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 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.

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

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.

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 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.

Friday Apr 09, 2021

Talking sales with Superstat’s Alex Dunn

Friday Apr 09, 2021

The guest on this episode of OPI Talk is Alex Dunn, Managing Director of UK dealer group Superstat.

Superstat has just introduced an initiative called the Sales Academy, which aims to help sales professionals in the business products industry develop their selling strategies and skills.

The conversation with Alex touches upon the Sales Academy, but is mainly focused on the challenges sales people have had to face over the past year and what some of the permanent changes to their role may be post-COVID.

Friday Mar 26, 2021

Office products opportunities with NPD’s Leen Nsouli

Friday Mar 26, 2021

How did the pandemic impact the US office supplies retail channel in 2020, and what are the opportunities for resellers in 2021?

In this episode of OPI Talk, Leen Nsouli, the Industry Analyst for The NPD Group’s Office Supplies division, discusses results of the firm’s research into the retail channel in 2020.

She also looks ahead to opportunities for the 2021 back-to-school season and highlights other market trends that office products resellers ought to be focusing on.

Friday Mar 19, 2021

EOPA 2021 award winner, Richard Scharmann, CEO of PBS Holding

Friday Mar 19, 2021

OPI speaks to Richard Scharmann, this year’s recipient of the Industry Achievement award at the 2021 European Office Products Awards.

OPI News Editor Andy Braithwaite caught up with Richard shortly after he was presented with his award. They spoke about what the award meant to him, how PBS has navigated the COVID crisis, market trends and recent acquisitions. Richard also gave his views on the dismantling of the Staples and Office Depot businesses in Europe.

Wednesday Mar 03, 2021

Circular economy and sustainability with Lyreco's Isabelle Daubney

Wednesday Mar 03, 2021

For procurement departments, sustainability and corporate social responsibility criteria are increasingly playing an important role in supplier selection. Global business products reseller Lyreco has a strong track record in these areas, and last year launched its Circular Economy Pledge, a five-year project that aims to develop fully circular solutions for its customers.

Following on from last November’s article in the How to… section of OPI’s Green Thinking special issue, OPI News Editor Andy Braithwaite caught up with Isabelle Daubney, Lyreco’s Circular Economy Project Leader, to speak more about the Circular Economy Pledge project and other sustainability priorities at Lyreco.