OPI and Martin Wilde Associates (MWA) have published a new market research report that investigates the changing demands within the OP industry.
First launched in 2012, the original landmark publication Boiling the Frog: The OP Industry’s Guide to Younger Office Workers was regarded as vital market intelligence across the entire OP spectrum. The main premise of the research looked at the behaviour and attitudes of young office workers – those under 35 – whose usage of, and attitudes towards, traditional office products was likely to be different to that of their older colleagues.
Now, six years later, Boiling the Frog – Revisited covers the main elements of the first study, but also includes the new working environment that office employees require today, and their experience of interacting with, and purchasing from, OP suppliers.
The report answers key questions that will have a significant ongoing impact on the business supplies sector going forward. They include, among many others: which OP items are regularly being used in the workplace and for work at home; do workers prefer to use eco-friendly products if there is no price difference; and is Amazon being used as a source of OP?
The results are predictable as well as surprising. What’s unsurprising, of course, is that digitisation/technology continues to affect the working habits of all workers, regardless of age. But it’s the little nuances of working life that may catch the OP industry out in the not-too-distant future. For example, the research revealed that while online reviews for products are an important purchasing consideration, the youngest workers need convincing that they are actually genuine.
Alluding to the Amazon question, according to the report, there are a wide range of OP categories that are being bought from Amazon and Amazon Business, including office paper, ink and toner, and office furniture.
To find out more about these topics and much more, visit www.opi.net/frogrevisited. Also look out for a further snapshot of report results in the March issue of OPI.
Boiling The Frog – Revisited is available now, priced at £2,950 ($3,800).
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