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Monday, September 1, 2008

Xerox Reacts - In Predictable Fashion

If you have been in the industry long enough, you remember when the Xerox sales force could be summed up in one word...

Arrogant.


From the Democrat and Chronicle.com,

"...Xerox is dismissing the idea that the acquisition makes Ricoh a difficult competitive challenge.

"We see this move for what it is: a defensive play by Ricoh to try to keep pace with the industry's leader — Xerox," Xerox Office Group President Russell Peacock said in an internal message sent to employees last week.

Office imaging equipment means big bucks to Xerox. For the second quarter of 2008, the company had revenues of $2.5 billion in its office segment.

While Xerox's Global Imaging carries some non-Xerox equipment, Ikon likely will become a distributor solely of Ricoh equipment, said Andy Slawetsky, president of Industry Analysts Inc. in Rochester.

In his memo, Peacock said the Ricoh-Ikon deal causes more problems for other office equipment companies than it does for Xerox. He said it places competitors Canon and Konica Minolta "in a difficult position, especially considering Ikon delivers 35-40 percent of Canon's total revenue in the U.S."


There is a phrase I like that my high school football coach use to tell us, "...it ain't braggin if it's ture..." So, perhaps, Xerox's statements are not just bluster...

RiKON- Reactions Coming In

Lot's of buzz as expected - some tid bits:

It only took a few days, current IKON employees are starting to weigh in by articulating there emotions and thoughts on their personal blogs.

As well as some astute observations by some outside our industry.

Just a few to date:

From, Jason Found This Interesting:

"...So I used to tell my wife, "If I had to leave IKON for another copier related company... it would probably be Ricoh." What I didn't totally anticipate was Ricoh coming to me..."

From The Wallstrip Blog:

"The Dutch take over our beer, now the Japanese take out office solutions. What’s wrong with this picture?"


From "The Akbas Post:

"In the short-run, Canon is the biggest looser but in the long run HP will be. However, the biggest winner will be Xerox; It will help defend its turf against the print-centric assault by HP while aggressively targeting IKON-Canon customers during merger integration via its subsidiary of Global Imaging Systems. Having picked a much less problematic dealer group (Global vs IKON) to acquire, Xerox will have a window of opportunity to better compete against Ricoh particularly in the US middle market."

And from Corey's Blog:

"It is interesting to me Ricoh buys IKON for $1.6 Billion or $17.25 per share. A little over a year ago Xerox bought Global Imaging for $1.5 Billion or $29 per share."

And from itbusiness.ca:

"The Ikon acquisition should have minimal impact on Ricoh's dealer and IT channel partners", says Russell Marchetta, manager of corporate and public relations with Ricoh.

He notes Ricoh and Ikon have been partners for more than 20 years and they've always considered Ikon a separate distribution channel within their organization, in addition to the independent dealers and their direct business. "

HP Layoffs -

From the "Job Cuts Taking Place at Hewlett-Packard's Boise-Based Imaging and Printing Group"

"In what one employee, who asked his/her name be withheld, has called "Black Monday," a round of job cuts is taking place at Hewlett-Packard's Boise-based Imaging and Printing Group today, part of the company's global reorganization of the division..."


HP spokesman Scott Stalla issued this statement:

"As part of the HP Imaging and Printing Group's (IPG) continued Print 2.0 transformation, the business announced plans in June 2008 to realign and streamline its organization by reducing the number of its global business units from five to three customer solutions- oriented businesses. The realignment of IPG's business entails shifting resources from slower growing businesses to new business opportunities. In some cases, parts of IPG's business will experience reductions while investments will be made in high growth segments of the business. These decisions will be made at the level of the global business unit and are not specific to HP sites. Consistent with its transformation, IPG will continue to proactively manage the challenges of the current market and consider changes that will position the business to win today and in the future."

"...The reorganization of HP's Imaging and Printing Group was made public in June, when statements were issued that the company would reduce its five IPG groups to three. Layoffs began last week at HP's facilities in Corvallis, Ore. and Vancouver, Wash., where about 300 positions were eliminated..."

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Greg Walters, Incorporated
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