Comprehensive Analysis of Duque Papetiers' German Stationery Market

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the German stationery market, focusing on Duque Papetiers' performance and potential for expansion. It begins with an overview of the German wholesale stationery market, highlighting its size, growth, and key trends. The report then delves into a detailed analysis of Duque's sales data from 2015 to 2017, including identification of sales figures, presentation of mixed pie charts, correlation of sales with years, and trend analysis. Furthermore, the report identifies the pros and cons of expanding operations to countries like France and Belgium, along with the international standards Duque needs to adhere to. It also justifies monthly mortgage costs and interest rates, analyzes mean values of different orders, and assesses customer satisfaction levels, including suggestions for improvement. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and recommendations for Duque's future strategies in the German stationery market.

Analysing Information
and Data for Problem
Solving

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
Overview of wholesale stationery market of Germany...............................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................4
Brief analysis of last three financial year of sales data of Duque (2015 - 2017)........................4
3.1 Identifying sales....................................................................................................................4
3.2 Presentation of mixed pie chart.............................................................................................5
3.3 Reflecting correlation of sales and year................................................................................6
3.3 Determining trend of sales....................................................................................................6
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................6
4.1 Identifying pros and cons......................................................................................................6
4.2 Presenting various international standards for adherence.....................................................7
TASK 5............................................................................................................................................8
5.1 Justifying monthly cost of repayment of mortgage of 30 years............................................8
5.2 Justifying application of interest rate of each month............................................................8
TASK 6............................................................................................................................................8
Identifying mean value of different order...................................................................................8
TASK 7............................................................................................................................................9
Level of customer satisfaction....................................................................................................9
7.1 Suggestions for increasing survey responsive rate................................................................9
7.2 Descriptive statistics...........................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12
APPENDICES...............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
The stationery sector of Germany has gained very good position in market. As it has
created different innovative products and services by various consumer preferences and habits.
The present report is giving brief discussion about organization who is dealing with different
stationery products and service to small shops, schools and offices as Duque Papetiers Gros. This
organization has equipped the best image and trust along with reliability. The present report is
stating various pros and cons of expansion of operation in countries such as France and Belgium.
TASK 1
Overview of wholesale stationery market of Germany
Germany is well positioned in terms of present stationery market. The total turnover of
this particular industry is more than 14.8 billion per year as per report of Trade association for
writing and office supply. It is equal to every individual's spending which is specifically more
than 182 annually. Germany has seek second position in context of spending for basis of
stationery as 35.2 which is applied for writing and drawing materials in European Union
countries. In the year 2014 and 2015 industry got raised by 3.5% (Schmidt, 2016). So in terms of
result demand will be increased by 2.5% and it will be rising from abroad as well of 5%.
Germany has gained the best position in worldwide in industry of stationery brands. In
context of significant market shares it is giving positive aspect along with image in market which
is not in favour of private labels. There is presence of very broad range of various products with
different challenges along with development. The paper and its product's turnover is decreasing
day by day as its growth rate is reflecting positive side along with growth in office supplies and
various instruments for writing in year 2015 by 5%.
There are 2200 wholesale organization which are operating in industry of stationery and
50% are giving turnover which is less than 500000 as it includes wholesalers of selling paper,
office supplies and writing instruments. There is presence of different business intermediaries
who are providing direct to commercial customers. Many wholesalers have reduced there
operations because of various merger of stationery wholesalers and many of them left market as
well.
TASK 2
As per research stationery industry of Germany is growing as it has positioned itself in
very appropriate manner. 14.8 billion is total turnover of per year of this particular industry, it

has been stated in this trade association report. Each and every individual has spending equal
which is above 182 annually and particular contribution of 35.2 was spent on writing and
drawing materials (Nakagawa, Johnson and Schielzeth, 2017). While observing per capita
income, Switzerland has gained top position by 34.5 and in same series Germany has equipped
second position which is followed up by Austria. The European countries like France and
Germany's spending has been accounting below in graphical format. For increasing annual
spending, special focus has been given to various promotional aspects and online services by
Duque. The published data of HBS states that there is decrement of 11.9% and it will be leaning
towards negative impacts on basis of writing and drawing material and revenue as well.
Illustration 1: Annual spending for drawing and writing material
(Source: Schmidt, 2016)
TASK 3
Brief analysis of last three financial year of sales data of Duque (2015 - 2017)
3.1 Identifying sales
For determining sales of Duque there has been applicability of sum formulae and through
that it had justified revenue of sales. The sales of year 2015 is replicated as 16500 and in next

