Global Office Equipment Market to Reach US$78 Billion by 2015, According to a New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

San Jose, California (PRWEB) January 17, 2012

Follow us on LinkedIn ? Businesses are increasingly emphasizing on implementing measures that can increase productivity, improve efficiency and minimize cost of their office equipment. Advent of modern office automation processes has allowed office equipment to become cheaper, faster, and more advanced, enabling offices to deliver better output and become paperless in the true sense. With improved infrastructure and advanced digitization processes, standalone equipment can now be networked with computers. As a result, companies are adopting solutions such as enhancing the flow of electronic information, shifting to A4 from A3 devices, installing multifunction products, consolidating office equipment, and implementing managed print services, to gain the most of their office environments. With an aim to minimize cost, businesses are leveraging on the expertise of equipment suppliers to enhance information flow to right-size equipment. The migration of stand-alone users to multifunction printers and growing acceptance of color enabled copiers/printers offers potential growth opportunity in the office equipment market.

The United States and Europe are mature markets for office equipment and therefore growth in these countries is expected to be relatively slow in the near future. Strong growth is expected from the developing markets of Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, in particular China, Brazil, India, Indonesia and Russia. China represents the largest market for office equipment in Asia-Pacific, with the demand for equipment such as Multi Function Products (MFPs) increasing at a significant pace. Rapid economic growth and emergence of numerous small and medium scale enterprises is contributing to the increased demand for low-end MFPs in China.

Product and technology innovations are driving global sales of office equipment. The new products are also cost-effective, efficient, and user-friendly thereby improving business efficiency of office environment. Presently, multifunctional products, that are capable of carrying out many tasks, are becoming popular in offices and home setups. Technological advancements have also played a vital role in improving the quality and reliability of multifunction printers. Further, the development of standards for interoperability of various electronic digital devices has made it possible to develop the multifunctional products.

The small office and home office (SOHO) sector offers enormous opportunities for manufacturers of office equipment. The sector accounts for a substantial portion of the demand for printers, PCs, copiers, scanners, faxes, and answering machines. While laser printers are popular with small offices, inkjet printers are popular with home offices. The market has also benefited from the declining prices of various products targeted at the SOHO sector. The increase in home office users fueled growth in the PC and telecommunications markets. Advent of powerful and flexible new computers and networking equipment provides home-based enterprises the advantage of having computing power similar to that of a large corporation. Consequently, the demand for PC and equipment, including printers, fax machines, and scanners, continues to rise among home-office users.

The research report titled ?Office Equipment: A Global Outlook? announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a collection of statistical anecdotes, market briefs, and concise summaries of research findings. The report offers an aerial view of the global industry, identifies major short to medium term market challenges, and growth drivers. Market discussions in the report are punctuated with fact-rich market data tables. Regional markets elaborated upon include United States, Canada, France, Germany, UK, Japan, Australia, China, and India, among others. Also included is an indexed, easy-to-refer, fact-finder directory listing the addresses, and contact details of companies worldwide.

For more details about this comprehensive industry report, please visit ?

http://www.strategyr.com/Office_Equipment_Industry_Market_Report.asp

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a leading publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company currently employs over 800 people worldwide. Annually, GIA publishes more than 1300 full-scale research reports and analyzes 40,000+ market and technology trends while monitoring more than 126,000 Companies worldwide. Serving over 9500 clients in 27 countries, GIA is recognized today, as one of the world's largest and reputed market research firms.

Follow us on LinkedIn

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Telephone: 408-528-9966

Fax: 408-528-9977

Email: press(at)StrategyR(dot)com

Web Site: http://www.StrategyR.com/

###

Smith & Associates Reports on Global and Market Expansion in 2011

Houston, TX (PRWEB) January 25, 2012

Smith & Associates, a leader in the independent distribution of semiconductors and electronic components, today announced significant organic growth in 2011, positioning the company as a clear leader in the component market. The strategic addition of three new global offices, a 25 percent increase in workforce, and the expansion of its successful service programs resulted in Smith reaching global annual revenue totaling US$ 513 million in 2011.

