OPI Past Events
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Programme
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Wednesday 7 May
13.00 Golf Tournament
16.00 Conference registration
18.30 OPI Europe 2008 Welcome Party – including a business networking reception
Thursday 8 May
08.00 Networking breakfast
09.00 Welcome to OPI Europe 2008
Steve Hilleard, CEO, OPI
09.15 Chairman’s opening remarks
Francesco Villa, General Manager, Gruppo Buffetti
09.30 Keynote Address: Megatrends Shaping Tomorrow’s Societies and Markets
Jeanette Huber MA, Member of the Board, Zukunftsinstitut
Jeanette Huber is a leading futurologist and has studied the impact of future trends extensively. We will see the world of work change dramatically over the next few years – work will become more virtual, more mobile, more knowledge-based, more individual and we will see the rise of a new business elite.
As work changes so will the products that support it and this will affect what we sell and how we sell it. As an industry we will need to offer new and innovative products and services to ever more demanding consumers if we are to meet their needs. These changes are happening at different rates across Europe, but they will happen to us all in the end and therefore we need to be prepared.
Jeanette Huber will give us an insight into what to expect from our future customer and then it is up to us to make sure we deliver.
10.30 Coffee break
11.00 Web 2.0: Trends and Innovations on the Web
Jennifer Stine, President, Fortune Web Marketing
Web 2.0 isn’t just for the Millennial Generation, but an important development for businesses too. This is not about technology but it is all about the way companies maximise existing web-based platforms more effectively.
As office products are easily displayed, discussed and sold over the internet it is essential that you embrace the full potential of the web and use these developments to reach your new and old customers.
• What is Web 2.0?
• User-Generated Content: The real power behind Web 2.0.
• Wikis and Forums, Blogs, Social Networking and Bookmarking Sites, Rich Internet Applications, API, XML and RSS Feeds.
• What’s next? Web 3.0!
11.30 The Google Revolution has Landed: Implications for the OP Industry
George Karibian, Executive Chairman/Founder, Euroffice
The internet transformation of our industry has finally arrived. Who would have imagined, during the peak of the dot com bubble, that Google would lead this revolution. Today, Google brings us our new online customers. It is also increasingly responsible for ongoing repeat orders. And now it is offering to take payment from the customer on the dealer’s behalf.
Clearly, Google is the big winner. And, disturbingly, this trend is driven by the free will of our once loyal customers. But what does it mean for our industry? Is it the end of an era? What is it going to take to succeed in this new world?
12.00 Lunch
13.15 A Taste of Italy
Adrianno Alessio, Managing Director, InUfficio and Vice President, AIFU (Italian Association of Office Product Suppliers)
How does the Italian market compare to other markets in Europe? What can we learn from each other?
13.40 OPI Business Networking Focus
This new session will enable all delegates to maximise their networking while broadening their knowledge of the key subjects at the conference. Following an intensive morning of sessions, this interactive and focused business networking session will enable you to learn more about these vital areas while taking advantage of the knowledge of the senior executives in the room.
Facilitator: Christine Thompson, Director, Bellthompson
15.00 Break-out sessions
Break-out 1A: Trends and Innovations
Future Office Trends and their Impact on the OP Industry
Jeanette Huber MA, Member of the Board, Zukunftsinstitut
During this interactive session you will discover how we as an industry can adapt to changing trends through innovation in our products and services.
• How will these trends affect your industry?
• Where do you see room for innovation? What type of innovation?
• Which developments might threaten traditional markets, products and/or business models?
• Which new markets will come into existence? How could you tackle them?
Break-out 1B: Dealer Focus
There is Nothing Permanent Except Change
Martin Reid, Managing Director, Egan Reid
Egan Reid has been a successful business for over 50 years. So what are the secrets of its success? Martin Reid shares some of his experiences and his vision for the future of the independent dealer.
• Where to look for new opportunities.
• How to select the best ideas.
• What do your customers want from you?
• The key to involving your staff.
• What will the next 50 years bring?
• Case studies to illustrate both success and failure.
Additional case studies from:
Mark Heath, Managing Director, Bluefish Office Products
Richard Martin, Group Chief Executive, Kingfield Heath
Break-out 1C: Emerging Markets
What are the Developing International Opportunities and What do they Mean for You? Country focus on Russia and The Middle East.
Speakers include:
Leonid Spiridonoff, President, Top Pen
Russian Roulette - the challenge of the OP sectorMarket overview
- Market overview
- Changing product portfolios
- Developing the wholesale market
- Case Study – what works in Russia?
- Future Opportunities
Ahmed El Sherif, Business Development Manager, SpeedSend, Egypt
The Middle East: A $4 Billion Opportunity - The Fortunes of Consolidating a Fragmented OS Market
- How will the ecomony develop in the next 5-10 years?
