Upstart superstores steal spotlight at NOPA - National Office Products Association, trade show, Atlanta, Georgia - Home Office Merchandising: Special Supplement

Discount Store News, Sept 23, 1991

Velo-Bind, which is in the process of merging with competitor GBC, introduced a combination 3-hole and 19-hole punch and binder aimed at the home office with a $180 list price. It has also revised its packaging to make it more retail-friendly.

Tops showed its new "Korners" paper sleeves containing no adhesives that fit over the corner of a sheet of paper and adhere by friction, meant to compete with 3M's Post-It notes. "A Korner is a note, paper clip and staple all in one," said product manager Jill Basford.

The company also showed a personnel kit aimed at the small business that contains one of each of the most popular forms pertaining to an employee, including applications, time sheets, evaluation forms and so on. "The small business customer isn't interested in a pad of 500 applications," said Tops' Vicki Templet. "The kits allow the small employer to establish an organized and consistent personnel system."

Pelikan, which recently purchased a Canadian manufacturer, Anthes, showed its newly broadened line for the first time. Anthes manufactures computer accessories, including a new line of superseals for computer keyboards, similar to the clear plastic protectors used on cash registers. The product is available in stock sizes, or a "custom" program that requires the customer to mail in a card with specific dimensions or model numbers.

"The addition of Anthes gives us both penetration into the Canadian market, and a one-stop shopping capability in the computer accessories industry," said Pelikan vice president, marketing Bob Brassell.

One of the most innovative new products is a public send-only fax machine marketed by Minolta. The kiosk (also available in tabletop and wall-mount versions) authorizes credit cards, prompts users, signals a valid connection, and automatically bills the accepted credit card after sending. "Send-only makes up about 85% of the public fax market," said Minolta Business Products national sales manager Allen Perlman. "We were willing to give up 15% of the market to get the 85%. The beauty of the product from a retailer's standpoint is that it is totally unattended. It doesn't use any supplies at all."

A major new exhibitor, Kao, entered the retail market in the diskette category. The Japanese-owned company manufactures its diskettes in Plymouth, Mass., and has been a leading OEM supplier for several years. The company signed on with United Stationers at the show (with product available this month) and held discussions with several superstores, a spokesman said. Kao supplies a full line of floppy disks, data cartridges and digital audiotapes.

PHOTO : Allen Perlman, national sales manager for Minolta Business Products, demonstrates the company's new send-only fax kiosk, developed for the mass market.