Tools to Transform a Dealership ITEX’08 takes a turnkey approach

Good tradeshows afford dealers a real chance to meet key industry players and business-altering solutions all in one venue, over a short time period. Here’s where you’ll find real-world advice on how to make the most intelligent purchasing decisions, how to implement the best business solutions, or more importantly, how to avoid costly business mistakes. Interested dealers can find a step-by-step process to either become the complete solutions provider, or arm themselves with the best tools to result in more profits for the taking.

With the channel’s ever-expanding changes, including an array of innovative MFPs, masses of document software solutions, wireless technologies and other networked methodologies now offered in the market, competition remains fierce. For some of you who have a broader vision to expand your business, you’ve learned how to turn over every leaf, if you will, to find fertile new ground. You deserve kudos. For other dealers, resellers and VARs, of which there are many, who still need answers to their questions and seek to learn the “turn key steps” to reigniting their business, you’re likely asking, “Where best can I find this?”

In my opinion, from raking a good tradeshow. This is where events like ITEX shine.

ITEX is a leading industry show where most areas of document imaging converge to offer the best industry information found to date, aiding document imaging providers in their quest to broaden their business. Today, with the ongoing changes in the channel, the cutting edge information found at a good tradeshow (including manufacturers exhibiting the latest advancements in document technology), are important means to remain proactive and “in the loop” on trends in the industry. Basically, when dealers seek to layer more value-adds for their customers’ choosing, here they can get “grounded” from show seminars which open their minds to today’s technology-savvy business world.

Benefits at a Glance

First, you can experience the learning curve phenomenon that tradeshows bring to a condensed setting and short time frame. Here’s where you’ll find all those up-to-the-minute strategies found in high powered education tracks. ITEX’08 has some of the best mindshare in the business, with experts leading specially designed classes to help you formulate a better business model for increasing your profits. ITEX’s upcoming Power Hour sessions next February will consist of six categorical education tracks, each with a variety of topics. Track categories include: Business Management, Sales & Marketing, Managed Print Services, Document Management (capture/workflow), Innovative Technology, and Service. Class topics include Repositioning your Company for Solutions Success, Striking a Balance in your A3 & A4 Product Portfolio, How to Implement a Successful Print Management Initiative, and the Benefits of Technician Specialization, among dozens of others.

The 100,000 sq. ft. show floor at the Las Vegas Convention Center will be the platform for more than 250 vendor exhibitors, including Oki Data, Xerox, Konica Minolta, Ricoh, Sharp, OMD, Panasonic, Printfleet, MWAi, Katun, LaCrosse, HP, Digital Gateway, FMAudit, Jamex, MKG, Samsung, Structured Web, Synnex, NER, Precision Roller, ECI2, Parts Now! and Kodak, among other notable providers. New for ‘08 is an expanded show floor that will include a wide format pavilion sponsored by BERTL, as well as ECM Connection sponsoring an enterprise content management center and email station. A number of manufacturers consider the wide format arena to be an important building block in their overall product lines. According to BERTL’s research, the introduction of CAD/CAM software gradually replaced hand-created drawings with ones created digitally by computers. That, in turn, created a demand for wide format devices capable of digital printing, not just copying. The process to add WF to a dealer’s portfolio will be answered by experts from GEI Wide Format, Ideal, and Paradigm Imaging.

Vegas is full of show stoppers, and that will include the Perfect Image Awards presentation Feb. 21, at the Las Vegas Hilton, the tradeshow’s host hotel. Founder Marc Spring will award those dealerships who “hit the mark above and beyond” in excellence in 2007. (Interested dealers can find entry forms online through January 18th) All winners will be featured within the pages of imageSource, a great way for award- winning companies to be visibly spotlighted.

Again, Oki Printing Solutions is the official ITEX Partner Sponsor, a manufacturer who supports dealers with a full range of products and solutions that have, for over 30 years, delivered outstanding performance and quality.

ITEX ’08 is gearing up for yet another great show in Las Vegas. Be there February 21-22, 2008. For full details visit www.itexshow.com .