In 2011, Smith increased its workforce to 350 employees globally, and opened new offices in Singapore, Taipei, Taiwan and Denver, Colo. This expansion better positions Smith to serve its customers around the world. Continuing this corporate strategy, the company plans to add more global offices in 2012.

In addition to global expansion, Smith also expanded its flagship services. Smith's suite of services provides customized solutions to help businesses maximize the quality and stability of their inventory needs and safeguard against disruptions. Among those service programs that were expanded are:

????The PartBank Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) program, which offers companies a fixed, cost-efficient source for managing inventory
????CycleIT, a secure and environmentally responsible asset disposition program
????The recently launched PPV Plus+ flexible cost-saving program, which helps customers find flexible ways of receiving high-quality components at the best price

?We live in a world where supply chain management is more critical than ever for electronics manufacturers? success,? said Marc Barnhill, chief trading officer at Smith & Associates. ?With a diversified, well-tested and quality-assured supply chain, manufacturers can withstand today?s increasingly common market uncertainties with confidence. Smith has the industry experience and knowledge to offer companies immediate solutions to their short- and long-term needs. Our clients know that they can count on us for tested and certified products when they need them.?

Smith's quality-first framework of programs and processes, SmithSecure, was also expanded in 2011, continuing the company's long-standing, staunch support of ensuring quality along the electronics supply chain. Smith further increased its leadership role against counterfeiting through the purchase of new, sophisticated, in-house, anti-counterfeiting laboratory equipment. In addition to the substantial investments and expansions in its anti-counterfeit lab equipment and inspectors' certifications, Smith was awarded a CCAP-101 certification, holding the company to a strict set of procedures for authenticating electronic components and ensuring product integrity. In turn, the standards for SmithSecure, the company?s overarching testing, sourcing, service and industry-awareness quality initiative, have also been increased.

Within Smith, the corporate responsibility to the environment was also a focus. As part of a companywide campaign to become fully sustainable and carbon-neutral by 2020, Smith completed an environmentally based, energy-efficient structural renovation, a "greenovation," of its Houston headquarters. Smith was also named an "e-Stewards Enterprise" by the Basel Action Network, the world?s only organization focused on confronting the global environmental injustice and economic inefficiency of toxic trade (toxic wastes, products and technologies) and its devastating impacts. The next phase of Smith's corporate sustainability campaign will be the "greenovation" of Smith's international offices.

Building upon the successes of 2011, Smith & Associates plans to further expand its service programs in 2012 to meet customer needs. Among the more immediate goals is Smith's diligent work toward earning an AS9120 quality management certification for aerospace product suppliers. More generally, Smith continues its pledge to providing leading commodity and market expertise through close industry monitoring and communication of findings through its MarketWatch updates and publications.

About Smith & Associates

Founded in Houston in 1984, Smith & Associates (http://www.smithweb.com) is a leader in the independent distribution of semiconductors and electronic components to electronics and high-tech manufacturers. Smith offers shortage sourcing for commodity and obsolete parts, innovative purchasing and inventory management solutions, redistribution of excess inventory, and component stocking for warranty and repair programs.

A privately held company, Smith & Associates employs more than 350 people worldwide, with annual revenue in excess of US$ 500 million. Smith's regional hubs in Houston, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam are ISO certified and IDEA compliant. In addition, sales and purchasing offices are located in Silicon Valley, Barcelona, Guadalajara, New York, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, and Denver. For more information or to reach a Smith representative 24 hours a day, please call: 1.800.HOUSTON or +1 713.430.3000

For more information, contact:

Mark Bollinger

Smith & Associates

V.P. of Marketing

Phone: +1 713.430.3000

Email: mbollinger(at)nfsmith(dot)com

Ashley Wilkinson

BOCA Communications

Phone: 415-738-7718

Email: smith(at)bocacommunications(dot)com

###

More Integration It Press Releases

N2N Global Announces New Cutting Edge Quality and Food Safety Program for Restaurants and Food Service Companies

