkable by the name of Kaweco Sport was created. A pocket fountain pen that could be carried everywhere. It only measured 10.5 cm when closed, but when the cap was mounted on top of the barrel it grew to a standard sized pen. Now the series SKYLINE Sport is also available in the modern colour Fox as pictured right.
The picture of the products on this page shows its original size.
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The organizer of fairs such as Paperworld, Creativeworld and Christmasworld ventures into e-commerce Messe Frankfurt, in partnership with the nmedia GmbH and through the Nextrade platform, will offer a new service so that during the 365 days a year the retailers can place orders to the exhibitors of their fairs.
Technology has changed the traditional way of doing business, commerce and shopping experience. This is how multifunctional models are born and make the online experience easier for the consumer and now also for the merchant.
To learn how the Nextrade platform will add value to both exhibitors and visitors, we interviewed Philipp Ferger, director of the Tendence and Nordstil exhibition at Messe Frankfurt, and now also General Manager of nmedia GmbH.
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EP: Is this new service a type of e-commerce? PF: That’s right; it is part of the global electronic commerce movement to facilitate business for all the involved participants. In Nextrade, manufacturers, distributors and retailers of consumer goods can display and sell freely and retailers can request their products in a safe environment from each producer, which has its own exclusive brand store. Therefore, Nextrade is the perfect tool to prepare your next visit to the fair, for example. In Amnbiente and to subsequently process all relevant contacts and information. EP: How would you define the Nextrade platform? PF: Nextrade is a comprehensive digital data and order management platform for suppliers and retailers in the consumer goods industry. Nextrade has been developed and marketed by nmedia GmbH, a renowned expert in the field of electronic data exchange. EP: Who was it created for? PF: Nextrade is a unique offer for both sides of the market within the consumer goods industry. And that not only for the German or European market, but also for the global consumer goods market. EP: How does this platform work? PF: Very easily, I must say. Suppliers should only inform us about their desire to participate. We will open their own store on the website for them, based on their own marketing materials, price lists and images. Retailers who wish to place an order through Nextrade should only verify with which suppliers they wish to work and directly request admission to Nextrade stores; this simply resembles the analog registration process that will take place before you can place an order as a retailer in any new supplier. Once this has been registered, ordering is the easiest thing in the world. For retailers without an inventory control system, Nextrade offers the additional advantage of having a complete overview of their inventory. So, what you basically need is a computer and web access. As easy as that. EP: Since when does it work? PF: We announced Nextrade in February during the Ambiente 2019 exhibition. Since then, more than 60 suppliers with more than 100,000 products have been included. The first orders are being taken from October among registered suppliers.
EP: How can manufacturers or exhibitors benefit from this new service? PF: On so many levels, suppliers and retailers can once again focus on the commercial side of the business, since Nextrade covers order management. Retailers have the unique advantage of easy access to the necessary marketing materials, images and information about the latest products. In addition, inventory control is much easier for retailers. And an additional good thing is that, as a retailer, I don’t have to browse and order from endless websites of different manufacturers. A website, an overview, all truly integrated and just one click away. EP: What requirements must be met to be part of it? PF: To put it bluntly, a computer with Internet access is all that is needed to join Nextrade. It is really very easy to start the session, both for retailers and suppliers. The only delay in placing an immediate order is the process for the retailer to register at a vendor’s store for the first time. Once this has been established, the full potential of Nextrade can be used. EP: We believe that this new service is very positive, but could it be a threat to traditional retail? PF: Thank you for your comments and let me be honest: NO. We will not represent any threat to the traditional retail business. On the contrary, we try to help retailers around the world refocus their commitment completely on their customers. Nextrade can help you save time in the ordering process, speeding up the deadlines and accessibility of the necessary marketing materials and giving both parties more time to discuss what really matters in retail: your customers and shopping experiences in its whole. EP: What do you think about the future of retail in the world? PF: As an organizer of trade fairs, I strongly believe in personal exchanges face to face. We see the rise of online platforms and shopping websites. But true contact, experiencing products with all your senses, is what drives people to buy items. Consumer goods are love items. Be it a new dish, a cup, tablecloths or a vase. We, as consumers, bought them because they told us a story, touched our inner core and we love them. I am convinced that we have many more changes within the retail domain that we cannot even imagine today. But I am also sure that personal exchange and luxury, as well as the satisfaction of buying, will always be with us.
