ACT Group
Cromwell, CT
Year Founded: 1974
Owners: Cindi Gondek, CEO/Greg Gondek, President
Number of Employees: 35
Primary Vendors: Ricoh, Kyocera, 3D Systems, Xerox, HP, RISO
Primary Solutions Offerings: CIMA, DocuClass, Artsyl, FM Audit, GoFax
Primary Supplies Vendors: LMI, Parts Now, Supplies Network
Primary Leasing Partners: CIT, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, DLL, GE Capital
Approximate Yearly Revenues: $5-$10 million
Fastest Growing Segments of ACT Group’s Business: Since it has rebranded and established specialized divisions, ACT Group has grown in every area with Software, 3D Equipment, MPS, and Traditional Hardware leading the way. Overall, it expects to see 45 percent annual growth over last year.
Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Developing specialized divisions and enhancing the software expertise levels of its staff.
Why We Consider ACT Group Elite:
- Its service excellence and level of expertise. Clients and prospects repeatedly tell the ACT Group that its knowledge and focus on their needs is superior to anything they have seen. Contributing to that is its success in raising the software knowledge of its staff to better sell solutions and serve clients.
- It conducts seminars and shares information through expert research and white papers in every division. All of its contracts have a degree of flexibility so that clients never feel boxed in or trapped when their needs change.
- It was recognized with its 28th Kyocera Service Excellence Award, making ACT Group the most awarded Kyocera dealer on the East Coast.
- Its trailblazing efforts marketing 3D equipment.
- CEO Cindi Gondek has been recognized by Forbes magazine in various New England Women in Business features.
Allen Business Machines (ABM Co. Inc.)
Fort Wayne, IN
Year Founded: 1953
President: Dan Maucher
Number of Employees: 30
Primary Vendors: Sharp, Kyocera Mita/Copystar, Samsung, Dell
Primary Solutions Vendors: FM Audit, Infodynamics, Square 9, PaperCut
Primary Supplies Partners: SP Richards, IS Group, Katun
Primary Leasing Partners: GreatAmerica, EverBank, DLL
Approximate Yearly Revenues: $6-$10 million
Fastest Growing Segments of ABM’s Business: Facility Products (up 10%), Furniture (up 30%), MNS (up 33%), Copier Service (up 17%), Copier Sales (up 10%)
Biggest Accomplishment of the Year: Recertification as a Pros Elite 100 Dealer, the successful launch of its MNS program, and receiving a service award from ENX magazine.
Why We Consider ABM Elite:
- Its Easy Lease Program, which provides customers with the lowest possible lease payment along with a great amount of flexibility.
- Its Service Reconciliation Program, which safeguards pricing for the customer. This program credits the customer if they have contracted for more service than they have used at the end of the contract with the difference credited to their account if they re-lease through ABM.
- It has presented bonuses to employees during the past four years as part of a company profit sharing program.
- Winner of a Sharp Platinum Service award 2011-2014; only 13 percent of Sharp dealers qualify for this award.
- Its willingness to branch out into other areas such as furniture and supplies as well as Managed Network Services to become a one-stop source for its customers.
Bay Copy
Rockland, MA
Year Founded: 1972
President/CEO: Ray Belanger
Number of Employees: 32
Primary Vendors: Konica Minolta, Muratec, Toshiba, Lexmark
Primary Solutions Offerings: MPS, Document Security
Primary Supplies Vendors: Toshiba, Lexmark, Konica Minolta, HP, Muratec
Primary Leasing Partners: GE Capital, GreatAmerica
Approximate Yearly Revenues: $5-$10 million
Fastest Growing Segments of Bay Copy’s Business: Managed Print Services (30% growth over 2014)
Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Continuing to develop the MPS portion of its business and expanding a relationship with a major area healthcare network. This resulted in Bay Copy now managing all of the organization’s output devices, including copiers, printers, MFPs, and Copy Centers. Over 400 devices were updated.
