40 something nearly at an end…I don’t want much

 I’m nearly there!  Tomorrow is the start of my 49th year and I’m at that point in life where I must seem a difficult person to buy a present for. More of that later…..

a happy birthday to Swervy...

It’s been a week and some in the OP industry and I have to say I’m not proud of the Sunday morning projectile spitting of the Orange juice whilst reading the Sunday Telegraph! It started a series of calls and meetings that this week has had many people on edge and I can understand why.

Office Friendly stakeholders – thats Suppliers, Members & Employees – are in pretty deep with Vow and could have been forgiven for feeling that the credit crunch and recession was just about CRUNCH very hard.  

This problem of course is not Vow’s alone – it’s an industry wide problem affecting everyone and we all need to reflect on how all the Office Products players need each part of the supply chain to be in good working order.

For many of the people I’ve spoken to it’s been a time for reflection on the partner that has been wobbling lately and when all the facts come out could make a fascinating movie – a combination of Gordon Gekkos Wall Street, Forest Gump and 12 Angry men (or in our case 178!).

 

 

                             

But, let’s be realistic here. The Vasanta position has been exacerbated by the world wide financial meltdown and a change in What’s In/What’s Out. The daily management activities have been under strain as the Credit insurers dealt blow after blow to our industry and let’s all realise that the 2007 leveraged buy out deal was the way forward to develop the business at that time.

In business however one of the constants is ironically change, and our industry will not be the same going forward. I firmly believe that Vow will come out of this  stronger and a company that in business parlance will be ‘Fit for Purpose’. It’s been too easy for the industry doom mongers and gossip lovers (as well as those who should know better) to revel in the woes of others.

My own views have been firmly in the ‘We’ll get through this’ camp and all who have spoken to me this week will be fully aware of the positive nature of my thoughts and beliefs relating to Vow.

 

There will no doubt be statements made at some point and I know as I sit here writing today without the knowledge of the outcome of financial negotiations going on, that I might be heading for a fall, but the Vow business, our KEY partner is an intrinsically strong business. It remains profitable, it remains supportive for OFDA members, it will return to good practises, stocks and sales. It has a formidable and positive MD in Ian Sinclair and it will have financial stability.

 

However much we all hanker for the good old days, the wholesale partner of choice for OFDA has changed but I do have 1 wish for my birthday (I told you I’d be back!).

It’s a birthday present in the form of a press release that says the office products industry is once more working with a strong Sheffield based wholesaler.

Then it’ll be a question of ….’all I want for christmas…’

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