There is a basic adage in our approach to not only business but life as well, that seems to trip up many people: Treat others the way you would want to be treated. It’s something we’re all taught by the time we enter elementary school. Those who fail to follow such a basic guideline somehow lack empathy and miss out on the big picture perspective.
Rob Richardson feeds off that mantra. The founder and owner of Allied Document Solutions & Services (ads-s) in Swedesboro, NJ, further underscores the importance of going above and beyond for those in his personal and professional life. Those who can be relied upon, in turn, can be assured of the same consideration in kind.
Rob Richardson, Allied Document Solutions and Services (ads-s)
“You can never have enough friends out there and I have literally hundreds of contacts that I have compiled over the years that I can reach out to at any given time for assistance or guidance,” Richardson said.
The 2017 ENX Magazine Difference Maker recognizes that this industry is as much about people as it is profit. “This is a relationship-based industry and I can say that we have done an excellent job of client retention as a result of our approach,” Richardson added.
Richardson was hired out of college by Digital Equipment Corp. (“I’m convinced they were tired of me calling HR every other day, asking them to hire me,” he noted). But when that company switched its approach, Richardson—on the advice of a family friend, switched to selling consumables. In subsequent years, he migrated to service and printer-related devices before moving into higher end MFPs and copiers. In 1994, he founded ads-s, which has grown from a transactional provider of printing supplies to a full-service imaging and printing solutions provider. Six years ago, he joined the Business Technology Association to gain a better understanding of the copier market.
Being able to solve the business needs of his clients is perhaps the most satisfying aspect of Richardson’s work. “Pulling the resources of our team, as well as the manufacturers, and then ultimately presenting a solution that provides value to the end users is very rewarding,” he said.
The 2016 campaign was an eventful one for both Richardson and ads-s. He became president of BTA National, which feeds into his love of networking and learning. And ads-s status as an HP Premier Partner puts it in an elite class of dealers who can sell and support HP’s new A3 line. The company also entered document management and secured a partnership with Intellinetics, while Richardson himself joined the Office Printing Strategies Group (OPSG) peer group.
“I’ve learned a great deal from these fellow dealers in a few short months,” Richardson noted.
Even as Richardson enters his 23rd year with ads-s, his ongoing goals are to grow and evolve. “The book has not ended—there is more to learn and do,” he said. “This wisdom and knowledge then needs to be shared with the team, clients and our vendor/manufacturer partners.”
Free time is a precious commodity for Richardson, and he loves to spend it with his better half, Christie, and their four children. The Richardsons enjoy their annual spring skiing adventure (this spring it was Winter Park, CO), followed in the summer by a trip to the ocean or a lake. This year’s adventure sees 32 family members bound for Lake Gaston, which borders Virginia and North Carolina.