Orlando, Florida (PRWEB) January 19, 2012

N2N Global is pleased to announce its new cutting edge Quality and Food Safety Program for restaurants and food service companies, said Chairwoman Angela Nardone. According to 2010 estimates from the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC), about 48 million people get sick in the US every year from food-borne diseases, Ms. Nardone said. Of that number, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die as a result of a foodborne illness. That means that 1 out of 6 consumers suffer from a foodborne illness at some point this year. With such staggering numbers, it?s no surprise that the food service industry has taken food safety compliance so seriously, Ms. Nardone added.

Ms. Nardone?s Florida based company provides operations compliance, and food safety solutions for food companies, which helps ensure the world?s food supply operates in an efficient and effective manner, resulting in a higher quality of food in the supply chain. Nardone works with restaurants, retailers, distributors, growers, packers and processors around the world. Restaurant food safety is an important area to Ms. Nardone.

?It?s never been more important for restaurants and food service companies to control food safety and quality throughout the food supply chain,? Ms. Nardone added.

Ideal for the restaurant and food service industry, N2N Global?s Quality & Food Safety Manager (QFSM) provides food safety compliance and product traceability from the source to the kitchen, helping ensure that the food served is safe and that it lives up to high levels of quality and consistency.

QFSM allows food industry companies to centrally manage all of the plans that get executed remotely. Electronically deliver the specific executions and capture the results. This insures all locations are on the most current plan and provides real time electronic information for analysis and continuous improvement.

?What?s more it allows customers to fully automate their front and back of the house compliance programs,? Ms. Nardone said.

Utilizing N2N Global?s software solutions, restaurants can electronically create orders for suppliers; match the product received at the restaurant location to the original order (account for quantity, quality, and even brand discrepancies); collect GS1 compliant traceability information; assign attributes or expirations when the product is received and placed it into storage (cooler, freezer, or dry storage); decrement that inventory as used or at the end of each day; and automatically generate a suggested new order upon daily usage of existing physical inventory.

?My goal in life is to help restaurants with their food safety & quality assurance process. I am their biggest customer!," Ms. Nardone said. "So I have a vested interest to help them provide their highest quality to the market.?

About N2N Global

N2N Global?s product suite brings powerful solutions for all members of the food supply chain. For Supply Side companies, N2N offers agri-ERP solutions, farm management, food safety, business analytics and traceability software. For direct to consumer and buy side companies, N2N offers food safety, compliance, and asset tracking tools to help ensure the food supply is properly managed for minimized risk. N2N Global provides comprehensive solutions for companies looking for ways to improve efficiencies, enhance profitability, and ensure food safety. To contact Angela Nardone directly, visit her on N2N?s twitter page http://www.twitter.com/n2nglobal. For more information, please visit http://http://n2nglobal.com. Through enhanced reporting, notifications, and system ?checks?, management can feel confident that less burden is placed on local staff to ensure that national suppliers are performing in a manner consistent with negotiated contracts.

###

Global Market for Sports and Fitness Nutrition to Reach US$67.2 Billion by 2017, According to a New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

San Jose, California (PRWEB) November 22, 2011

Follow us on LinkedIn ? The global sports and fitness nutrition market has been witnessing a phenomenal change in recent years. Products that were previously meant for athletes and body builders are now being targeted towards the general population. As consumer attitudes towards fitness turns favorable, these products are increasingly finding adoption among the non-athlete consumer group, particularly among the younger demographic profile. As a result, sports nutrition products that previously were touted for their muscle building potential are now being marketed as ones that promote good health. These beverages were conventionally placed in gyms and were rarely found in supermarket and retail store shelves.

With the favorable attitude of customers towards exercise, the definition of sports and fitness nutrition products also started changing. Younger generation, health conscious consumers, soccer moms, and weekend fitness warriors are now the core consumer cluster. Sports beverages are increasingly being used as refreshment drinks, which is further fuelling demand for these products in the marketplace, Presently, sports and energy bars are one of the fastest growing segments, as consumers are turning busier day-by-day and are more impulsive towards their purchases of meals or meal replacements. The supplements segment has also been growing at a significant rate in various parts of the world due to increased working hours and importance towards exercise and sports.

