OPI TALK

OPI's editorial team, along with CEO Steve Hilleard, take a look at the biggest stories and developments in the business products industry in 2020, and make their predictions for 2021.

Episode produced by Andy Braithwaite

The guest in this episode of OPI Talk is Boris Elisman, CEO of ACCO Brands.

ACCO has recently announced a significant acquisition, buying video games accessories manufacturer PowerA in a deal worth up to $400 million. This is part of a strategy to transform ACCO into a consumer products-oriented branded supplier.

With this in mind, OPI News Editor Andy Braithwaite asks Boris about how he views the office products channel, given the secular declines in many core categories and the challenges thrown up by the COVID-19 crisis…

Episode produced by Andy Braithwaite

This week’s episode of OPI’s podcast, OPI Talk, is all about sustainability and how to improve a company’s environmental credentials.

OPI Deputy Editor Michelle Sturman speaks with The Planet Mark Head of Business Development Jonathan Withey, an expert on sustainability who also has in-depth knowledge of the business supplies industry.

He discusses the journey to becoming more sustainable, how to reduce your carbon footprint and aim for net zero, the benefits of social value, the rise of plastics, and employee engagement.

The podcast features exclusive extracts from the Big Interview conducted with Jonathan for the November/December issue of OPI. Read the interview here.

Episode produced by Michelle Sturman (assisted by Andy Braithwaite)

Software provider ECI – a key partner for many business products dealers –recently announced it is to be acquired by private equity firm LGP.

Earlier this week, just before the Thanksgiving break in the US, OPI News Editor Andy Braithwaite spoke to Ron via Zoom to find out more about the transaction and for his thoughts on how the independent channel has been faring during the coronavirus crisis.

Episode produced by Andy Braithwaite

What are the priorities for Amazon Business UK? Why did a large public sector customer turn to Amazon Business during the COVID-19 crisis?

Listen to this OPI Talk podcast as Dave Brittain, Head of Amazon Business UK, and Paul Ashby, Strategic Procurement Manager at Oxfordshire County Council, answer these questions and more during conversations with OPI News Editor Andy Braithwaite.

This 20-minute podcast features extracts from those two interviews, conducted during the Amazon Business ABX conference in October. For a more comprehensive write-up and analysis, including thoughts on how the contract channel for office products might evolve, please read this article on the OPI website.

Episode produced by Andy Braithwaite

OPI CEO Steve Hilleard talks about industry disruption and why business supplies executives should participate in the OPI European Forum Online on 17-18 November.

One of the key themes of the upcoming OPI European Forum Online is the need to adapt to the accelerating changes we are seeing in our industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The virtual event has been designed to serve as a platform for industry leaders to debate the future of the business products sector. With the tagline ‘Winning in the Post-Pandemic Business Supplies Industry’, the Forum will cover a range of essential topics to ensure executives can maximise their chances of success once the world returns to a semblance of normality.

The Forum will include a keynote by Matthijs Rosman, a best-selling business author and Partner at innovative growth consultancy firm RevelX. He will help delegates design go-forward strategies to enable them to innovate their way out of this crisis.

Episode produced by Andy Braithwaite

One of the crucial issues at the moment for the business supplies industry is what the workplace, in particular the office, will look like post-COVID 19.

While we don’t know all the answers yet, one person who is well placed to talk about this topic is Martin Evetts, the Managing Director UK & Ireland for contract furniture specialist Haworth. Martin has been with Haworth for almost 20 years and his career in the property sector goes back to the 1980s.

In this episode of OPI Talk, OPI News Editor Andy Braithwaite speaks with Martin about his experiences of COVID-19 and what permanent changes the pandemic might have on how businesses organise their workspaces.

Episode produced by Andy Braithwaite