The internet has had a dramatic effect on the fortunes of many stalwart companies. Once upon a time if you needed a few bits and pieces for the office, you went straight to Office Depot, and the problem was solved. Now there are hundreds of companies online offering the same products, many of whom offer them at lower prices. Sales at Office Depot dropped off a cliff in 2017, falling by 7%.
The future may be a little brighter though. The company has changed its strategy and gone from just selling products to also selling services. It now operates a subscription program called 'BizBox' and has stumped up cash to acquire CompuCom to help provide the services offered through the program. 14% of the company's sales in 2018 were for the new service division, and that figure should creep upwards. Unless there's a sudden and sharp shock in the market, Office Depot should be safe now.
Over the years, weve seen so many food trends come and go, such as ramen burgers, matcha, and spiked ice-cream. Nowadays, were seeing another trend making waves in the food industry. How many times today have you seen an Instagram photo of a scoop of black ice cream, or a cup of black yogurt, or hamburgers with black buns? Indeed, the charcoal trend has taken the world by storm.
So, what gives your latte that deep black shade? Activated charcoal, or coconut ash, is produced by heating coconut shells to insanely high temperatures until theyre burnt to a crisp. The ashes are then increased in size by steaming at high temperatures. Through this process, the ashes become a strong detoxifier, mostly because they become extra absorbent. This product may be purchased in pill form, and promises to alleviate hangovers, minimize the effects of food poisoning, and fight the visible signs of aging.
Activated charcoal is said to boost ones energy as a result of decreasing toxins in the body. However, no evidence proves that detoxifying can lead to increased energy. Also, while it can help cure a hangover, it doesnt necessarily remove alcohol from your blood. It is also said to aid in debloating your stomach because it cleanses your colon but again, this all anecdotal and isnt supported by scientific evidence as of yet. All we can say for sure is that it is a proven detoxifier.