Office-Supply Merger Could Level Playing Field for All

BOCA RATON, FL-Assuming the proposed merger of Office Depot and OfficeMax clears the regulatory approval process and is consummated, it will be a boon for the retail sector in general and not only for the two office-supply giants as they band together to compete against market-leading Staples, Colliers International‘s Mark Keschl tells GlobeSt.com.

“It certainly allows them to match up better as a combination,” says Keschl, national director of the retail services group for Colliers, who’s based here—as is Office Depot. “This is one of the few categories of retail where you’ve always had three very strong and viable competitors. Having only two competitors will make for a more even playing field, for everybody.”