PURCHASING NOTES

By Staff -- Purchasing, 10/19/2000

Despite increasing use of e-mail, corporate buyers are still purchasing fax machines.

Despite increasing use of e-mail, corporate buyers are still purchasing fax machines. A new IDC report shows shipments in the U.S. grew at a compound annual growth rate of 6.9% in 1999, with nearly 3.3 million units of all types placed during the year. Still, the report adds that revenues actually declined by 1.9% to just about $2 billion, due to price erosion. Supplies and services revenues grew 18% to $4.9 billion, with growth coming from ink-jet and color supplies.

Three representatives of the Business Technology Association are among the members of the newly formed Imaging Technology Standards Board.

Three representatives of the Business Technology Association are among the members of the newly formed Imaging Technology Standards Board. The group of industry leaders was formed to set standards that will serve to identify the skill and knowledge level deemed appropriate for those who sell and service digital, connectable business equipment and systems. Angela Williams, executive director, BTA, notes that the standards and test will be specifically designed to serve the industry served by the BTA channel, primarily the sale and service of digital, connectable copiers and network peripherals. Manufacturers with representatives on the board are: Minolta, Hitachi Koki Imaging Solutions, Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba America Business Solutions.

Buyers Laboratory Inc. has introduced two new guides, Multifunctional Specification Guide-Copier-Based Products and Multifunctional Specification Guide-Facsimile-Based Products.

Buyers Laboratory Inc. has introduced two new guides, Multifunctional Specification Guide-Copier-Based Products and Multifunctional Specification Guide-Facsimile-Based Products. Each guide provides more than 700 pages of detailed two-page coverage on every multifunction product. They replace the current BLI Copier Specification Guide and Facsimile Specifications Guide. For information, call BLI at (201) 488-0404 or e-mail info@ buyerslaboratory.com.

Buhrmann, the international business services and distribution group in office products, paper and graphic systems, plans to acquire the Danish wholesaler Christian Christiansen & Co. in Holstebro.

Buhrmann, the international business services and distribution group in office products, paper and graphic systems, plans to acquire the Danish wholesaler Christian Christiansen & Co. in Holstebro. Christian Christiansen & Co. distributes industrial and retail packaging consumables, paper, office supplies, and furniture. This acquisition fits in Buhrmann's strategy which aims at building positions in countries where the group has no or a small presence.

Kelly Services has acquired the Business Trends Group, which includes Business Trends Pte Ltd and BTI Consultants Pte Ltd,

Kelly Services has acquired the Business Trends Group, which includes Business Trends Pte Ltd and BTI Consultants Pte Ltd, both headquartered in Singapore, with offices in six Southeast Asia countries. Business Trends provides temporary and permanent placement staffing services, contract staffing and payroll administration. BTI Consultants offers executive search and selection services. "The addition expands Kelly's role as the premier global staffing services provider," says Terence Adderley, Kelly's chairman, president and CEO. "We are now better able to meet the needs of our customers in the Asian market." With this transaction, Kelly owns and operates more than 1800 offices in 25 countries.

StaplesLink.com is now available at PartsNation, the e-marketplace for the motor-vehicle repair industry.

StaplesLink.com is now available at PartsNation, the e-marketplace for the motor-vehicle repair industry. PartsNation enables its customers (auto repair shops, warehouse distributors, retailers and parts manufacturers) to streamline the procurement process and enhance their ability to quickly and seamlessly access a broad range of suppliers.

Savin Corp. has received the "Digital Range of the Year 2000-Best of the Best" award from the Business Equipment Research & Test Laboratory.

Savin Corp. has received the "Digital Range of the Year 2000-Best of the Best" award from the Business Equipment Research & Test Laboratory. This is the fourth time BERTL has given Savin this award. All Savin's products were tested a networked systems. BERTL examined drivers, con-trollers, network management software and these criteria: breadth of product range, product line quality, company digital infrastructure quality, price.