year 2016 it got increased up to 182000 but due to some reason it decreased in next year 2017 up
to 178000. In context of assessing growth, it had given impact of 10.30% but in next year it had
fallen from 2.20%. While assessing sales it has been also identified that Duque has major
requirement of giving special emphasis on various promotional strategies and to control cost for
generating sales (Auplish and et.al., 2017).
It has been clearly viewed that sales are falling downwards because of general office
supplies and printer cartridges of year 2016 to 2017. it was about 14.81% and 15.38%
respectively. For generating more sales, there is requirement of imposing different actions on
basis of these products and for adoption and modification.
3.2 Presentation of mixed pie chart
26000
27000
18000
25000
29000
27000
30000
22000
23000
18000
27000 29000
27000
32000
printer cartridges
general office supplies
low-cost printers
office furniture
shredders
paper-based supplies
writing/drawing materials
(Source: )
Interpretation: The above pie chart is reflecting sales which generated by every product
item. As it presents two layers in which first and outermost layer is representing sales of year
2016 and second and innermost layer is replicating sales of year 2015.

3.3 Reflecting correlation of sales and year.
Year 2015 (000) 2016 (000) 2017 (000)
Aggregate of sales 165 182 178
Correlation 0.731
Interpretation: The interrelationship of both variables can be represented by correlation
as in context of interpretation the movement of single variable can be determined in this measure
(Hittner, 2016). It is directly represented in tabular format which is indicating both sales and year
whose correlation is 0.73 which is giving negative association. It can be also elaborated as the
year is moving towards simultaneously sales will increase in significant manner.
3.3 Determining trend of sales
TASK 4
4.1 Identifying pros and cons
Sr. No. Pros Score / 10 Cons Score / 10
1 Economies of scale 6 Impact on quality 8
2 Relocation of
possibility
7 Lack of operational
control
5
3 Increasing customer
base
9 Staff turnover (high) 6

4 Qualified personnel 8 Need of high capital 7
Average cons 30 Average cons 26
Interpretation:The above table is giving brief representation of different advantages and
disadvantages on basis of expanding its operations in other countries such as Belgium and
Germany. By observing feasibility of business it has determined its pros and cons in developing
its basic framework in very systematic manner which will be helping Duque for attaining success
in other countries.
4.2 Presenting various international standards for adherence
Duque has to expand its business operations in various countries such as Belgium and
Germany so it has to adhere different international standards such as:
 Quality management (ISO 9000): As per this standard, Duque has to maintain
particular quality in context of various products and services and these will be attaining
different needs of every customer in huge extent (Bardach and Patashnik, 2015).
 Risk management (ISO 31000): Usually this is replicated as most important standard
which will be implying different guidelines, principles and framework for risk
management. It will be providing help to various organizations for increasing likelihood
of attaining goals and objectives for identifying various opportunities and threats (Baker,
2017). The most important element will be provided by this standard that appropriate
allocation of resources for treating risk.
 Environmental management (ISO 14000): It is most important standard which will be
represented as family of standards as it provides different practical tools to various
organization as it will be handling different responsibilities for managing environment. It
lays special emphasis on various approaches such as audits, labelling, communication
and life cycle analysis.

TASK 5
5.1 Justifying monthly cost of repayment of mortgage of 30 years
5.2 Justifying application of interest rate of each month
TASK 6
Identifying mean value of different order
The average order value has been justified by calculating Z score value. The insights
have been highlighted with help of absolute value as in same perspective distance took place in
mean of raw and population and its standard deviation.
H0 : Null hypothesis
There is presence of no difference in actual order's mean value and expected value.
H1 : Alternative hypothesis
There is presence of difference in actual order's mean value and expected value.
The value of Alpha has been given for selecting or disqualifying hypothesis is 0.5.
Universal rule: The interpretation of p value can be represented as if it is smaller than
0.05 than alternative hypothesis will be selected and if p value is greater than 0.05 than it will be
disqualified.
Average value of population : 240
Mean of sample : 230
Standard deviation : 43
Assessment of Z score : (Average value of population – Mean of sample) / Standard deviation
: (240 – 230) / 43
: (10) / 43

