25 October 2004 – London (UK): Office 1 Superstore has decided by mutual agreement with XPD that its retail franchise model is not suitable enough for them to enter into partnership, Office 1’s president and CEO Mark Baccash told opi.net.
He said: "We decided with XPD that our franchise model is completely different and requires greater resources than operating a traditional buying group. Office 1 UK continues without XPD with the other founding partners."
Office 1 launched its franchise model to UK members and suppliers in January this year. Later that month, the company signed a master franchise agreement with Office City to expand into the Irish market.
Baccash continued: "We are restructuring Office 1 UK adopting the classical Office 1 approach of opening model stores prior to the start of franchising."
Founding director of XPD James Wilson told opi.net that he agreed with Baccash’s comments, adding: "Trying to turn already established retail outlets looking for incremental benefits into full blown franchise agreements is difficult.
"XPD had identified retail as a distinct opportunity and will continue to pursue that in UK and its other markets of Germany and Italy and will do so in a way that better suits its current method of operating," he added.
Office 1 also said it plan on announcing further plans to the UK in the near future, as well as new markets in Central Europe, including the grand opening of two stores scheduled in Kiev, Ukraine, which will coincide with the OP fair there in November.
