A recent IBIS Global Research Report has some good news and some bad news for the stationery and office products industry. 

The Stationery retailing sector can expect to battle a strong headwind over the next five years as electronic communication and online retail trends will see a decline in paper and stationery consumption.    More...

Each year tens of thousands of Australian School Administrators are faced with the enormous task of making sure students have the stationery items required for the start of the school year. It’s an overwhelming undertaking.

Schools are looking for a way to streamline this process and provide a successful outcome for parents. What schools really want is to reduce the amount of time it takes when dealing with enquiries from parents.    More...

The recent Sensis e-Business Report contains some interesting statistics and prompts some interesting questions. The survey interviewed approximately 1800 small and medium size business (SME) proprietors, about their experiences selling online and their future intentions. The survey investigated levels of understanding, usage and take-up by small and medium businesses with regard to what e-commerce has to offer.
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Deloitte Access Economics recently released their latest Retail Survey saying that the Australian retail sector can expect a bump in sales in the pre-Christmas period. This is encouraging but it was more about the confidence of surviving it rather than walking away with a bonanza.

"Retailers expect a rise in overall sales but for margins to remain flat," said David Rumbens, a partner in Deloitte Access Economics.
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Earlier this month the Government moved to quash criticism that it was breaking an election promise over schools funding, announcing it will honour Labor`s Gonski commitments for four years and boost spending to those states that had not signed up to the arrangement yet.
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Much has been written about the spectacular shift in the way Australians use the internet to "consume".
Nothing can match the efficiency of clicking or touching on a computer devise to receive information and buy products, yet as humans we still crave the physical experience of a brick and mortar store. Consumers are now looking for a combination.    More...

Following the SA government decision to restrict schools to purchase only from the two overseas owned Staples and Office Max, common sense has returned.

Public pressure from Schools and their staff, who rallied against the original decision has forced SA Finance Minister Michael O`Brien to lift supply restrictions on metropolitan public schools.    More...

If you`ve been thinking about growing your sales to parents of school children in your local area a great resource is now available.

The Australian Schools Directory website will help you identify all schools in any geographical area in the Country.  It`s a rich resource for anyone wanting detailed information about the schools in their local area.    More...

Consumer confidence showed a slight uplift in March - up two per cent to 110.5 per cent - in the latest Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment.

However, it`s not always the sentiment that counts, particularly in the retail sector where improved consumer confidence has failed to result in consumers spending enough to spur a recovery, according to Australian National Retailers Association CEO Margy Osmond.    More...

South Australian Premier faces a backbench revolt after the State Government awarded a lucrative school stationery contract to multinational company OfficeMax ahead of SA-owned KW Wholesale Stationers.

Labor backbenchers Frances Bedford and Leesa Vlahos joined a protest rally against the decision on the steps of Parliament House today, with Ms Bedford joining the chant of "Save Our Jobs!` and holding a placard reading "Government Sends Jobs Interstate and Overseas."    More...

The Resource Allocation Model (RAM) will see NSW Principals take greater control of their budgets in 2013 school year.  State and Federal government reforms take effect in NSW public schools, including plans for more Principal autonomy. A significant reform to give more local decision making authority to schools to enhance student learning outcomes based on local needs.    More...

The Australian Government announced in the 2012 Budget that the Education Tax Refund (ETR) would be replaced by a new payment called the Schoolkids Bonus.  This new cash payment will help families with the costs of education and provides a guaranteed upfront payment to support eligible families.    More...

The demise of Wooldridges and Jacaranda, has left a giant "black hole" in the Back-To-School market  in WA, SA, NT and ACT, with teachers organisations, industry bodies and even Publishers in those states expressing concern over how students are going to get the supplies they need in the coming Back-To-School season.    More...

The Back-To-School Market Opens Up As Suppliers Enter Legal Battle.    More...

Sending a child to school is an expensive business, even at government schools, it`s not exactly free.    More...

The rush seems to be on as schools replace desk top computers in favour of portable tablets, but education experts remain unsure of the true educational benefits of such technology in the classroom.    More...

Apologies to William Shakespeare.  Using a cut-off date for orders has its obvious advantages. The money comes in early and ordering from your suppliers is much clearer. But it`s not without its disadvantages.    More...