- What will be the impact on the ecomony, inflation and jobs?
- Comparison of retail and contract markets
- Importance of brand owners
- Long term vision
16.30 Break-out sessions
Break-out 2A: Trends and Innovations
Future Office Trends and their Impact on the OP Industry
Jeanette Huber MA, Member of the Board, Zukunftsinstitut
During this interactive session you will work in teams to discover how we as an industry can adapt to changing trends through innovation in our products and services.
• How will these trends affect your industry?
• Where do you see room for innovation? What type of innovation?
• Which developments might threaten traditional markets, products and/or business models?
• Which new markets will come into existence? How could you tackle them?
Break-out 2B: Dealer Focus
Working with Web 2.0. What it Means for your Business
Jennifer Stine, President, Fortune Web Marketing
This session provides a closer look at the most successful applications of Web 2.0 technologies. From Social Networking Websites, Blogs, and Wiki’s, to the deployment of Rich Media, we will explore what makes these websites so powerful and effective, and most importantly how you can leverage Web 2.0 applications for you business.
• What are the best examples of Web 2.0 in our industry.
• Wikis and Forums (Wikipedia, message boards, discussion groups) Blogs, Social Networking and Bookmarking Sites (Digg, del.icio.us, MySpace, FaceBook, LinkedIn).
• Rich Internet Applications (AJAX, Flash, technologies that enhance the user experience).
• What can you do with Web 2.0?
• Web 3.0 – Be ready for the future!
17.30 Join us in the bar!
At the end of this full day you’ll be ready for a drink, but also for the chance to discuss some of the ideas generated throughout the day. Join your colleagues and our speakers in the bar and take advantage of your collective knowledge.
20.00 OPI Europe 2008 Gala Dinner
Friday 9 May
08.00 Networking breakfast
09.10 Welcome
09.10 Making Sustainability Work: Creating Innovation through Lifecycle Thinking
Allan Smith, Vice President, Marketing, R & D, Environmental Strategy, Steelcase International
Can designing for sustainability create innovation and, ultimately, competitive advantage? Allan Smith was named one of the top 100 most influential people in business ethics for 2007 by Ethisphere magazine and is a leading practitioner of sustainability. He will use his expertise and experience to talk about lifecycle thinking and, through examples and case studies, identify best practices in sustainability.
Smith will illustrate how to create valuable, meaningful differences in products and services and how to translate these into sustainable, long-term benefits for companies, people and the environment.
• What is designing for sustainability?
• What is lifecycle thinking?
• Ten dimensions of innovation.
• Creating your own innovation models and ideas.
09.40 Venus and Mars in the OP Universe: How to Profit from the Gender Difference
Andrea Davis, President, Fellowes Europe and Rita Lübbe, Owner, Rita Lübbe Consulting
Drawing on their own experiences from within the OP industry and outside combined with supporting statistics, research and case studies, Davis and Lübbe take a candid look at the real business benefits of a mixed management approach.
How do women really differ from men when it comes down to strategic management and career developments and why should you care?
10.10 India: A Country with Limitless Potential
Ashok Srivastava, COO, Office 1 Superstore
- India a consuming economy
- Trends in office products businesses in India
- Current distribution channels in India
- Current and future potenial demand
- Buying behaviour in various corporate sectors
- India, the future's biggest market for office products.
10.40 Coffee Break
11.05 Packaging “Sustainability” into your Products
Fiona Durie, Project and Services Officer, The European Organization for Packaging and the Environment (EUROPEN)
All packaging entering the EU market, including that for office products, is subject to legal requirements that entail costs for producers. In this presentation, EUROPEN will outline the EU regulatory framework for packaging during design, use and end-of-life phases.
The lessons learnt by the food and drink sector, traditionally the prime target for ‘anti-packaging’ sentiment, will be explained as experience shows that new business sectors are at risk of being targeted. More specific issues relevant to the office products industry will be highlighted and EUROPEN will suggest a checklist for your corporate packaging policy.
11.35 The View of the Customer
Stefano Piazza, Vice President, ADACI (The Italian Association of Purchasing managers) and Director of Purchasing, Inflight Services, Alitalia
12.05 Panel Discussion: How can Resellers Deliver the Office of the Future?
A panel of leading resellers will discuss the challenges they face and the best ways to take advantage of forthcoming opportunities.
Chairman: Massimo Berardi, Managing Director, Corporate Express and President, AIFU (Italian Association of Office Product Suppliers)
George Gerardos, Founder and CEO, Plaisio Computers
Thomas Heine, Director, Office Golf Club
Marc Nijhof, Commercial Director, Alpha International
13.00 Lunch
14.00 Close