Manufacturers of sports and fitness nutrition products who conventionally distributed through select channels including catalogues, spas, and multi-level marketing, are now offering products through common and widely used delivery modes such as convenience stores and supermarkets to broaden their customer base. New trends are also being witnessed in the ingredients that go into the making of such products. With consumers increasingly turning away from artificial or synthetic products, sports and fitness nutrition products produced from natural ingredients are making inroads into the market. Delivery formats are also witnessing a transformation as manufacturers are attempting to offer formats that are not only convenient to use but which also facilitate optimized dispersion of active ingredients in the body.

Rising tide of regulatory changes across the world is the most serious issue affecting the future of global supplement sales. Supplement companies operating in North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, or Russia, are awaiting possible changes in legislation that may be widespread affecting the ingredients used in supplements, and the health and marketing claims that is to be made for such products. With sports nutrition market experiencing quite a lot of action in the last few years, regulatory bodies now assume a major role, coming up with strict enforcement policies toward sports nutrition. Several companies have been found to be padding their dietary supplements with steroids or FDA-approved drugs, making supplements an illicit drug rather than a dietary supplement. With rising ingredient scandals, social activists, and government authorities are demanding stern action to prevent inferior-quality ingredients reaching the retail shelves. Efforts are being taken to guard the supply chain with ongoing quality assurance education and GMP certifications.

In the global sports and fitness nutrition products market, the United States represents the single largest regional market, as stated by the new research report on Sports and Fitness Nutrition. Increasing awareness and growing usage among mainstream customers to improve personal fitness has led to significant growth of the market in the US. In terms of future growth, the Asia-Pacific market displays immense potential and is poised to expand at the fastest CAGR of about 10% over the analysis period. The Food and Drinks product segment accounts for a significant share of the global market, with major contribution from the sports/energy drinks and bars. The Supplements segment is increasingly gaining share due to growing usage of products among tight-scheduled busy consumers, and is expected to register fast track growth through the projected period.

Key market participants profiled in the report include Abbott Nutrition, AST Sports Science, Body Wise International, Inc., Balance Bar Co., Champion Nutrition, Inc., Clif Bar, Inc., The Coca-Cola Co., Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., Dymatize Enterprises, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Plc., Hansen Natural Corporation, Kraft Foods, Inc., MuscleTech Research and Development Inc., NBTY Inc., Nestl? SA, Optimum Nutrition, Inc., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., PepsiCo Inc., Red Bull GmbH, Seven Seas Ltd., Slim-Fast Foods Company, Schiff Nutrition International, Inc., and Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.

The research report titled ?Sports and Fitness Nutrition: A Global Strategic Business Report? announced by Global Industry Analysts Inc., provides useful market insights as well as comprehensive review of key market trends, industry overview, product introductions, recent industry activity and profiles of market players worldwide. The report profiles the international competition arena and provides pertinent market share data and product share tables. Analytics are presented in dollar value for major geographic markets such as United States, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Rest of World. Major product segments analyzed include Foods and Drinks; and Supplements. The study also provides historic data for an insight into market evolution over the period 2003 through 2008.

For more details about this comprehensive market research report, please visit ? http://www.strategyr.com/Sports_And_Fitness_Nutrition_Market_Report.asp

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a leading publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company currently employs over 800 people worldwide. Annually, GIA publishes more than 1300 full-scale research reports and analyzes 40,000+ market and technology trends while monitoring more than 126,000 Companies worldwide. Serving over 9500 clients in 27 countries, GIA is recognized today, as one of the world's largest and reputed market research firms.

Follow us on LinkedIn

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Telephone: 408-528-9966

Fax: 408-528-9977

Email: press(at)StrategyR(dot)com

Web Site: http://www.StrategyR.com/

###