Why We Consider Bay Copy Elite:
- Bay Copy has consistently evolved with the industry’s technological changes, from analog to digital, to including office equipment products, to its current emphasis on Managed Print Services.
- Its continued emphasis on the latest training for service technicians and account representatives along with a company culture that encourages all representatives of Bay Copy to treat each client as if they are the company’s sole client.
- Bay Copy is a strong corporate citizen, with CEO Ray Belanger serving as Immediate Past Chairman of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, as well as the company serving as a Chamber partner. Ray remains an active member of a national trade association, the Select Dealer Group, which he helped found. Additionally, other team members are active in civic and business organizations throughout the region.
- It received a Platinum Award from GE Capital and was chosen to serve on GE Capital’s Advisory Board and also has received a Muratec Imagemakers Award.
- It is in its seventh year as a Business Solutions Dealer (BSD) for Lexmark International and was the first company in Massachusetts named as a BSD, joining an elite group of dealers across the United States. The affiliation with Lexmark has assisted Bay Copy as it broadens its reach in the MPS market.
Business Copier Solutions
Poway, CA
Year Founded: 2002
Owner/President: Keith Justus
Number of Employees: 47
Primary Vendors: Toshiba, Konica Minolta, Muratec, OKI Data
Primary Solutions Offerings: Digital Signage, Continuum, Square 9, Prism, Objectif Lune, Microsoft, NSI, eCopy, Equitrac, EFI, Managed Print Services, Network Services, VOIP Solutions
Primary Supplies Vendors: Toshiba, Konica Minolta, Muratec, Katun, Arete, CopyLite, OKI Data
Primary Leasing Partners: Leaf, GE Capital
Approximate Yearly Revenues: $5-$10 million
Fastest Growing Segments of Business Copier Solutions’ Business: IT Services (15%), Hardware (40%), Service (34%), Digital Signage (11%)
Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Achieving double-digit growth of more than 25 percent and landing three major accounts.
Why We Consider Business Copier Solutions Elite:
- It is an environmentally friendly organization with a diverse and ethical work force.
- The dealership consistently looks for new recruits for sales positions and trains them with seasoned sales representatives.
- It has created a referral program to increase its sales and promote its reputation.
- It’s been recognized by Konica Minolta with a Pro-Tech 2014 and 2015 Service Center Excellence of Service and is a member of the Muratec Imagemakers Club.
- It sponsors community events such as golf tournaments to benefit local non-profit organizations and consistently participates in local activities.
Copier Fax Business Technologies (CFBT)
Buffalo, NY
Year Founded: 1990
President: Al Scibetta
Number of Employees: 35
Primary Vendors: Konica Minolta, Lexmark
Primary Solutions Offerings: DocuWare, Managed IT Services
Primary Supplies Vendors: Konica Minolta, LMI
Primary Leasing Partners: DLL
Approximate Yearly Revenues: $7+ million
Fastest Growing Segments of Copier Fax’s Business: Since the launch of its exclusive process called Documentelligence in 2012, Solution Sales have by far been the fastest growing department over the last three years. The Solutions department has seen double-digit growth, and the company has grown by nearly seven figures each year for the past three years as it has become a full-service office technology partner.
Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: The hiring of a Solutions Specialist underscored the success of its Documentelligence strategy and its Solutions push. The dealership is considered one of the top DocuWare representatives in the world, which it considers an incredible honor.
Why We Consider CFBT Elite:
- Its Documentelligence process and its rebranding from an office technology provider to a full-service office technology partner.
- Its service excellence. For eight years in a row, CFBT has been recognized as a Pro-Tech Dealer by Konica Minolta for offering some of the best service in the country.
- The way it targets strong personal communication, social media, and mass media in all marketing and advertising programs. Its social media program has been recognized as one of the strongest in the industry. With more than 3,000 likes, CFBT uses social media similarly to its newsletter for opening its doors to the world, but also to give occasional updates on the office technology industry, open houses, etc.
- It is one of the top DocuWare dealers in the country.