: 0.23
Interpretation: The above numbers are giving quantitative information about Z score
value as it has set standard limit such as 0.05. In simple word it can be elaborated as selection of
null hypothesis is done against alternative hypothesis as there is presence of no difference in
actual order's mean value and expected value. It can be explained as mean of order value is same
on basis of both categories like budgeted or actual.
TASK 7
Level of customer satisfaction
7.1 Suggestions for increasing survey responsive rate
The information has been tracked in month of December by survey methodology. It will
be according to needs, desire and expectations of majority of consumers. There is presence of
various respondents who fills questionnaire but for very minimum percentage which is not
termed as most appropriate situation. For improving interest in respondents about survey, they
must select target people who are well aware about full information about title of survey
(Schoenfeld, 2016). Duque must be able communicate the advantages about outcomes for filling
questionnaire in very effective manner. As respondents must be aware that there feedback will be
used for framing various strategies and along with it they must be ensured that this information
will be secured and confidential.
The survey responsive rate can be improved by applying understandable language and in
concise format. The most important thing should be considered by every organisation that it
should be able to access by each customer base. The email address must be in very similar
format which is used for sending questionnaire so that it will be very easy for customers to reply
on same so it will lead to save time and easily accessible (Lazer and et.al., 2014). In the present
era, everybody like to achieve goal but with shortcuts so in the same basis survey should be
prepare in short format so it will be increasing quality and quantity as well.

7.2 Descriptive statistics
Interpretation: The above table is giving information about descriptive statistics of 20
respondents imply level of customer service, quality of product and sales staff of Duque is
represented as good staff. The median and mode of sales staff and customer service is 4 as it can
be interpreted that excellent remark has been given to Duque by half of data set. The mean of
price value is 1.95 indicating items of rated service of Duque. The high level of customer
satisfaction has been evolved by loyalty of organization and basic need of giving major focus on
controlling cost.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that Germany has gained huge market share in
industry of stationery and even well position. It can be easily viewed that expansion of its
business can be done in countries like Belgium. The expansion will lead to increasing customer
base and profit margin via its efficient operations. It can be viewed from report there is
requirement of focusing on product's quality and diversification strategy. It can be articulated
from report that it has negative correlation so fluctuations of sales are not linked to economy of
market. Germany has to work hard for achieving first position so in this context it had to find
weakness of leading country Switzerland and work on its weakness.
The level of spending is high with context of customer along with comparison to writing
and drawing material. It can be easily articulated by observing various pros and cons of
expansion so huge proportion is stated in pros, so it can expand its operations. It has stated
importance of different international standards in context of expansion in other countries and
environment standard had laid huge importance. There is huge requirement for Duque for
evaluating special focus on modification and revising of the framework policy which is existing.

Further it can be summed up by attracting more consumers by setting prices in very competitive
manner of all stationery product.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Auplish, A. and et.al., 2017. Estimating the intra-cluster correlation coefficient for evaluating an
educational intervention program to improve rabies awareness and dog bite prevention
among children in Sikkim, India: A pilot study. Acta tropica. 169. pp.62-68.
Baker, R., 2017. Problem-solving. In Agile UX Storytelling (pp. 107-116). Apress, Berkeley,
CA.
Bardach, E. and Patashnik, E. M., 2015. A practical guide for policy analysis: The eightfold path
to more effective problem solving. CQ press.
Hittner, J. B., 2016. On Correctly Adjusting the Squared Multiple Correlation Coefficient in
Linear Regression: Effect Size Estimation and Significance Testing with Application to
Substance Abuse Research. Journal of Drug Abuse. 2(2).
Lazer, D. and et.al., A., 2014. The parable of Google Flu: traps in big data
analysis. Science. 343(6176). pp.1203-1205.
Nakagawa, S., Johnson, P. C. and Schielzeth, H., 2017. The coefficient of determination R2 and
intra-class correlation coefficient from generalized linear mixed-effects models revisited and
expanded. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 14(134). p.20170213.
Schoenfeld, A. H., 2016. Learning to Think Mathematically: Problem Solving, Metacognition,
and Sense Making in Mathematics (Reprint). Journal of Education. 196(2). pp.1-38.
Online
Schmidt, T., 2016. Germany – A Potential Stationery Market. [pdf]. Available through:
<http://www.malaysia.ahk.de/fileadmin/ahk_malaysia/Perspectives/MGC047-
Mar.Apr16_iPAD.pdf>.