Overview and Trends of Stationery Market in Germany

This report provides an overview and trends of the stationery market in Germany. It discusses the annual spending on writing and drawing materials per capita and assesses the sales of Duque Papertiers gros. It also explores the pros and cons of business expansion in Germany and Belgium and suggests international standards that should be applied to Duque's activities. The report concludes with advice for improving survey response rates.

ASSESSMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
A. Overview and trends of Stationery market in Germany.........................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................2
A. Producing graph which represents annual spending on writing and drawing materials per
capita...........................................................................................................................................2
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................3
A. Assessment of sales................................................................................................................3
B. Representing mixed pie chart.................................................................................................4
C. Scatter diagram with correlation and coefficient....................................................................4
D. Forecasting sales of 2018 and 2019.......................................................................................5
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................5
A Pros and cons for business expansion in Germany and Belgium............................................5
B. List of international standards should be applied with activity of Duque..............................6
TASK 5............................................................................................................................................6
A. Calculating monthly cost of £200,000 with 30 year repayment mortgages...........................6
B. Recalculating monthly cost with assumption of application of interest rate loan at each
month..........................................................................................................................................7
TASK 6............................................................................................................................................7
A. Calculating mean value of order with standard deviation......................................................7
TASK 7............................................................................................................................................8
A. Advice for improving survey responsive rate........................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
5. APPENDICES...........................................................................................................................11
Appendix 1................................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Analysing business is considered as practice for purpose on enabling alteration with
organizational perspective with explanation of recommendations and alterations of solution
which delivers value to its stakeholders. The present report will give brief discussion about
Duque Papertiers gros which owned by Donald Duque as stationery business in Northern France.
It will give brief overview of trends and potential of stationery market in Germany with
reference to MGCC report. In the similar aspect, it will reflect graph with annual spending and
drawing materials per capita and shows sales of year 2015,2016 and 2017 with each category of
product along with mixed chart and extraction of correlation coefficient among total sales and
year. Further, it will reflect scatter diagram with forecast of total sales of year 2018 and 2019 as
it will show pros and cons of business expansion in Belgium and Germany along with
international standards which should be complied for development of business entity.
Simultaneously, it will reflect multiple methods for raising consumer survey rate or for
improving the market situation.
TASK 1
A. Overview and trends of Stationery market in Germany
There are various developments of innovative product in industry of stationery and they
are adjusting as per new consumer preferences and habits with increment of market vitality along
with special challenges which are rising in recent duration. The current stationery industry of
Germany has positioned itself in very attractive aspect. It has been evaluated with Trade
association with perspective of Office writing and Supply materials as its total turnover of this
entire industry in higher than compared to €14.8 billion per year as it is equal to its spending
more than €182 on yearly aspect. On basis of Germany, its annual spending on writing materials
pre capita is about €35.2 as it is second leading country and presence difference of 0.3 from
leading country Switzerland in European Union. The organization's positive attitude with context
of industry of stationery has underpinned fact that more than 70% of German stationery brands
had faced increment in sales in year 2015 (MGCC perspectives. 2018).
As per association of German Stationery brands, the total turnover of this industry in
Germany has attained growth of 3.9% in year 2014 and 2015. This is replicated as outcome of
increment in domestic demand with 2.5% growth along with internal demand raised by 5%. With
context of trends and potentials, brands of German stationery had extracted the best reputation
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throughout world. As because of this positive image along with best market share of writing and
drawing instruments against different private labels. Consequently, this industry comprises broad
range of products with multiple challenges and development. The products of paper such as
document folders have expected for continuation of path with decrement in turnover but this
category of product is suffering a lot with presence of digitisation in work and personal life. On
the contrary, paper and paper related products along with brands of other category of product has
faced positive rate of growth like office supplies and writing instrument had gained with 5% in
year 2015.
TASK 2
A. Producing graph which represents annual spending on writing and drawing materials per
capita
Country Annual spending
Switzerland 35.5
Spain 8.9
Germany 35.2
France 28.3
Austria 35
Slovakia 9.8
Italy 18.6
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Interpretation: The above table is reflecting annual spending on writing and drawing
material per capita as on 2016 with MGCC report. It has been clearly viewed that Switzerland
and Germany is having difference of 0.3 where Switzerland is leading and followed by Germany
and then Austria. Spain has minimum spending among these seven countries as 8.9 and Slovakia
has 9.8 because of less development.
