OPI TALK

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Episodes

Hear the latest news, interviews and analysis from the business supplies industry hosted by OPI, the leading media organisation for the international office products sector.

Episodes

Friday Apr 28, 2023

Free previews from keynote speakers at OPI’s European Forum 2023

Friday Apr 28, 2023

The OPI European Forum is taking place in Amsterdam from 22-24 May 2023, but you can listen now to three of its keynote presenters.

In this episode of OPI Talk, OPI Director Janet Bell goes through some of the highlights in store for attendees. You can also hear extracts of interviews with three high-level speakers who will be presenting and leading roundtables on key topics at the event:

James Brown, Senior Partner & Managing Director UK at Simon-Kucher & Partners: managing pricing in an inflationary environment.
Mick Heys, VP of Imaging & Future of WorkSpace Practice Lead at IDC EMEA: the relevance of the office and opportunities for the business products channel.
Perry Timms, founder & Chief Energy Officer at People and Transformational HR (PTHR): tackling human resources issues and developing great teams.

These are parts of more in-depth interviews that can be found on a new OPI webinar. To watch that webinar, click here.

The early rate that offers significant discounts (in the hundreds of euros) on the standard price of attending the European Forum ends at midnight (UK time) on Sunday 30 April. Find out how to book your place on the Forum web page.

The European Forum is just one of several events that OPI is organising in the coming months. These include a number of Executive Dinners that are exclusively open to OPI’s VIP, Corporate and Ultimate members. More details of memberships can be found here.

In November, the OPI team will be heading to Chicago for the annual Global Forum, which is tailored specifically for leaders in the international workplace products segment. Registration is now open, with a $755 discount on the standard rate available until 30 June.

As Janet mentioned in the podcast, she is currently taking part in the annual retreat of the Office Products Women in Leadership (OPWIL) organisation. Any female executives who are interested in finding out more about OPWIL or are interested in joining should click on this link.

Episode recorded and edited by Andy Braithwaite
Music by:
Extreme Energy by MusicToday80: https://soundcloud.com/musictoday80/r...
Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Music provided by Free Vibes: https://goo.gl/NkGhTg

Friday Apr 14, 2023

The potential of data-driven cleaning with Tork’s Nancy Farrell

Friday Apr 14, 2023

With cleaning and hygiene taking on even greater importance since the COVID pandemic, one way of driving productivity and efficiency gains is through a better understanding of data.

In this episode of OPI Talk, Nancy Farrell, Senior Product Manager, Tork Services & Solutions at Essity discusses how data-driven cleaning benefits both facilities managers and frontline cleaners.

Episode recorded and produced by Andy Braithwaite
Music by:
Extreme Energy by MusicToday80: https://soundcloud.com/musictoday80/r...
Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Music provided by Free Vibes: https://goo.gl/NkGhTg

Monday Mar 06, 2023

Podcast: Walter Johnsen, Acme United

Monday Mar 06, 2023

OPI Talk spoke to Acme United CEO Walter Johnsen shortly after the supplier’s FY2022 earnings conference call.

Johnsen gives his frank assessment of Acme’s performance in 2022, provides more details of an acquisition in Europe and discusses future acquisition possibilities.

Tuesday Feb 28, 2023

Podcast: ACCO Brands CEO Boris Elisman

Tuesday Feb 28, 2023

OPI Talk spoke with Boris Elisman straight after ACCO’s FY2022 earnings conference call.

Last Thursday, 24 February, ACCO Brands published its Q4 and FY2022 earnings. In what was a year of two halves, the business products supplier managed to achieve organic sales growth despite a slowdown in consumer-related channels and a soft market for gaming products.

In this podcast, Elisman, who is the 2023 Spirit of Life honouree, talks about the start to this year’s City of Hope fundraising efforts, ACCO’s performance last year, its new restructuring programme, and some of the market trends he is seeing.

Tuesday Feb 21, 2023

Podcast: Beth Wright of Fellowes

Tuesday Feb 21, 2023

The March 2023 issue of OPI magazine will feature the inaugural Influential Women in the Business Products World list.

To mark the occasion, the issue also includes a Big Interview with Beth Wright, Chief Commercial Officer at leading vendor, Fellowes Brands.

In this Big Interview ‘teaser’ podcast, OPI CEO Steve Hilleard talks to Beth about how she got started in the business supplies sector, her rise to her current role at Fellowes and why there are so few women in leadership roles in the industry.

Friday Jan 27, 2023

Kim Leazer & Beth Freeman, FSI Office

Friday Jan 27, 2023

OPI Talk speaks to mother and daughter duo Kim Leazer and Beth Freeman, part of the leadership team at family-owned US independent dealer FSI Office.

The two ladies represent the second and third generations at FSI, which was founded by Jimmy and Diane Godwin back in 1962. Among other things, they talk about generational change, renewing sales teams, women leaders in the business products industry, and the recent acquisition of wholesaler S.P. Richards.

Thursday Dec 22, 2022

OPI Talk meets NAOPA 2022 winner Charlie Kennedy

Thursday Dec 22, 2022

In the final OPI Talk podcast of 2022, Andy Braithwaite catches up with Charlie Kennedy, winner of the Professional of the Year prize at the 2022 North American Office Products Awards.

Charlie discusses some of the opportunities in the US independent dealer channel, the priorities at his dealership, Kennedy Office, and his role as Chair of the Independent Office Products and Furniture Dealers Association.

Friday Dec 16, 2022

OPI’s 2022 round-up and 2023 predictions

Friday Dec 16, 2022

OPI CEO Steve Hilleard and News Editor Andy Braithwaite take a look back at the main business products stories from 2022 and make some predictions on what to look out for in 2023.

Friday Nov 18, 2022

Langstane - still evolving after 75 years

Friday Nov 18, 2022

Leading Scottish independent dealer Langstane has been celebrating its 75^th anniversary in 2022.

To mark that occasion, and to find out how Langstane has been dealing with recent market challenges, the guest on this episode of OPI Talk is the company’s Managing Director Colin Campbell.

Campbell talks about the Scottish business products market, how Langstane has diversified its product and service offering and customer base, current inflationary and macroeconomic pressures… and what he thinks of England’s chances at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar!

Friday Oct 07, 2022

A look at the latest US school and office supplies trends with NPD

Friday Oct 07, 2022

In this episode of OPI Talk, NPD’s Leen Nsouli discusses the back-to-school (BTS) season and year-to-date performance of the office supplies sector in the US.

Nsouli looks at some of the reasons for the challenging BTS sales picture during August, the continued share gains in the online channel and the potential for environmentally friendly products.