OPI acquires INDEPENDENT DEALER

Originally written and published by Steve Hilleard at opi.net

OPI acquires INDEPENDENT DEALER

OPI has acquired the US-based INDEPENDENT DEALER e-zine (ID) from De Groot Resources.

ID was first published in January 2007 by its founder and editor Simon De Groot, building on a 30-year career writing about the office products industry for the National Office Products Association (NOPA) and the now demised OfficeDEALER publication.

Having successfully championed the cause of the US independent dealer channel for more than a decade, and after 40 years of meeting almost daily publishing deadlines, De Groot has decided to transition slowly into a more balanced lifestyle that allows him to spend more time with his family.

As part of the handover agreement, De Groot will remain at ID as a consultant for a period of two years, assisting new editor and publisher Rowan McIntyre who will head ID’s already established team of experienced writers.

McIntyre is an experienced B2B journalist who is very familiar with the US business supplies industry, having written for OPI in a freelance capacity as well as writing and publishing for several years the official publication for the annual EPIC trade show on behalf of co-organisers Independent Stationers and TriMega Purchasing Association.

Commenting on the announcement, former independent dealer and now OPI’s CEO Steve Hilleard (pictured) said: “I am delighted that Simon De Groot has entrusted us to continue the excellent work he has done with the ID e-zine and we look forward to building on that success.

“The publication’s mission will remain the same: to celebrate success in the independent dealer channel and to point the way to new opportunities for dealers to grow stronger and more profitably.”

De Groot added: “The good thing from my point of view – and for ID’s readers – is that the new owners, OPI, are well known to just about everyone in the industry and come to our publication with an outstanding track record of publishing excellence and journalistic integrity. Steve Hilleard and I have been competitors and friends for many years and I know he and his team are going to do a great job for the dealer community.”