TASK 3
A. Assessment of sales
(Table mentioned in appendices)
There is presence of better understanding of wholesale stationery market in Europe with
analysis of last three financial years sales of Duque. It had been observed that printer cartridges
had raised from year 2015 to 2016 with small proportion but on contrary, in year 2017 it
decreased with huge proportion. This trend was similar in general office supplies as it rose to
27000 but decreased in 2017 by 23000. In the similar aspect, printers of low cost raised in 2016,
whereas in year 2017 it did not have any movement. Furthermore, there is presentation
information related to office furniture which only increased in 2017 and shredders are very
common instrument as it raised by 4000 in 2016 and constant in next year. The paper based
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Illustration 1: Annual spending on writing and drawing material per capita

supplies rose in 2016 and constant in year 2017. Thus, only writing and drawing material
increased till 2017 as first it was 30000 and then raised to 32000 in year 2017. Henceforth, it
could be articulated that in year 2016 its total sales raised by 10.30% but, in 2017 it decreases by
2.20%.
B. Representing mixed pie chart
C. Scatter diagram with correlation and coefficient
Interpretation: Correlation coefficients is considered for application in statistics for
measuring high relationship among variables. There are criteria with value of return from -1 and
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1 where z shows no relationship in these variables. Conversely, 1 indicates presence of strong
positive relationship and -1 is shows strong but negative relationship. In the above table,
correlation coefficient among sales and year is 0.73 which is approx. to 1 then it could be
elaborated that quite high so it recommends fairly strong relationship (Brito and et.al., 2018).
D. Forecasting sales of 2018 and 2019
2018: €6500 (x) + €162000
= €6500 (4) + €162000
= €188000
2019: €6500 (x )+ €162000
= €6500 (5) + €162000
= €194500
TASK 4
A Pros and cons for business expansion in Germany and Belgium
Business Expansion in Belgium and Germany
Pros Score/10 Cons Score/10
Enhancement of Customer base 9 High Employee turnover 7
Advancement of technology 8 Degradation of quality 6
Availability of resource 8 Diversification 7
Cost control 7 Good reach 5
Total Pros 32 Total Cons 25
Average Pros 8 Average Cons 6.25
Net outcome= Sum of pros – sum of cons
= 32 – 25
= 7
Thus, there is articulation about positive outcome as 7 which shows highly beneficial to
business expansion in Belgium and Germany.
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B. List of international standards should be applied with activity of Duque
 ISO 9001 Quality management: This standard is recognised internationally as quality
management system which could beneficial to size of business entity. It is designed as
powerful business tool for improvement as it helps in continuous improvement,
streamlining operations and decrement in cost. This will lead to resilient and to build for
sustainable business.
 ISO 14001 Environmental management: It helps in improving performance on basis of
environment. While formalizing or developing environmental management system, it
could deliver high as compared to regulatory compliance along with capability for
accomplishing requirements of suppliers.
 ISO 26000 Social responsibility: The international recommendations are outlined for
creating organisation highly socially responsible. In the similar aspect, it would be
guiding for delivering and developing strategy for long term social responsibility. It helps
for addressing each working practice to multiple environment policies, communities and
sustainable development which is impacted (International Organization for
standardization, 2018).
 ISO 31000 Risk management: The business entities which helps in managing risk in
effective manner as it will protect itself and attains success with business growth. The
most challenging aspect for business is to integrate about the best practice in regular
operations and apply to wide aspect for practice of organization.
 ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety: It will help companies for decreasing
burden by giving framework for improving safety of employee as decrease risk in
workplace. In the similar aspect, it will create safe and better working conditions
throughout the world.