- Its community involvement. CFBT is a major sponsor of the Summit Education Walk for Autism; numerous employees are involved in various board positions for non-profits, especially for Rotary International; and it also sponsors golf outings and charitable fundraisers, including Hospice of Buffalo, UNYTS, and Child and Family Services of Buffalo.
Copy Concepts, Inc.
Fort Myers, FL
Year Founded: 1983
Owner/CEO: Ron Hickox
Number of Employees: 30
Primary Vendors: Toshiba, Lexmark, KIP
Primary Solutions Offerings: Toshiba’s PageSmart program (FMAudit)
Primary Supplies Vendors: Toshiba, Lexmark, KIP
Primary Leasing Partners: DLL, GE Capital, Wells Fargo
Approximate Yearly Revenues: $5-$10 million
Fastest Growing Segments of Copy Concept’s Business: Verticals, including real estate, title companies, financial planners, construction, and state and county government accounts. At least 80 percent of its new business is coming from those sectors.
Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Becoming debt free while investing in both capital upgrades and in its employees. By continuing to toe the line on unnecessary expenses, reducing overhead by eliminating brick and mortar offices when field reps and techs will do, keeping payroll in line with sales, among other budgetary guidelines, Copy Concepts has been able to pay down large debts to its creditors.
Why We Consider Copy Concepts Elite:
- Even though providing superior customer service is one trait that every dealership strives for, Copy Concepts actually succeeds at it. Customer service is on every employee’s mind, and management across all locations consistently emphasize the dealership’s tag line “No one does it better!” so that everyone understands the importance of making sure everyone goes above and beyond to take care of the customer.
- A recently redesigned website with its new emphasis on social media. Copy Concepts focuses on keeping the website fresh while the social media tie-ins help organically grow its Google presence.
- Its expanded partnership with Toshiba to fully integrate all of its Business Solutions, including the PageSmart program for MPS and its Digital Signage program. This has opened the door for further conversations with customers beyond the traditional copier discussion.
- Its emphasis on creating a positive workforce. Owner and founder Ron Hickox is the driving force behind hiring positive people and encouraging everyone to maintain a positive attitude.
- Its charitable contributions to churches and non-profits as well as its employees’ involvement in the community with organizations such as NAACP, ACT-SO, Feeding Fort Myers, Darlene & Friends, and Goodwill Industries.
Corporate Business Systems
Madison, WI
Year Founded: 1998
President/Owner: Mike Blake
Number of Employees: 22
Primary Vendors: Xerox, Savin, Canon, Lexmark, Samsung
Primary Solutions Offerings: PaperCut, Ademero, EFI, ACDI
Primary Supplies Vendors: LMI, Clover, Arlington
Primary Leasing Partners: GreatAmerica, Wells Fargo
Approximate Yearly Revenues: $5-$10 million
Fastest Growing Segments of Corporate Business System’s Business: Production Print (64% growth) and MPS (46% growth in last 18 months)
Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Replacing its CRM with Compass Sherpa and successfully entering the production print market.
Why We Consider Corporate Business Systems Elite:
- It increased its First Call Effectiveness (FCE) by 20 percent with the help of BEI Services in the last 24 months.
- Its successful entry into the production print market.
- It recently partnered with Xerox and Netsertive to offer a web-based program, Netsertive’s StreetWise solution, which empowers local businesses and their brand partners to outsmart the competition through data-driven insights that deliver better qualified customers and more sales opportunities.
- It was recently awarded an Excellence Award from Xerox for the highest growth in the country for the first quarter of 2015.
- It’s a caring corporate citizen and donates copiers to a local provider of Homeless Shelters and services, provides funds and support to the local Salvation Army, and donates equipment to other non-profits in its market.