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EP: For clarification, who would be the target user of this platform, the importer or the final consumer? PF: We are a 100% B-to-B platform. Any dealings with end consumers are not our concern. Eventually it will enable and strengthen retailers in their local businesses around the world. EP: How are you promoting it? PF: We will begin to approach suppliers this fall, culminating in a great offensive at the Ambiente fair next year. There, we plan to invite suppliers to test and use Nextrade for free for a year if it is an Ambiente exhibitor. After that, we will charge a small annual fee, plus a small percentage related to the transaction. Retailers can use the platform for free. EP: Users from which countries use it? PF: We will start focusing on Germany and Central Europe. But later we plan to implement it globally. We plan to have 1,500 to 2,000 suppliers enrolled after the initial opening phase. EP: What is the sales expectation with this platform? PF: At the moment, it is much more important to gain momentum within the industry, inform them about the platform and its inherent advantages and foster relationships with suppliers and retailers that we want to attract to Nextrade. EP: What does this service mean for Paperworld? PF: For the first suppliers, we will not focus on the classic Paperworld display. But sooner or later, all segments of the consumer goods industry will be integrated into Nextrade to shape the integrated order platform across the industry. EP: What reactions have you had from manufacturers and buyers? PF: Too positive, I must admit. Usually, I am quite careful and doubtful when it comes to business predictions, but comments show us that Nextrade hits a nerve. Suppliers take this opportunity. And it is expected that retailers realize their full potential and use it worldwide 365 days a year. The more, the better. It is time for this solution to enter the market and we as Messe Frankfurt decided, with our access and knowledge of the market, that we are the ones who must support a truly global industry with this innovative solution. EP: With all the advantages offered by the platform, reinforce the possibility of immediate sales. Does the perception of exposure change? What do users say? PF: What we intend is to provide exhibitors and visitors more time during fairs for the most important activity at a fair: find new and exciting products for their customers, without worrying about where, when and how to place an order. Thanks to Nextrade, ordering products afterwards is easily done and 365 days a year.
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EP: Is it possible to attend exhibitions or events of companies related to Messe Frankfurt with this platform? PF: Nextrade is purely and exclusively an order platform of the highest level of comfort. But it will never replace our trade fairs here in Frankfurt or worldwide. EP: What requirement must a customer meet to access Conzoom databases? PF: Very simple, our new retail information center, whether online or offline, is easily accessible via the Internet at www.conzoom.solutions. Here, retailers find structured information in four different segments about all the international consumer goods fairs we organize, they can obtain information about tomorrow’s retail trade through studies and reports, they can learn through workshops and seminars that provide an advantage of knowledge and can see how easily you can be inspired by the activities of the point of sale, the latter at this time only for German-speaking countries. We are determined to expand our activities here over time and hope to interact with retailers not only in Germany and Europe. EP: How do the sales possibilities of exhibitors increase? PF: Nextrade offers retailers the opportunity to order whenever and wherever they want. They can easily replenish themselves, identify new interesting products and make sure they have their stocks ready for the most important retail seasons of the year. By facilitating the order of retailers, we also expect to increase sales for suppliers and, therefore, also for exhibitors. But in the end, the job of retailers is to excite, convince and sell products to end consumers around the world. And we are happy to help.
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enterprises
in movement
BIC invents its future With the plan called “BIC 2022: Invent the future”, the French company intends to be more efficient, release resources and boost long-term profitable growth. The objective of the plan is to consolidate the Group’s positions in its three commercial categories. Started in February 2019, the plan is underway and progress has already been made in what are considered the fundamental initiatives and the second phase would be beginning to be addressed. The latter expects to generate, along with previously announced strategies, savings of around 50 million euros. This amount will be reinvested to boost BIC’s long-term profitable growth and help protect the sustainability of its margins. In its BIC reinvention plan, it will lay off approximately 400 employees but will hire an equivalent number with new skills and abilities to support their transformation journey. The group’s CEO, Gonzalve Bich (photo), said the plan “aims to invent the BIC of the future; A more agile, integrated and innovative company. To succeed, we need to improve the efficiency of our organization to respond better and faster to the rapid changes in our market environment. At BIC we live in accordance with the values of our company and we will do everything possible to support the members of our team during this time of transformation, in close collaboration with all stakeholders. ”
Retail operations will be only 20% of the Office Depot business In a short time - it was announced that it will be less than 5 years - the Florida company will have converted its original business and retail sales will mean only 20% of its billing. The company clarifies that this will not imply a massive closure of stores. The intention is, on the contrary, the strengthening of areas such as B2B, IT services, technology-based solutions and leveraging its supply chain network. For now, it is not considered to separate the retail area from the total business, but the market behavior will be the determining factor. “Nothing is off limits and there are no sacred cows,” said Joe Lower, Finance Manager at Office Depot Inc. “We are committed to creating shareholder value, so if there is a way we can accelerate the value of this business, we will pursue it”. Office Depot has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to its retail network as a key component of its omnichannel strategy although, since Gerry Smith (photo), CEO of the company, said last year that closing stores was a “business exit strategy,” there has been a more pragmatic approach and around 60 points of sale will close this year and another 90 will do so by 2021. This will leave Office Depot with approximately 1,200 stores in the US. Lower said the idea that retail could represent 20% of the sales mix in three years was a “very realistic” vision, given current trends and how Office Depot plans to grow and invest in the B2B part of its business, both in distribution and in CompuCom.
