The pricing and cost analysis helps in deriving and projecting the actual cost of products or services over the forecast period. It considers all the cost components and provides a competitive advantage during supplier negotiations. Moreover, the outcome helps procurement leaders understand detailed and fact-based cost drivers for the category.
In this Office Supplies procurement intelligence report, we have estimated the pricing of the key cost components such as raw materials, labor, equipment, packaging and labeling, storage and distribution, and other costs. Components of other costs include R&D, rent and utilities, general and administrative, sales and marketing, compliance, and taxes.
Office Suppliers vendors often use one of many pricing structures. Cost-plus pricing is one of the prominent pricing structures being used. This model is utilized to maximize the profit for suppliers. It entails adding up all costs associated with the product and adding on a percentage for profit. This model offers benefits such as providing a consistent rate of return, ease of calculation, and reliability. However, it does not provide a competitive advantage and may not reflect the true value of a product. Another key pricing model used is bundled pricing, wherein two or more complementary items are sold together at a discounted price. It helps vendors to increase sales and average order value. Other key pricing models used are demand-based pricing and competition-based pricing.
The average monthly cost per employee for office supplies fluctuates substantially according to number of employees in the buyer’s organization. For instance, for a business size of 1 - 4 employees, the average monthly cost per employee is in the range of USD 70 - USD 95. This cost declines with rise in company size. For a business size of 40 - 50 employees, the average monthly cost per employee ranges from USD 40 - USD 60. Furthermore, for a business size of 200 or more employees, the average monthly cost ranges from USD 25 - USD 35.
Every company and its procurement unit look to bargain the best deal while procuring a set of products or subscribing to a set of services. Rate benchmarking comprises price/cost comparison of multiple sets of products/services to assess the most effective combination that can potentially assist the procurement team in getting the optimum rate.
The rates for this category are structured based on the product range, production costs, distribution and logistics costs, and market competition. Furthermore, the rates vary based on type of pricing model and length of contract. Long-term contracts are beneficial to both parties as they ensure security, stability, dedicated support, and resilient partnerships. Moreover, long-term contracts enable clients with vendor consolidation and help them negotiate pricing and payment terms.
B2B costs of office supplies vary as per type of product. For instance, in the U.S., prices of notebooks (single) are in the range of USD 2 - USD 6, prices of copy papers (set of 500 sheets) are in the range of USD 3 - USD 7, prices of binder clips (set of 50 clips) are in the range of USD 3 - USD 9, and prices of staplers are in the range of USD 5 - USD 18.
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Labor cost is one of the key components of the total incurred costs while offering a product or service. Therefore, an organization must decide on whether the focus category should be retained in-house or outsourced if the organization is providing its products or services at competitive prices. If the organization decides in favor of outsourcing, it must understand the difference in the salary structures of suppliers before selecting a supplier and formulating a negotiation strategy.
According to our research, Key Account Managers working in 3M Company and ACCO Brands Corporation receive a 10% - 15% higher base salary as compared to the salary received by Key Account Managers working in Staples, Inc. and The ODP Corporation. However, the year-on-year increment rate majorly depends on the Key Result Areas (KRAs).
Organizations may find it cumbersome to continuously track all the latest developments in their supplier landscape. Outsourcing the activities related to gathering intelligence allows organizations to focus on their core offerings. At this juncture, our newsletter service can help organizations stay updated with the latest developments and innovations and subsequently assist in preventing disruptions in the supply chain. We have identified the following developments within the Office Supplies category over the last two years:
In July 2023, Novatech, Inc. completed the acquisition of Carolina Business Equipment, Inc. This acquisition strengthened Novatech’s capabilities in providing copiers, printers, and display solutions to businesses. The acquisition specifically strengthened Novatech’s geographical capabilities in South Carolina, U.S. Moreover, the acquisition enabled the company to leverage Carolina Business Equipment’s capabilities in multifunction printers and copiers, which strengthened its overall office supplies portfolio in the U.S.
In March 2023, Global Office Supplies Ltd completed the acquisition of DC Direct Limited. This acquisition strengthened Global Office Supplies’ capabilities in providing office supplies to businesses in the U.K. The acquisition enabled Global Office Supplies to leverage DC Direct’s expertise and range in offering products such as desktop accessories and essentials, data storage media, filing accessories, inkjet supplies, and staplers. This facilitated Global Office Supplies to reinforce its product portfolio and cater to a wider base of customers in the U.K.
In February 2023, Nauticon Office Solutions announced the acquisition of Digital Office Products. This acquisition strengthened Nauticon Office Solutions’ portfolio of office supplies such as network printers, multifunction copiers, barcode printers, wide format printers, and scanners. The acquisition enabled Nauticon Office Solutions to expand its customer base in Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia in the U.S., and also enhanced Nauticon Office Solutions’ capabilities in providing technical support, maintenance, and repair to its customers.
Component wise cost break down for better negotiation for the client, highlights the key cost drivers in the market with future price fluctuation for different materials (e.g.: steel, aluminum, etc.) used in the production process
Offering cost transparency for different products / services procured by the client. A typical report involves 2-3 case scenarios helping clients to select the best suited engagement with the supplier
Determining and forecasting salaries for specific skill set labor to make decision on outsourcing vs in-house.
A typical newsletter study by capturing latest information for specific suppliers related to: M&As, technological innovations, expansion, litigations, bankruptcy etc.