DME Difference Maker Jim George Enters Industry by Chance, Makes Dealership a Destination Career

We’d love to tell you that Jim George had a vision for being a successful executive in the office technology industry, but that would be inaccurate. In fact, the man himself admits to entering the industry with his “eyes wide shut.” George’s foray into the industry came via
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Industry Charity: Office Dealers Give of their Time, Resources to Improve their Corner of the World

At a time when the divisiveness and political rancor in our country has polarized the collective psyche, the ability to reach out with gestures of comfort may be one of the few binding principles we can all agree upon. And regardless of your political, social or religious
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Customers for Life: Acquisitions, Key Integrations Keep ECI Software Solutions Ahead of Dealer Needs

When it comes to office technology dealer clients, Laryssa Alexander can attest to one universal truth: once they have a solution that works for them, they’ll be a customer for life. And the president of the Field Service division at ECI Software Solutions appreciates and
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Loffler Companies Riding Wave of Steady Growth via Burgeoning Managed IT Competencies, M&A

For all of his success as the founder and CEO of Loffler Companies, Jim Loffler doesn’t feel as if his company has finally arrived. Sure, the Bloomington, Minnesota-based dealership has checked off many of the boxes for success—15 locations, 565 employees, and projected sales in
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Services Trump Online Alternatives: Dealers Cannot Live by MFP Alone

You deserve a pat on the back. But why, you may ask? Because you’ve ingratiated your dealership deep within the heart of your client base, courtesy of managed services. In crafting a managed print/IT service contract, you’re providing clients with a solution that takes into
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Amazon of Things (AoT): Online Retail Giants Pose a Growing Threat

It might have been Luke Goldberg who first coined the phrase Amazon of Things (AoT) as a play off the Internet of Things (IoT), which has been slowly but surely gripping our personal and professional lives. Amazon, of course, continues on its path to become exactly what analysts,
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Crystal Ball: Recession or No, M&A Activity has Healthy Short-Term Outlook

In the last week or so, talks of a recession have become louder, though not everyone agrees that the indicators are pointing toward the big R. A story in the Wall Street Journal earlier this week pointed out that stocks declined the previous week after the 10-year Treasury yield
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Tomorrow’s Not Promised, so Difference Maker Mike Stramaglio Seizes the Moment

It’s easy to see why Mike Stramaglio projects an image of someone who tends to live in the moment.  The president of the MWA Business Unit under Konica Minolta’s All Covered has endured constant reminders pertaining to his mortality, as well as that of his loved ones,
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Thinking of Selling? Some Words of Wisdom from Leading M&A Players

There’s a wealth of information to be had for dealers who are considering selling a business they may have spent a lifetime developing. It’s not an easy call by any stretch, which is why consultants and lawyers often enter the picture at some juncture. But we have some free
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By Seeking to Amaze, CBE Difference Maker John Eckstrom Aims to Stand Above the Crowd

When it comes to client engagements, John Eckstrom—the president and CEO of Carolina Business Equipment (CBE)—has just one question for his team members: will it amaze? That’s quite a tall order. An amazing experience is certainly not something that one encounters on a daily
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The M&A Numbers Game: What is My Business Worth?

Want a fun exercise? Try saying the words that comprise EBITDA as fast as you can, even just once. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. By the second or third try, it sounds almost robotic. Perhaps it’s appropriate, because we’re talking about cold,
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Marco Maverick Steve Gau Slants Unconventional, but this Difference Maker Keeps Work Fun

Walk into Steve Gau’s office, and you might find a framed picture of John McCain on the wall. Gau is an unabashed fan of the late senator’s free-wheeling, maverick style. That conjures images of a nonconformist, an unconventional free-spirited individual. And that’s just
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Dealers Note Overcoming Obstacles as Key to Success in the Modern M&A Landscape

In conjunction with this month’s state of the industry focus on mergers and acquisitions, we’d like to provide you with a look at the various stumbling blocks that can either stall or completely stymie a deal before the final contract is signed. Often times, the obvious sticking
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Image Source Difference Maker Judith Jarvis Traverses Sales on Her Own Terms

Back in the early 2000s, Judith Jarvis had reached a transition point in her life. The University of Redlands graduate had lost her job, and the financial situation cost Jarvis her car. Undaunted, Jarvis canvassed the employment landscape in search of positions that yielded a
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Service Analytics and Consulting Competencies Allow NEXERA to Address Next Era of Dealer Business

For years, the trade press, consultants, manufacturers and industry think tanks have preached to the office technology dealership masses. The message of their sermon? The need to offer the most-comprehensive menu of products and services to end users, extending beyond the MFP box
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