{"title":"Research","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"the-state-of-the-bp-industry-2025-26","title":"The State of the BP Industry 2025-26","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #7d0c0c;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b;\"\u003eToday’s Answers for Tomorrow’s Questions\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat are the issues that keep business products (BP) industry CEOs awake at night?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is that question which originally inspired OPI and Martin Wilde Associates (MWA) to launch \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b;\"\u003e\"The State of the BP Industry”,\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eits annual research study back in 2014.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the years go by, those issues change. So, planning the twelfth edition of this study, we canvassed key CEOs to find out exactly what is claiming their attention in the early hours. What we found was that, at present, many BP sector leaders were focussing on the following questions: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/na.eventscloud.com\/ereg\/index.php?eventid=866938\u0026amp;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInflation:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ehow is this impacting pricing strategies?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInnovation:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewhat are the greatest barriers to innovation and what share of BP companies’ sales will be from new products in 2026?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProspecting:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e which products are currently being used to attract prospect customers?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOnline marketplaces\/platforms:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #7d0c0c; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewhat share do these now have of the core BP market and who are the key and emerging players?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUS wholesaling:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e what has been the impact of Essendant’s decision to withdraw from supplying the US independent dealer community, and how will that gap in the market be filled?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAI:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein which areas is AI being leveraged in BP industry companies?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCyber attack:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e how vulnerable are businesses to this threat?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003eRecruitment:\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003ewhere are the skill gaps and what are the biggest challenges in attracting and retaining talent?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGender equality:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e how well represented are women employees in our industry's senior management teams?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWellbeing:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e how important is this in strategic planning?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 140%;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"The State of the BP Industry 2025-2026\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e, aims to provide reliable answers to these vital questions, based on c45 in-depth and online interviews with some of the best minds in the industry – the senior executives of key BP companies in Australia, Benelux, Canada, France, Germany, the UK and the USA.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003eAs usual, the survey will also focus on benchmarking other crucial KPIs for the BP industry, including:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003eWhat are the core market value growth trends in 2025 and 2026 and what has caused them?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003eWhich product categories are growing or declining overall in 2025 and 2026?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003eWhich new products and services areas have emerged as opportunities in 2025, and what will be the rising stars in 2026?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003eWhat are respondents’ overall revenue and margin trends in 2025 and 2026?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003eWhat share of distributors’ sales are accounted for by janitorial\/cleaning supplies, breakroom\/catering supplies, workwear \u0026amp; safety supplies, industrial supplies\/MRO products, print, promotional products, IT \u0026amp; technology products and managed services in 2025 and 2026?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003eWhat are resellers’ average order values in 2024, 2025 and 2026?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003eWhich distribution channels won or lost market share in 2025 and 2026?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003eWhich new channels\/distributors emerged as opportunities or threats in 2025?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003eWill respondents acquire another business in 2026? If so, what kind of company are they targeting?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 140%;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003eOnce again, the report will also detail the 2025 financial performance of the key 15 BP distributors in the US, Europe and Australia.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 140%;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003eAs the BP industry continues to ask new questions, CEOs need reliable answers. \u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #d6550b; line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003eThe State of the BP Industry 2025-2026\"\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003eprovides informed input from peers and competitors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 140%;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 22.4px;\"\u003eThe report is available for \u003cstrong\u003e£1,025.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"OPI","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55618679177592,"sku":null,"price":1025.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1166\/1932\/files\/SOTI2025-26.jpg?v=1785166488"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1166\/1932\/collections\/SOTI2025-26_5e81b4ad-a411-4863-a7e9-07fff0d2d9c2.jpg?v=1785344237","url":"https:\/\/sales.opi.net\/collections\/research.oembed","provider":"OPI Membership","version":"1.0","type":"link"}