Office Supply & Paper Wholesalers Industry Profile

The US office supply and paper wholesale industry includes about 6,000 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with annual revenue of about $40 billion. Major companies include United Stationers, Unisource, S P Richards (a subsidiary of Genuine Parts), and Quill Corporation (a subsidiary of Staples). The industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies generate more than 60 percent of overall revenue.

Many US-based companies including Staples, OfficeMax, and Office Depot also have an international presence in office supply distribution. The companies often partner with leading international firms, such as OfficeMax's partnership with France-based Lyreco that serves customers in nearly 40 countries. Other leading international office supplies wholesalers include Herlitz AG (Germany), Manutan International (France), Spicers (UK), and Paperlinx (Australia).

The industry includes wholesalers of office supplies, office paper, and stationery. Companies that distribute bulk paper for further processing are not included in the industry. Computer and office equipment distributors are covered in a separate industry profile.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is closely tied to the level of business activity. The profitability of individual companies depends on merchandising and an efficient delivery system. Big companies have economies of scale in distribution because they can supply a wide range of products to the same customer. Small companies can compete successfully by distributing specialty products or providing superior customer service. The industry is capital-intensive: average revenue per employee is about $525,000.