When it comes to full-service office solutions, Corporate United’s set of agreements are hard to beat. Our best-in-class general office supplies agreement with OfficeMax receives the most attention, but OM Workspace and IMPRESS round out the offering. OM Workspace – the furniture division of OfficeMax – helps to design and deliver top quality office furniture, while IMPRESS stands as OfficeMax’s turnkey print and document services provider. Through our contracts with OfficeMax, there isa solution to fit all our members’ needs.

In that spirit, Corporate United is once again delivering sustainable value to our membership through the newly-signed agreement with Lyreco. Corporate United members can now take advantage of a comprehensive global solution for their international office products needs.

In October 2008, OfficeMax and Lyreco entered into an alliance to better serve their customers throughout the world. The partnership brings together the expertise and footprint of two leaders in business-to-business office supply solutions. Utilizing the combined contract operations and infrastructure of Lyreco and OfficeMax around the world, the partnership is expected to provide improved selling opportunities for both companies. Lyreco and OfficeMax are able to provide exceptional office supplies service to their multinational customers in a broader geographical coverage.

"We think globally…we act locally."

Active in 29 countries on five continents, with more than 10,000 employees, Lyreco is one of the largest distributors of office products and supplies in the world.

Lyreco is a family-owned business with a truly global vision and a mission "to be the reference that the business community turns to for office supplies solutions." Lyreco believes in offering each customer the same superior quality of products and services wherever they are located.

The business began in 1926 and since then the group has shown continued growth, both organically and through acquisitions. Well attuned to the varying needs of each separate market, the focus for all the group subsidiaries remains the customer. Lyreco’s strategy is founded on common strengths and shared systems. Pooling the experience of its subsidiaries, the Group is able to offer international customers an identical range of services throughout the world.

One of Lyreco’s assets lies in its organization and management model. The same policies, organization and management rules apply to all Lyreco subsidiaries. The company operates a highly automated state-of-the-art distribution system and maintains close and proactive relationships with its customers. Lyreco sees itself as a partner in their customers’ international development. Indeed, the customer is absolutely central in everything Lyreco does.

By consolidating common strengths, Lyreco has built a powerful network capable of working side-by-side with international customers. Lyreco is the right partner when you want to structure a global contract and guarantee the highest level of services and the same quality of products worldwide. Although its size makes them a large corporate supplier, they still believe that service and attention to detail is paramount and critical to continued success.

It is with this belief that the culture within the Lyreco Group is focused very much on four key values:

"Passion, excellence,
professionalism and respect"

These values are applied to all customers regardless of size. The attitude of "thinking globally, acting locally" is adopted in all subsidiaries allowing Lyreco to benefit from global buying power which in turn ensures competitive and stable pricing.

The highest standard of account management principles are employed across the group to ensure the ability to proactively manage customer accounts and provide real and sustainable cost savings.

Competitive pricing and professional account management are all underpinned by a group logistics model of both warehousing and distribution. This enables Lyreco to provide a first class service which is the envy of the industry.

The Lyreco Group approach ensures:

• Expert product sourcing

• Global buying power

• Financial security and stability

• Group expertise and knowledge

• Local knowledge, support and service

The Lyreco Group is a worldwide operation:

• Operating directly throughout 29 countries worldwide

• Employing over 10,000 people

• Consolidated sales of over €2.1 billion

• Over 400,000 square meters of distribution centers

• Strict quality control and environmental policies with ISO 9001 and 14001 accreditations in the majority of subsidiaries

• Strategic alliances that strengthen Lyreco’s worldwide coverage, with presence in Russia, South Africa, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States

In order to provide the best possible service, Lyreco has developed a highly responsive organization that adapts readily to each individual customer’s needs. Orders are placed via an advanced web-ordering portal or customer service teams who respond instantly with any additional information requested by the customer. The company’s own dedicated delivery staff then sees to it that the products are dispatched at the right time and to the right location.

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Corporate United is thrilled to provide this extended OfficeMax offering to our members. To learn how Lyreco and OfficeMax can meet your global office products needs, please contact your member development representative or call 440.895.0938.