Image Matters
Knoxville, TN
Year Founded: 1999
Owners: Bob Lovelace & JD Sullivan
Number of Employees: 30
Primary Vendors: Xerox, Muratec, KIP
Primary Solutions Offerings: Xerox Centreware Web, PaperCut, ScanFlowStore
Primary Supplies Vendors: Xerox, Imagestar, Diversified Computer Supplies
Primary Leasing Partners: GE Capital, GreatAmerica, In-House Private Label
Approximate Yearly Revenues: $5-$10 million
Fastest Growing Segments of Image Matter’s Business: National Accounts, MPS, Commercial Printing
Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Structuring its executive management team to give them the autonomy they need to have stronger influence to improve their processes. All management understands the Image Matters culture and is working collectively to improve all areas of the business together, keeping the intense focus on the customer experience.
Why We Consider Image Matters Elite:
- Imagelink, its branded MPS program, which continues to enjoy exponential growth.
- The successful realignment of leadership roles, which has created a system of team leaders and managers to work more efficiently. This transition, accomplished a year ago, has led to enhanced efficiency through specialization of tasks and data tracking.
- Customers consistently tell the dealership that they value the expertise they have in their field, the sense of urgency they employ when contacted, and the company-wide commitment to excellent service. Customers also appreciate that they’re not treated as just a customer. As one client says, “They treat us like we’re family and they will do whatever it takes to make sure we have what we need no matter what. Their ability to have as many customers as they do and still treat us like we’re the only one they have is like none other. Yes they provide ‘Great Service,’ but when a service company can support you and make you feel like they are there for your needs and not their own….well that’s a step above the rest.”
- Employees appreciate the culture at Image Matters, including the work hard, play hard mentality, the family atmosphere with an emphasis on employees and their family’s well being, as well as a relaxed, fun environment that thrives on meeting deadlines and getting work accomplished.
- Its ongoing emphasis on web-based marketing, monitoring, and prospecting.
Imagine Technology Group
Phoenix, AZ
http://touchstonesolutionsgroup.com/imagine-technology-group/
Year Founded: 2011
Owner/CEO: Robert & Mary Ellen Franz/Darren Johnson, Chad Schwartz
Number of Employees: 25
Primary Vendors: Toshiba, Sharp, Crexendo (phones)
Primary Solutions Offerings: Square 9, PaperCut, Drivve Image, PSigen, Planet Press
Primary Supplies Vendors: West Point, Azerty, Supplies Network
Primary Leasing Partners: RJF (Internal Leasing Company), EverBank, GE Capital
Approximate Yearly Revenues: $5-$10 million
Fastest Growing Segments of Imagine Technology Group’s Business: Solutions revenues have grown from virtually nothing at its inception to close to 15 percent last year.
Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Making a concentrated effort to market all of its solutions to customers. The company began the year by creating a new organization, Managed Network Services. The dealership then identified specific solutions the company wanted to offer its customers and made it a focus to use as many solutions internally as possible. This included implementing workflow solutions in Square 9, switching its phone systems to Crexendo, installing video display systems in its Tucson facility, and implementing a Managed Network Group to provide solutions to Imagine Technology Group employees.
Why We Consider Imagine Technology Group Elite:
- Its recognition of the importance of solutions along with its growth initiatives in this area as it has become a single source for all of its customers’ data solutions. By providing digital signage, phones, network management, and document management, in addition to copiers, the company’s customers trust them to be their solutions provider.
- Expansion of its service offerings to include Managed Network Services, phones, digital signage, and document management.
- Even though the company is less than five years old, 75 percent of employees have worked together for more than 15 years, indicating to us that it is a vibrant and nurturing work environment. The dealership also promotes from within and encourages employees to take responsibility for customer satisfaction.
- It has been awarded Sharp’s Hyakuman Kai Dealer Award and the Crexendo Partner Award.
- It gives back to the community through participation in customer-sponsored golf tournaments and support of the community food bank and Boys and Girls Club.
Martin Group
Lake Geneva, WI
Year Founded: 1980
President/Owner: John Stensland
Number of Employees: 22
Primary Vendors: Konica Minolta
Primary Solutions Offerings: MPS, Managed Services, Prism Software, Konica Minolta PageScope Enterprise & PageScope Mobile
Primary Supplies Vendors: Konica Minolta, Cheesehead Toner
Primary Leasing Partners: GreatAmerica, Konica Minolta Premier Finance
Approximate Yearly Revenues: $5 million
Fastest Growing Segments of Martin Group’s Business: Production Print—600 percent growth
Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Internal implementation of DocRecord by Prism for scanning all of its old deal paperwork into the software. This document management software has made internal filing much easier because documents are now readily available at each employee’s computer.