TASK 5
A. Calculating monthly cost of £200,000 with 30 year repayment mortgages
Particulars Formula Figure
Repayment mortgage Period 30 years
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Payment of debt Total loan amount /
Discounting factor €21215.85
Amount of monthly
repayment
€21215.85 / 12
€1767.98
B. Recalculating monthly cost with assumption of application of interest rate loan at each month
TASK 6
A. Calculating mean value of order with standard deviation
Interpretation: Z score is a method for comparison of outcome with test to normal
population. It is number of standard deviation through mean value at reference population. It
shows score which directly underlies on curve of normal distribution. In simple words, it reflects
value which is appropriately average and if score is more than 3 then it shows that value is more
than compared to average. The above mean value or order along with standard deviation has Z
score of -0.23 which could be elaborated that 0.23 score standard deviation is below mean.
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Thus, it can be depicted that there is no significant difference takes place in mean and actual
order value.
TASK 7
A. Advice for improving survey responsive rate
In this perspective, Duque sent questionnaires to its customer in month of December from
email attachments. It had been articulated that responses are decreasing by 5% as compared to
past year. So in this context, Duque must undertake certain measure for increasing consumer
survey rate such as:
The survey should be short as it should be framed with one objective as it should not
overload with various unnecessary questions. The participants should be notified with email
notification as purpose of research should be communicated and how their feedback will be
implemented. The respondents should be capable for considering time about survey as their
progress should be reflected as long survey remains incomplete. The subject line of email
invitation should be attractive to respondents and from name should be altered in this invitation.
Further, the most important thing about reminder is that only 1 or 2 reminders should be sent
with appropriate optimization of survey on each device such as desktop PCs to each mobile
device.
The usability of survey must be accesses survey logic like randomization must reflect
relevant questions along with options with particular questions. There should be no use of jargon
which are very difficult for understanding through respondents. There must be consideration of
engaging and interactive question style such as rating scales along with sliders. Open ended
questions are less preferable because they are very time consuming and flow and format of
survey must be similar and sequenced in appropriate aspect. The frequency of survey should be
raised because survey repetition increases recognition of brand (25 Ways to Increase Survey
Response Rates, 2018).
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b. Descriptive statistics
Interpretation: The above table is measuring descriptive statistics of consumer
responsive rate of 20 respondents. It had been clearly viewed that mean or average of customer
service is 3.5 along with sales staff as 3.45. In the similar aspect, standard error of customer is
about 0.17 with sales staff as 0.18. The middle value of responsive rate is 4 of customer and sales
staff whereas 3 is of quality and price is of 2. Mode is the highest repeated value or response
where 4 is in service of customer, staff sales and rest is 3 and 2 of quality and value respectively.
The most important aspect, is about risk movement of its mean as 0.76 which is close to 1 about
its customer.
CONCLUSION
From the above study, it had been concluded that stationery market in Germany is
positioned with appropriate aspect and business should be analysed in efficient manner. It had
been shown that Switzerland and Germany both are having huge competition as they have
variation of 0.3 in its annual spending of writing and drawing materials per capita as per MGCC
report. It has been articulated that each sales of material is having fluctuation from year 2015 to
2017 but only writing and drawing materials are raising with year to year. In the similar aspect,
while showing sales, there is presence of for strong positive relationship in total sales and year
which has been stated on basis of correlation coefficient. While observing trends, there is
increment tin expectation of sales as it has been forecasted as well. It had shown that business
expansion in Belgium and Germany will be beneficial to business entity as it has extracted
positive outcome and each ISO standard should be complied such as ISO 9001 Quality
management and many more. Furthermore, it had shown Z score assessment and deriving
descriptive statistics consumer respondents and method for raising this rate such as feedbacks,
follow ups and better communication as well.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Brito, A. A. and et.al., 2018. Cross-correlation in a turbulent flow: Analysis of the velocity field
using the ρ DCCA coefficient. EPL (Europhysics Letters). 123(2). p.20011.
Online
25 Ways to Increase Survey Response Rates. 2018. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.snapsurveys.com/blog/25-ways-increase-survey-response-rates/>.
International Organization for standardization. 2018. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.iso.org/home.html>.
MGCC perspectives. 2018. [Online]. Available through
<http://www.malaysia.ahk.de/fileadmin/ahk_malaysia/Perspectives/MGC047-
Mar.Apr16_iPAD.pdf>
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5. APPENDICES
Appendix 1
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