The Roaring Twenties or the Great Depression? Strategic planning through the next chapter

On the 22nd of July 2021, Office Power hosted its first live event in over 18 months. Attended by over thirty dealers and industry leaders coming together to connect, learn and share knowledge, we discussed the challenges of strategic planning, the impact of Covid-19, and the future of the office supplies industry.

In this post, we summarise some of the key highlights from the event.

Evolving perspective on the impact Covid-19 will have on the business landscape.

Nick Wilson, EO Group CFO, discussed the different economic and sociological scenarios that business leaders have been experiencing these last few years and projected the global trends that will define 2021 and beyond.

Has Covid-19 rewritten the future of the Office Supplies industry and the dealer channel?

Our lively panel discussion brought together four leading industry experts. The panellists were:

• Robert Baldrey, Chief Sales Officer, Office Depot
• Kim Thurgood-Brown, Senior Business Development Manager, Exertis Supplies
• Mark Wilkinson, Regional Vice President and General Manager – UK & Ireland, Acco Brands
• Ian Haywood, Partner and Managing Director, UKOS

During the panel debate, our CEO Simon Drakeford quizzed the industry leaders on what they thought was needed to successfully pivot an office supplies business during uncertain times and what kind of impact Covid-19 was having on the industry. Varying opinions were shared, and all agreed that effective strategic planning is about more than just generating revenue. It’s about looking to the future and building an environment that allows for a large-scale digital and cultural transformation that can support the growth of a business.

Has the pandemic left our industry technology behind the curve?   

Chief of Staff Harry Stephenson discussed the importance of continual evaluation, the introduction of innovative products and the business benefits of automating processes. At a time when technology is evolving at such a rapid pace, Harry reviewed the exponential growth of eCommerce and technology, discussing how our industry could use this as an advantage to attract and retain customers.

Getting your business “Fit for the Future.” 

Bringing the event to a close – strategy planning expert Chris Paton from Quirk Solutions led a highly interactive, fun, experiential workshop. Chris’s unique skill set in strategic planning has seen him consult for companies such as Shell, Heineken and Waitrose, to name a few.

Sharing his experiences as a former military Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Marines, Chris encouraged dealers to adopt a more flexible way of thinking and shared invaluable techniques on strategic planning.

The end – until next time…

Our 20s Revival Forum proved to be a great success, and we’re delighted we could discuss and share experiences with so many dealers.