Why We Consider Martin Group Elite:
- Its Client Care approach to service. Account representatives understand that not every client is the same, and that they all have different needs. As a result, Martin Group does a full analysis of the client’s workflow needs and how their current devices are handling that workflow. After this analysis, Martin Group draws up a plan that includes the best device(s) for the client as well as the best location to place them. This analysis and planning often leads to at least a 10 percent decrease in monthly printing costs, and in some cases up to 30 percent.
- Its client surveys. This gives clients an opportunity to voice opinions, both good and bad. These surveys help Martin Group get valuable feedback from clients on their experience with the dealership and identify areas for improvement.
- It has won Konica Minolta’s Pro-Tech Service Award for 10 consecutive years.
- Its culture of teamwork and selflessness as well as a willingness to invest in its team members. If there is ever a question on how to do something or if someone is just looking for some advice on how to proceed next, everyone at Martin Group has an open door policy and is always willing to help. The dealership is constantly training its team members on software and tools such as the new Adobe Creative Cloud Suite and the dispatch software RemoteTech to ensure everyone has the best tools and knowledge available.
- Implementation of the e-Info module. This is an online portal from Martin Group’s ERP software e-Automate that is accessible through their website and will provide clients with a link that allows them access to their personal account where they can make payments via credit card, order supplies, and place service calls as well as check the status of their orders for both supplies and service.
Millennium Business Systems (MBS)
Livonia, MI
Year Founded: 1997
President/Owner: Michael Neu
Number of Employees: 40
Primary Vendors: Toshiba
Primary Solutions Offerings: Managed Services, PaperCut, Re-Rite
Primary Supplies Vendors: Toshiba, Pinnacle, Katun, Innovolt
Primary Leasing Partners: GreatAmerica, U.S. Bank, GE Capital
Approximate Yearly Revenues: $5-$10 million
Fastest Growing Segments of MBS’ Business: MPS and Copier Hardware
Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Launching its MPS Program and opening a new branch in another market.
Why We Consider MBS Elite:
- MBS created a new business development marketing team in 2012, which has helped the company accomplish a 30 percent year-over-year increase in revenue.
- Its Saturday service hours and flexible after-hours program.
- Its ability to create customized programs for vertical markets.
- A bonus program where sales, service, and administrative teams are all eligible.
- The company culture and team environment as marketing and sales are all vested in every new business opportunity and customer interaction.
SolutionOne
Omaha, NE
Year Founded: 1937
President/Owner: John Kuchta
Number of Employees: 41
Primary Vendors: Konica Minolta, Lexmark, Muratec, Kyocera
Primary Solutions Offerings: Virtual Works, Nuance eCopy ShareScan, eCopy PDF Pro, Equitrac, RightFax, Alchemy, Konica Minolta PageScope, Scanfinity
Primary Supplies Vendors: LMI, Katun, Q2, Tech Data, Supplies Network
Primary Leasing Partners: U.S. Bank, GreatAmerica
Approximate Yearly Revenues: $5-$10 million
Fastest Growing Segments of SolutionOne’s Business: A4 MFPs (Color and Black & White) and MPS
Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Winning the Konica Minolta Service Center Pro Tech Award for the 11th consecutive year in a row.
Why We Consider SolutionOne Elite:
- It takes the time and invests resources into making sure all techs are certified on every Konica Minolta device to an advanced or expert level. (Not even the Konica Minolta Direct branch is Pro Tech certified on their machines.)
- In 2015, SolutionOne responded to service requests within 2.77 hours on average and performed service requests over the phone in less than 20 minutes on average. In 2015, 30.01 percent of all service calls were repaired and completed over the phone or through a remote network session. In 2015, 97 percent of all customer service respondents gave SolutionOne a positive rating.
