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 Jun 11, 2021

Data: the currency of the future

Friday Jun 11, 2021

Discussing the importance of data with Lars Faustmann from HP Inc.

In this episode of OPI Talk, OPI CEO Steve Hilleard speaks with Lars Faustmann, Digital Transformation Manager at HP Inc in Europe.

The focus of their conversation is the role of data in driving the customer experience and what this means for HP and its channel partners. Lars also explains the rationale behind HP’s new Amplify partner programme.

Episode 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

Friday Jun 04, 2021

Discussing UK office products wholesaling and the independent reseller channel

Friday Jun 04, 2021

When UK wholesaler Spicers folded last year, it dramatically changed the balance of what had essentially been a duopoly in the market between Spicers and VOW.

One consequence is that it has opened the door for another distributor, Exertis, to play a more prominent role.

In this episode of OPI Talk, OPI News Editor Andy Braithwaite speaks with Exertis Supplies Commercial Director Raj Advani about recent developments at the company and for his thoughts on the UK independent office products channel.

Friday May 28, 2021

Sustaining hope in a challenging year

Friday May 28, 2021

This week’s episode of OPI Talk features two guests: Greg Gibson, VP and General Manager, North American Papers at International Paper, and Matt Dodd, Senior Executive Director of Corporate Philanthropy at City of Hope.

Gibson is this year’s National Business Products Industry’s Spirit of Life Honouree, spearheading the 2021 Sustain Hope campaign. NBPI has been supporting City of Hope for over 40 years, raising more than $220 million during that time.

This fundraising campaign has been like no other, of course, with so many physical events cancelled. One of these is the City of Hope medical research centre campus tour, typically held in February. As Dodd explains, this is being replaced by a Virtual Tour in mid-June, preceded by a final push for the NBPI’s personal giving campaign.

Gibson and Dodd talk to OPI’s Heike Dieckmann about this unique year – the challenges faced, the opportunities embraced and the progress made in terms of moving a step closer to City of Hope’s ultimate mission and focus – to eradicate cancer and diabetes.

Episode produced by Heike Dieckmann
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 May 21, 2021

What’s wrong with the office supplies channel?

Friday May 21, 2021

Acme United had another record quarter at the start of 2021 as its revenue surged by more than 20% year on year.

Yet, despite this, the company’s sales to key office products customer groups – superstores, wholesalers and independent dealers – were each down by more than 20%. Why was that?

In this episode of OPI Talk, OPI News Editor Andy Braithwaite discusses these results with Acme CEO Walter Johnsen. Walter also offers some advice on what these channel players could be doing to improve their customer experience, and looks ahead to better times as more workers return to the office.

Friday May 14, 2021

Dealer opportunities in air treatment – Act now

Friday May 14, 2021

In this episode of OPI Talk, OPI CEO Steve Hilleard speaks to Mike Booth, Global Market Director for Air Treatment at Fellowes Brands.

The conversation couldn’t be timelier as companies seek to figure out how to return to the office safely, following more than a year of dealing with COVID-19.

As coronavirus is an airborne transmitted virus, the critical need for 'smart' air cleaners that use HEPA filters to enhance the air quality in shared work, education and public spaces has never been more vital.

Mike, one of the leading experts in the field, explains the importance of air filtration, especially in light of the pandemic, answers the questions that customers are asking, and details the opportunities the air treatment category offers business supplies resellers.

Episode produced by Michelle Sturman
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 May 07, 2021

Dealer challenges and opportunities down under

Friday May 07, 2021

Our guest in this episode of OPI Talk is Darren Hayes, CEO of Quick Corporate Australia. Quick Corporate is the third largest B2B business supplies operator in the Australian market; it’s also the largest member of the Office Choice dealer group.

OPI’s Heike Dieckmann spoke to Darren for an interview in the forthcoming May/June issue of OPI. Topics, following an overview of Quick Corporate and the Australian market post much consolidation, include the pressing need among the independent dealer community to cooperate more, particularly as regards logistics.

This is an excerpt from the interview. For more in-depth information and to read the full feature in the magazine, make sure you are subscribed to OPI.

Tuesday May 04, 2021

A milestone of independence

Tuesday May 04, 2021

On 4 May 2021, US-based independent dealer Guernsey celebrates its 50th year in business.

To help mark the occasion, OPI CEO Steve Hilleard talks to Guernsey founder and CEO David Guernsey, a man who has had an immense impact on the business supplies industry, not just in the US, but globally.

In this episode of OPI Talk, Dave chats about the trials and tribulations of being an independent dealer spanning five decades, including the milestones, the highs and lows, the pandemic, the future of the IDC and the wider industry, and much more.

Friday Apr 30, 2021

The evolving world of retail with Staples Connect

Friday Apr 30, 2021

In this episode of OPI Talk, OPI News Editor Andy Braithwaite catches up with two executives from Staples’ US Retail operations: Amy Lang, SVP Strategy & Insights, and Brian Coupland, SVP Retail Merchandising.

Staples has approximately 1,000 outlets in the US and recently announced it was evolving its brand to Staples Connect, with a tagline of The Working and Learning Store.

Topics discussed in this podcast include: how Staples stores had to evolve during the COVID-19 pandemic; bringing new and innovative products quickly to market; the changing role of retail; the rebranding to Staples Connect; and the importance of an omnichannel proposition.

Friday Apr 23, 2021

Embracing the future at the OPI Global Forum Online

Friday Apr 23, 2021

On 5-6 May, OPI will be holding its annual Global Forum, an interactive forum for key industry leaders in Europe, North America and beyond to debate and define the future of the OP sector.

A virtual event this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Global Forum Online has been specially put together to help business leaders develop strategies to succeed in a post-pandemic world.

In this episode of OPI Talk, News Editor Andy Braithwaite speaks to OPI CEO Steve Hilleard about the forum’s programme and why it is an event not to be missed.

More details about the OPI Global Forum Online can be found by clicking here.

Friday Apr 16, 2021

Mike Gentile, ISG: ‘It’s going to be a love fest!’

Friday Apr 16, 2021

Independent Suppliers Group (ISG) CEO Mike Gentile looks ahead to Industry Week in November 2021.

With the physical events calendar having been pretty much obliterated by COVID restrictions, everyone is looking forward – and that’s an understatement – to catching up with industry colleagues and friends again in person.

A major business products event taking place in the US in November is Industry Week ‘21, the initiative that leading dealer organisation Independent Suppliers Group (ISG) has been planning for some time.

In this episode of OPI Talk, hosted by OPI News Editor Andy Braithwaite, ISG CEO Mike Gentile looks ahead to Industry Week ‘21 and what delegates can look forward to. He also discusses ISG’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and what actions the group took to help its more than 700 members. Plus, Mike gives his thoughts on the upcoming OPI Global Forum Online and the topics that are front of mind for the independent dealer community.