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Office Stationery Wholesaling in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Dmitry Diment Dmitry Diment New York, United States Last Updated: June 2024 NAICS 41821CA

Revenue

$3.9bn

2024

$3.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

7,548

Businesses

332

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Office Stationery Wholesaling in Canada industry analysis

Canada's Office Stationery Wholesaling industry has struggled to remain competitive as demand for traditional office products has fallen out of favour. Demand for business forms, direct mailing supplies and print advertising has been slow to improve over the five years to 2023 due to declining purchases of paper products among individuals, retailers and corporate clients. Office stationery wholesalers have also struggled to contend with rising competition from electronic mediums and office supply superstores that increasingly purchase stationery products directly from manufacturers. Moreover, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has further hindered consumer confidence and forced nonessential businesses to close temporarily, hindering industry performance in 2020. As a result, IBISWorld estimates industry revenue has decreased at an annualized rate of 3.3% to $4.0 billion over the five years to 2023, including an expected decline of 2.2% in 2023 alone.The industry has a low level of market share concentration. Due to digital solutions and alternatives hindering industry performance over the past decade, operators have either closed or strategically downsized to remain competitive. Consequently, mergers and acquisitions are common for large national operators to generate revenue. Despite operators continuing to cut costs to remain profitable, the coronavirus pandemic plummeted industry profit in 2020. Although the economy recovered in 2021 and 2022, industry profit is not expected to recover fully. Furthermore, smaller companies may find it even harder to improve profit due to the consolidation among the industry's largest wholesalers.Industry consolidation is projected to continue for the foreseeable future, and demand for traditional industry products is forecast to decline. Along with the industry combating paperless and printer-free solutions, industry operators will also likely have to maintain sales relationships with major clients to sustain revenue growth. Smaller businesses are disadvantaged as national players are expected to merge to offer a more diverse product catalogue with more ecofriendly and specialty products. Consequently, IBISWorld projects industry revenue will decrease by 1.1% to $3.8 billion annually over the five years to 2028.

Trends and Insights

  • Wholesaler revenue fell further during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike other industries, office stationery wholesalers did not recover from the pandemic and saw further revenue declines in 2022 and 2023.
  • Digitalization has curbed demand for paper stationery products. The use of e-mail and mobile phones has eroded the need for stationery in professional environments.
  • Wholesalers typically operate close to population centers. Office stationery wholesalers have a larger market in populated areas like Ontario and Quebec.
  • Wholesalers compete heavily on price, as downstream retailers want to pay the lowest possible price for products. The rise of electronic substitutes has furthered price competition.

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  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 2.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $3.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The rise of digital has diminished the need for stationery

  • Growing dependence on computers and other electronic equipment in homes and offices has decreased the need for stationery, constraining demand from individuals and businesses.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Office Stationery Wholesaling in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Revenue will stabilize as innovation slows

  • As businesses have continued to embrace digitization and online recordkeeping, stationery wholesalers have faced faltering demand.

Biggest companies in the Office Stationery Wholesaling in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Veritiv Corporation
218.8
18.1
8.3
Staples Canada Inc.
82.1
N/A
N/A
Novexco Inc.
5.1
N/A
N/A

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Office Stationery Wholesaling in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Stationery and office supplies, Ink, toner and ribbons and Envelopes. Stationery and office supplies is the largest segment of the Office Stationery Wholesaling in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Remote work arrangements will hasten the demise of stationery, tablets and office paper

  • Stationery products include office and consumer paper products like computer paper, notebooks, writing pads and business stationeries.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Operators in the Office Stationery Wholesaling industry in Canada distribute paper stationery products and other office supplies to retailers, other industry wholesalers and directly to customers. Industry products include envelopes, computer paper, notebooks, business forms, photo albums, folders, pens, pencils, toner cartridges, ink ribbons, cellophane tape and other miscellaneous paper office supplies. Sales of office equipment and furniture are not included in this industry.

What's included in this industry?

Wholesaling paper stationery products including envelopes, computer paper, notebooks, folders and formsWholesaling office supplies including pens, pencils, toner cartridges, ink ribbons and staplersWholesaling other stationery including photo albums, gift wrapping paper, greeting cards and postcards

Companies

Veritiv CorporationStaples Canada Inc.Novexco Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

WHOLESALE BYPASSPAPER PULPDIE-CUT STATIONERY

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 418210 - Office Stationery Wholesaling in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Wholesaler revenue fell further during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike other industries, office stationery wholesalers did not recover from the pandemic and saw further revenue...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Digitalization has curbed demand for paper stationery products. The use of e-mail and mobile phones has eroded the need for stationery in professional environments.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Wholesalers typically operate close to population centers. Office stationery wholesalers have a larger market in populated areas like Ontario and Quebec.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Wholesalers compete heavily on price, as downstream retailers want to pay the lowest possible price for products. The rise of electronic substitutes has furthered price compe...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Few office stationery wholesalers command significant market share. Most companies in the industry employ fewer than 20 people.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Veritiv Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Staples Canada Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Novexco Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Veritiv Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Staples Canada Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Novexco Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Declining corporate profit further threatens office stationery wholesalers. As Canada faces a potential recession, wholesalers have further struggles on the horizon.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Office supply wholesalers face declining profitability. The digitalization of information has consistently eroded demand for paper office stationery.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Office Stationery Wholesaling industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Office Stationery Wholesaling industry in Canada is $3.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Office Stationery Wholesaling in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 332 businesses in the Office Stationery Wholesaling industry in Canada, which has declined at a CAGR of 5.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Office Stationery Wholesaling industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Office Stationery Wholesaling industry in Canada has been declining at a CAGR of 2.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Office Stationery Wholesaling industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Office Stationery Wholesaling industry in Canada is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Office Stationery Wholesaling market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Office Stationery Wholesaling market in Canada are Veritiv Corporation, Staples Canada Inc. and Novexco Inc.

What does the Office Stationery Wholesaling in Canada include?

Wholesaling paper stationery products including envelopes, computer paper, notebooks, folders and forms and Wholesaling office supplies including pens, pencils, toner cartridges, ink ribbons and staplers are part of the Office Stationery Wholesaling industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Office Stationery Wholesaling in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is Veritiv Corporation.

How competitive is the Office Stationery Wholesaling industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Office Stationery Wholesaling industry in Canada.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.