- Its Net Promoter (a national program that measures customer satisfaction on a scale of 1-10) score is 8.068 year-to-date. In contrast, Apple has a score of 7 and Nordstrom, 7.5.
- Its Connect Pak agreement and Works or It Walks agreement. During its six-month account reviews with customers, SolutionOne provides a “blue sheet report” that shows them how they utilize their equipment and how they can better utilize their equipment.
- A work culture that recognizes achievement, provides an opportunity for personal and professional growth, rewards excellence, and establishes quality as the expected level of performance.
Southwest Copy Systems
Albuquerque, NM
Year Founded: 1992
Owners: Michael & Dorothy Contois
Number of Employees: 29
Primary Vendors: Toshiba, Lexmark, Sharp, Muratec, KIP
Primary Solutions Offerings: Lexmark Solutions, PaperCut, Square 9
Primary Supplies Vendors: LMI
Primary Leasing Partners: DLL, GE Capital, U.S. Bank
Approximate Yearly Revenues: $5-$10 million
Fastest Growing Segments of Southwest Copy System’s Business: MPS (35% growth), Lexmark A4 (28% growth)
Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: Southwest Copy Systems has become one of the leading MFP and MPS dealers in New Mexico through its diligence in vetting its hardware and solutions before providing them to clients.
Why We Consider Southwest Copy Systems Elite:
- Its employees work hard to get the results the company is trying to achieve. Employees’ work ethic and attention has enabled the company to become one of the most successful local MFP and solutions dealers in New Mexico.
- It has integrated go-to-market strategies that incorporate its MPS solutions, which have been highly successful over the last four to five years.
- Its open door policy with employees. The company takes the necessary steps to foster strong relationships with its employees while mentoring them with business decisions as well as personal endeavors. This starts with a flexible work-life mindset and rewards for employee excellence. The company embraces personal growth with all of its employees, even when they leave for other companies.
- It has been honored with a variety of awards over the years from U.S. Bank (Gold Partner Award), Toshiba (ProMasters Service Award & Market Leadership-Platinum for the Western Region), and Sharp (Platinum Provider)
- It supports various charitable causes such as the Wounded Warrior Project, Catholic Charities New Mexico, and the Children’s Cancer Fund.
Vision Office Systems, Inc.
Charlotte, NC
Year Founded: 1997
President/Owner: Fred Habbal
Number of Employees: 40
Primary Vendors: Savin, Canon, Samsung, Muratec, Lexmark, 3D Systems
Primary Solutions Offerings: Square 9
Primary Supplies Vendors: Image Star, LMI
Primary Leasing Partners: GreatAmerica, Element
Approximate Yearly Revenues: $5-$10 million
Fastest Growing Segments of Vision’s Business: Wide Format (up 200% from last year), Desktop Printers (up 300% from last year)
Biggest Accomplishment of the Past Year: The ability to grow its business organically without acquisitions.
Why We Consider Vision Office Systems Elite:
- Its ability to consistently provide customers with high-quality products as well as a custom solution for each customer instead of a one-size-fits-all approach.
- A marketing program that includes a free TV with the purchase of select equipment.
- Its site survey/assessment customer promotion where customers who agree to a survey/site assessment are eligible to win a monthly prize (TV, Laptop, iPad, Gift Cards, etc.)
- It has been honored with Ricoh’s Prestige Service Award (A Vision technician was one of 55 recipients nationwide out of 2,500 to receive this award) and is a Great America Premier Dealer.
- It treats its employees as family, but in return expects them to work hard and do their jobs.
- It’s a solid corporate and community citizen and supports the Lake Wylie Children’s Charity, which helps families with terminally ill children. The dealership holds events all year long to help pay for their expenses as often times one or both parents are forced to give up their careers. Each Christmas, Vision donates approximately 2,000-3,000 pounds of food to the food bank to feed the less fortunate during the holidays.