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Elliot acquires Barnes and Noble and links the largest bookstores in the US and the United Kingdom Barnes & Noble announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Elliott Advisors of the United Kingdom, who had acquired the year before Waterstones, the largest British retailer. James Daunt, CEO of Waterstones, will also assume the role of CEO of Barnes & Noble after the completion of the transaction. The resulting company will be based in New York. The transaction announced with Elliott is the culmination of an extensive analysis conducted by the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Barnes & Noble. The board unanimously approved the transaction and recommended it to its shareholders. Leonard Riggio, the founder and president of Barnes & Noble, also signed a voting agreement in support of the transaction. Barnes & Noble serves 627 different communities in 50 states, where it remains the number 1 book seller in the United States. Elliott seeks to build on this solid foundation while addressing the significant challenges that traditional retail stores face, applying a model that gave a successful turn to Waterstones in the last decade. After closing the transaction, Elliott will own Barnes & Noble and Waterstones and although each bookstore will operate independently, they will share a common CEO and benefit from the relationship in different ways.
Lyreco buys DeskRight and grows in Asia Large manufacturers and distributors are preparing for a global operation, with a strong presence in emerging markets. The acquisition of Singapore DeskRight by Lyreco is part of this approach. The operation places Lyreco in the number two position in Singapore behind local leader Kumpalan. The European company estimates that the market has a value of between 280 and 300 million euros (US $ 315 to US $ 340 million) per year, although it is still very fragmented and somewhat unstructured, which will allow it to grow both organically and through new acquisitions. The two companies are complementary. Two thirds of Lyreco Singapore’s clients are SMEs and a corporate third; DeskRight is the opposite, with a strong presence in the local public sector channel where, so far, Lyreco has not had greater access. The new acquisition strengthens and facilitates Lyreco’s operation in the region that includes Malaysia, Korea, Thailand and Hong Kong. “We are not only acquiring volume or a list of customers. We are acquiring a business with knowledge and know-how, and this will be important as we seek to integrate DeskRight; it will not be about Lyreco simply entering and “swallowing” the company or imposing a certain way of doing business. It will be about taking the strengths of both companies and combining them into an even stronger unit”, said Greg Liénard, director of Lyreco for Asia.
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enterprises
in movement SP Richards implements original loyalty plan In order to strengthen the relationship with its distributors, SP Richards has launched an exclusive health plan with the quality of UnitedHealthcare. With accessible plans, it is intended exclusively for its distributors and Advantage members and is managed by Decisely, an independent association. In addition to medical coverage plans, the program offers dental and ophthalmology, among other options. Initial estimates provide for savings per employee of up to $ 500 per month, compared to current plans for small groups. “At SP Richards, we understand that recruiting and retaining great employees is a tremendous challenge for our clients. Your ability to provide access to affordable health care through an independent AHP addresses this and is a significant competitive advantage for our Advantage members” said Sandra Williams, director of training and Distributor Development for SP Richards.
