News in the Channel - issue #23

PERIPHERALS

Peripheral vision While hybrid working is now an accepted part of the work landscape in many sectors, peripherals are still required and can be an important boost to revenues for resellers.

While there have been recent high-profile news stories of certain businesses ordering employees to return to the office five days a week, hybrid working is still a popular option with many businesses. Employees enjoy the flexibility hybrid working brings, and it can help to attract employees to a business too. Steve Carter, managing director of Advantia Business Solutions, says that the current situation where many employers have hybrid arrangements in place for employees is now normal. “But employers need to remember that they are still responsible for their employees’ desk set up at home,” he says. This means that peripherals – from chairs to monitor arms – remain vitally important and something that resellers can tap into to boost their bottom line. Indeed, the overall peripherals market is currently worth £2.4 billion within the UK and the global sales are expected to continue expanding by 8.35%, reaching $87.2 billion by 2030. “We’ve seen an increase in furniture sales, particularly with things like chairs and sit-stand desks as if that person suddenly starts getting neck ache or shoulder ache because of the way the desk is or isn't set up, that comes back to the employer,” notes Steve. Wellbeing Mark Wilkinson, regional vice president – UK & Ireland, ACCO Brands EMEA, notes that

wellbeing is important for employees, adding that ACCO predict employee wellbeing will become as important as sustainability and diversity to how companies behave. “It is also becoming a mandate with DSE Assessments & EU law specifying a 'duty of care’ with ‘necessary measures’ to ensure employee safety,” he says. “This is a key topic for supporting sales growth in this area that resellers should embrace. “You could say hybrid working is a response to wellbeing with workers demanding company cultures that support their physical and mental wellbeing. “This trend translates into an increased demand for products that support workers physical wellbeing, with ergonomic products, such as personal sit stand desks, wellness balls and ergonomic mice seeing good sales growth. The whole ethos of our Leitz Ergo range, for example, is to support healthy working habits by providing tools that allow workers to sit, stand and move, helping them stay healthy and productive throughout the day. “It is often said that sitting is the new smoking and likely as a follow on from this, one of our most successful products from our Leitz Ergo range has been the Leitz Ergo Active Sit-Stand stool, which promotes micro movement throughout your working day, as well as supporting seated and standing working helping to prevent back pain. Movement is key to reducing all manner of work-related ailments.”

Steve Carter managing director

advantia.co.uk

Employers need to remember that they are still responsible for their employees’ desk set up at home. “ ”

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