2023 in Review: Joint Venture Between Ricoh, Toshiba Nets Most Compelling Designation

It’s almost a running joke within the confines of industry conversations. Every year, a bevy of observers will point to what they feel is a glut in the manufacturer community and quietly predict, “We’re going to see some OEM consolidation this year, for sure. There aren’t
Read More

Kyocera Wins Court Case Against State of New Jersey

A federal judge has deemed a New Jersey law that ensnared Kyocera Document Solutions America (KDSA) doesn’t apply to the manufacturer. The state’s Russia Act, which targets entities conducting prohibited activities in that country, was dealt a blow when U.S. District
Read More

Fearless Forecasting: Industry Experts Take a Shot at Predicting 2024 Events

Let’s be honest, Americans love predictions. Some prognosticators come armed with mountains of data to support their assertions. Others rely on a gut reaction, backed by years of experience in going through similar circumstances. Some predictions are just meant to be bold
Read More

Rewarding Loyalty: Konica Minolta Seeks to Reestablish Lofty Status in the Dealer Community

It’s been said that when times are tough, that’s when one learns who their true friends are and, conversely, which ones are only fair-weather pals. When the pandemic and its related business disruptions visited Konica Minolta Business Solutions in a most-unkind fashion, it didn’t
Read More

Managed IT, Partnership Drive The Swenson Group Down the Road of Profitability

It’s not that Dean Swenson is averse to starting out from scratch. The president of The Swenson Group (TSG) in Livermore, California, along with his brother, Jeff (vice president, client services) did exactly that 20 years ago when they converted their 10-year-old, $30 million
Read More

Diversification, AI and Consolidation: The Many Trends that Shaped 2023

It’s been quite a while since the phrase “optimistic” was applied to a coming year’s business outlook, at least without the qualifier “cautiously.” Without giving into hyperbole, one can almost hear the office technology dealership humming the song “Feeling Good.” After three
Read More

Keeping You Company with More Tales of Elite Dealer Challenges

Listen…do you hear that? No? OK, listen again. Do you hear it now? You don’t? Of course not, because it’s the sound of your phone not ringing, or your email client not bong-ing (for lack of a better term). It’s Dec. 21, and all’s quiet. There’s nothing going on, because most
Read More

Modern Sales Training Difference Maker Derek Shebby Helps Reps Reach Greater Heights

There are no two words in the English language more harmful than ‘good job.’—Terence Fletcher, Whiplash The quote is delivered brilliantly by actor J.K. Simmons, playing an instructor at a music conservatory who is hell-bent on cultivating Charlie Parker-level greatness in one of
Read More

Help Wanted: Elite Dealers’ Biggest Obstacle is Finding and Retaining Team Members

In the business world, it seems there is something that can be counted on, without fail, year after year. And that is the difficulty in finding and maintaining quality employees. Come to think of it, when was the last time you can clearly remember having a wealth of quality
Read More

Looking to Offload Holiday Stress? Check Out Elite Dealer Challenges

In-laws, cooking, shopping, extended family, in-laws, travel, friend time, in-laws, fruitcake, year-end accounting…in-laws. These are some of the pressures we face during the month of December. All of this takes time, money and a portion of our sanity. Most of it is pleasant.
Read More

Digitech Systems Difference Maker Nathan Schwenke Strikes Professional Gold

It’s safe to say that Nathan Schwenke knows a valuable find when he sees one. The man has carved out a name for himself on several fronts. Schwenke is a celebrity in the treasure hunting community who owns a brick-and-mortar business dedicated to the hobby, Midwest Diggers, which
Read More

Elite Dealer Challenges: Calling Audibles Sets Companies on the Right Track

December is always an optimal time for reflection, to ponder the good and bad, the gains and losses, the takedowns and bad beats that marked the year as it draws to a close. Not to be a Donnie Downer, but your friends at ENX Magazine have decided to focus on the negative aspects.
Read More

Six Degrees of Success: Pulse Technology Difference Maker Chip Miceli Does his Part to Uplift Industry

What is the common thread between actor Kevin Bacon and Pulse Technology CEO Chip Miceli? Both gentlemen are ideal candidates for the Six Degrees of Separation game. One can link any actor with Bacon inside of six steps—for example: Dustin Hoffman starred with Donald Sutherland
Read More

CIT Rules it has Jurisdiction in Ninestar-DHS Case

The wheels of justice are turning slowly for Ninestar in its legal attempts to lift its placement on the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List by the Department of Homeland Security. Last week’s court ruling, however, provided definite, if minimal,
Read More

Confronting Challenges: Elite Dealers Share 2023’s Biggest Obstacles

This is easily one of my favorite features of the year, when we ask our Elite Dealer honorees that one question on everyone’s mind: What was the greatest challenge you experienced this year, and how did you respond to it? Obviously, there are universal business conditions that
Read More