Go Climbing Down Everex

Corporate Express uses the ”Yahoo-Defense” defense and thwarts a Staples bid by pointing to its first sales growth in a year in its US business. 

CEO says, “We believe that there is still value to be unlocked by better operational performance.”

Staples, still in pursuit, must agree… but it probably has a very different idea on whom should operate the Dutch office supplies chain.

 Go Get Stapled

The role of the local PC shop seems to be an endangered species, hunted by Big Box retailers, stalked by etailers, and ignored by vendors. In an industry where low price has been the mainstay diet of the predators, the PC shop will become extinct…unless it reinvents itself.

Here are some suggestions that might help.

1
You need a fresh look at your business. Step back, try to look at it as if you are seeing it for the first time. What do you see? Pretend you are a business consultant. What suggestions Continue reading...

Former DSGi CEO John Clare and Lord Saatchi (of advertising agency fame) will launch (with big promises) Myfaveshop, a social networking internet retail venture.

While online shopping is currently very functional, Clare says Myfaveshop wants to recreate the social side of shopping online. In the prod demo, you can see that buyers get to “choose their own store design” and the products inside.

The site, expected to launch in 2008,  will charge retailers for the right to be on Continue reading...

Staples proposes to buy Corporate Express shares for €7.25 each, a premium of approximately 67%.

Corporate Express rejects the proposal, saying "this proposal significantly undervalues the company and fails to reflect Corporate Express’ prospects…"

Staples makes public a letter sent to CE to provoke an official response.

Dear Corporate Express, Staples is Buying

A 26% sales drop, dwindling margins and tighter credit terms from suppliers push specialty retailer Sharper Image to seek Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

TomTom and Garmin are among the company’s largest creditors, with unsecured claims of $2.1 million each.

Caught in a severe liquidity crisis, Sharper Image will shut 90 out of 184 stores. They had $251.5 million in assets and $199 million in debts at Jan. 31. The company wants a $60 million loan from current lender Wells Fargo Continue reading...

European Commission’s anti-trust unit carried out “unannounced inspections” at Intel's Munich offices and at Media Markt and Dixons.

An investigation into restrictive business practices and abuse of a dominant market position, the EC is concerned about alleged rebates when OEMs buy most (or all) of their processors from Intel and alleged payment to OEMs to delay or cancel AMD-based lines. The EC wants to find out: Did Intel offer CPUs at below cost when bidding against AMD? Continue reading...