Legamaster associates to HPI D-School Legamaster, the edding visual communication division, announced that it has signed a two-year contract with HPI D-School, a union that will allow the development of innovative solutions. Since mid-May, students at HPI D-School have been working on the Design Challenge, a Legamaster design project that is incorporated as part of their curriculum. This includes Design Thinking, a two-semester course driven by innovation. Throughout the program, two multidisciplinary teams apply the Design Thinking methodology to redesign the collaborative experience of professionals working in the corporate sector. In addition to Design Challenge, Legamaster and HPI D-School also agreed to initiate long-term technology and construction cooperation, as visual communication plays a vital role in the DesignThinking methodology. In human-centered innovation processes, team members continually visualize their ideas to stimulate creativity and foster interaction. “We believe that the partnership with HPI D-School is a great opportunity to obtain valuable information on how visual communication tools are used today and what are the future needs when it comes to having a smooth and hassle-free collaboration experience. . We firmly believe in the combination of analog and digital tools and cannot wait to explore new solutions together with the HPI D-School teams” said Danielle Bazuin, Managing Director of Legamaster International B.V.
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Grupo RAJA buys Staples Solutions in France, Italy and Spain The RAJA Group announced the acquisition of Staples Solutions activities in France, Italy and Spain, which also includes the JPG, Mondoffice, Kalamazoo and Bernard brands. With the purchase, the French group will have more than 3,000 employees, serve 1 million customers and reach 1,000 million euros in turnover. “In 65 years, the RAJA Group has been able to evolve staying faithful since its creation, to the entrepreneurial spirit and the culture of customer service. This acquisition is the largest external growth transaction of our Group” said Danièle Kapel-Marcovici (photo), president and CEO of the RAJA Group. “Our goal is to develop our global strategy with companies and accelerate our growth in Europe. I am very satisfied with this new acquisition, which reinforces our position in the European distribution market for companies, beyond our solid organic growth. I am also pleased to welcome the RAJA Group The RAJA Group, present in 18 countries, is recognized in Europe for its presence in the packaging and equipment market for companies. The previous year the Group generated revenues of 631 million euros and had, before the acquisition of Staples Solutions, more than 1,900 employees.
Online startup Papier just got more than $ 11 million in investment Online startup Papier, known for creating custom “on demand” stationery, has just earned more than $ 11 million in Series B investment. The company announced that this will support a huge boost in the United States, as well as boost a number of products releases. Papier sells a newspaper or notebook every two minutes, which proves that the demand for paper products is growing in the digital age. Founded in 2015 by Taymoor Atighetchi, Papier has quadrupled in size over the past two years. Since its launch in the United States at the end of last year, the market now accounts for 15% of the brand’s total revenue and is growing at more than 40% each month. With this new investment, Papier plans to accelerate growth in this market by building on its strong customer community. Papier continues to expand its product range, with new categories representing 50% of sales in the last year. These have included Papier photo books, framed printing, diaries, wedding guest books among others.
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enterprises
in movement
Carlin opens two new franchises in Zaragoza and Ourense During this summer, the Carlin stationery franchise opened two new franchises. The first one is located in the town of Caspe, Zaragoza. The second one opened a week later, is located in the Galician town of Ourense. “Carlin is the leader of the stationery sector and the brand that offers the most advantages. That is why, when I had already consolidated the Alcañiz franchise, I decided to open that of Caspe, because I am very happy with the way they treat me, as well as the willingness for franchisees to progress in their business, “said Soriano. Carlin, this year, is celebrating its 30 years since its creation in 1989. In addition, it exceeds 540 franchises worldwide, operating mainly in Spain, but with a presence in Andorra, France, Portugal, Equatorial Guinea and Mexico. “We continue to open franchises throughout Spain, which shows that we are a reference for those entrepreneurs who decide to bet on the stationery sector. We are very satisfied with the pace of openings that we have during this 2019, and we will open more franchises from here to end of the year “, concluded José Hernández, general director of Carlin.
Papyrus sale gets authorization in Germany The long-awaited authorization finally arrived and the Portuguese group Inapa will be able to buy Papyrus Acquisition procedures were planned for the end of the previous year but the process had been paused as required by the German antitrust authorities. In October 2018, the owner group of Papyrus and Inapa had defined an agreement to merge their operations in Germany, creating an entity that would bill more than 1,000 million dollars annually and employing more than a thousand people. “This transaction is a milestone due to its size and potential for value creation,” said Diogo Rezende (photo), general manager of Inapa Group. “With the acquisition of Papyrus Deutschland, Inapa will strengthen its position in the largest European market, Germany. Customers will benefit from a broader product portfolio in all segments of graphics and office paper, packaging, visual communication, safety and hygiene solutions. ” The buyer is confident in strengthening their geographical presence, which will allow them to strengthen their customer service and increase their efficiency levels.
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