This week saw the much mooted launch of Amazon Business in the UK.

It could mark a sea change in the market for office consumables, including stationery, janitorial supplies, power tools and IT equipment.

At the moment, most mid-market organisations spending more than £40k and above per year on office supplies, often take advantage of the competitive pricing and personal service afforded by dealers. The dealers are personable, knowledgeable and act as a useful bridge between manufacturers and the client. However the arrival of a behemoth like Amazon threatens to rip up the established model and commoditise the market. Their leverage and buying power – the organisation turned over 135 billion USD last year – and the arrival of tech savvy millennials into decision making positions could combine to change things in the market substantially.

It could be, that these buyers – already personal customers of Amazon – rate the brand and ease of use. They don’t necessarily need (or want) personal interaction and are driven by online ‘compare the market’ style thinking, to drive them towards the best price. What that this might mean for those working in this sector remains to be seen. But one thing looks likely – they are here to stay, not to be ignored and things will change.

Watch this space. For more on this please visit the BBC website and for more on how to ensure best value in this area, please contact us.

Article by: Sue Cooke