New US research study highlights the impact of the pandemic on office and school supplies.

 

According to NPD Group’s new annual forecast, the Future of Office Supplies, the US office supplies industry is expected to end 2021 with revenue up eight per cent compared to 2020. This is also an increase of eight per cent compared to pre-pandemic revenue in 2019.

 

Leen Nsouli, executive director and office supplies industry analyst for NPD, said: “Looking ahead to 2022 and 2023, we forecast revenue in the US office supplies industry to dip slightly, down two per cent and one per cent respectively. 

 

“These declines can in part be attributed to the acceleration of digital product usage in offices and classrooms as a result of the pandemic,” she said. 

 

In fact, 40 per cent of teachers surveyed in NPD’s Future of Office Supplies report indicated that they will continue to rely more on digital methods of teaching. 

 

However, for many industry players this shift has provided opportunity for innovation and is likely to lead to more technology-blended products entering the market.

 

“We expect wellness activities for use at home or on the road will be a focus, presenting a continued opportunity for the industry. We also expect to see collaboration-related supplies do well as adults continue to find optimal ways to work together in a virtual and hybrid world,” Nsouli said.