Staples

Office supply retailing is one of the most dynamic and competitive retail channels where the quest for growth spawns constant change and new initiatives. It is important for retailers to pay close attention to environmental factors that influence the industry. Some of the environmental factors that affect the reatial industry are political and legal issues, macroeconomic issues, technological issues, social issues, demographics, and key trends in the business community. Political/Leagal issues can impact the industry because of changes in laws and regulations. political prosseses shape laws, which inturn affect how managers manage according to those laws (strategy book). Energy?

MacroEconomic issues affect the health and general well-being of the nation and the economy of the organization. The four major macroeconomical issues are the growth rate of the economy, interest rates, currency exchange rates, and inflation (or deflation) rates(stategy book). inflation and declining real wages. The economy is is stable with growth slowing in the office supply industry. Interest rates continue to hold steady in the economy. Currency exchange rates.....

Technological isues can be both creative and destructive. the pace of technological change has accelereted rapidly creating new methods of managing. technological change can also make an established product become obsolete overnight, creating a host of new product possibilities (strategy book).

Social issues refers to the way in which a society's values and mores affect the industry (strategy book). Examples may include health concerns

Demographics are changes in the characteristics of a population. changes in a population may occur in age, gender, ethnic origin, race, sexual orientation, and social class (strategy book). sales of products from minority and women-owned businesses are blossoming. Is diversity truly coming of age?

Key trend: Stationery volumes hit by paperless office. Another trends analysts are following for the months ahead are American manufacturers that are moving into foreign markets.

Reference table 20-Retail sales

Retail sales

(1995=100; % change in brackets)

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001