AAP reports that sales at Office Depot dropped 17% in North America in the fourth quarter – 18% when looking just at same store sales. This fall demonstrates how challenged the office supplies business is in the United States and, most likely, worldwide. Given the closure of OFIS by Harvey Norman and anecdotal evidence around, I’d expect significant sales falls in the large format stationery businesses here.
Newsagents have an opportunity here. Shoppers who usually go to an Officeworks for a big stationery buy up or to purchase furniture or technology will put thoses purchases off and therefore not pick up general office suppliers yet they will still need general office supplies.
Newsagents ought to refocus attention on stationery, make sure every customer visiting your shop knows that you aren in this space with quality product at keen prices and backed by excellent customer service.
Newsagents are well poised to pick up stationery business in the current economic climate. Whether we do that is up to us and the attention we bring to the category in our businesses.