The office supply market is fragmented, with large chains, discount clubs, independent stores, supermarkets, drug stores, and other outlets fighting for market share. Staples, Office Depot, and OfficeMax, the three largest office supply chains, compete against discount clubs (such as Sam’s Club) for the budgets of both consumers and small businesses.

Consolidation of smaller players, along with an increasingly commoditized market, are likely trends in the next few years. Mintel believes national office supply chains and discount clubs will offer increasingly similar product lines at discounted price points, gobbling up sales from independent suppliers.

The office supply market is fragmented, with large chains, discount clubs, independent stores, supermarkets, drug stores, and other outlets fighting for market share. Staples, Office Depot, and OfficeMax, the three largest office supply chains, compete against discount clubs (such as Sam’s Club) for the budgets of both consumers and small businesses.

Consolidation of smaller players, along with an increasingly commoditized market, are likely trends in the next few years. Mintel believes national office supply chains and discount clubs will offer increasingly similar product lines at discounted price points, gobbling up sales from independent suppliers.

The report examines the following aspects of office supplies:

primary market factors that have driven and will continue to drive sales growth in the category

demographics of office supply shoppers, including the influences of gender, age, marital and family status, number of people in the household, income, and race/ethnicity

shopping patterns of office supply shoppers

financial history and future business plans of office supply stores

overview of new product rollouts at office supply stores throughout 2005

Mintel clearly identifies the principal external factors driving or curtailing sales growth in office supplies. Exclusive consumer research reveals the attitudes, needs and behavior of consumers, with analysis broken down both by demographic characteristics, and by product type. Six years of specific sales data provide a factual and impartial presentation of the market as a whole. Using the SPSS forecasting package, Mintel creates a five-year forecast of U.S. retail sales in the office supplies market, revealing potential opportunities for growth and product development.