If you’re reading this, chances are quite good that you’ve already heard of Art Post. He has become a ubiquitous presence in office technology circles through his blogging, motivational speaking and Print4Pay Hotel online community of more than 2,600 industry professionals. A sales extraordinaire who has enjoyed the most successful campaigns of his 42-year career in the teeth of the pandemic, Post has plied his craft with Stratix Systems in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, for the past 23-plus years.
His stories are renowned for tying together the past and the present, and he’s written on essentially every aspect of the office dealer experience. Given the significant changes that have transpired in office technology since the early 1980s, Post is uniquely qualified to offer a broad perspective of where the sector has been and where it’s going.
Post qualifies as an ENX Magazine Difference Maker on several levels. His sales success in the past two years alone sets him apart, but it’s his wealth of knowledge and willingness to share his views at such a critical juncture for the office landscape that truly makes a difference on a grander scale.
“I still follow my three Ds: Desire to always continue my education; Dedication to be the best at what I do; and Determination to never give up on anything I do,” Post said. “I always play to win and I still love winning. My desire is to leave a mark on this industry by helping others whenever I can. I need to share what I’ve learned in my 42 years so that others can benefit as well.”
His backstory is one of legend. Out of work in 1980, Post applied to become a copier machine technician. He tested and fell just outside the class of 20 people selected, only to be offered a spot in the 16-week training course when one person dropped out. During his three-month performance review, it was clear that Post had a knack for disassembling copiers, but putting them back together proved to be his Achilles’ heel. A career as a copier tech just wasn’t in the cards.
As Post was headed for the door, the dealer exec made him an intriguing offer. Flashing a wad of cash, about $300, the owner said Post could finish out the week to earn the dough. In a scene that could’ve been taken from “Let’s Make a Deal,” the owner offered an alternative: Post could make a convincing pitch to just give him the money. Post jumped at that opportunity and spent 10 to 15 minutes making a case for why the owner should just hand over the money.
Well, the owner remained unconvinced and kept the $300. Little did Post know that he had just been given a sales test. Post was offered a job hawking copiers and was shown the ropes by the dealer principal and his wife.
Gambling Man
Post has never shied away from rolling the dice. One of his watershed moments was the time he earned $40,000 in commission during a first appointment that took just 45 minutes.
“I had no clue what I was doing with pricing and winged it because I saw a chance to go back to the office with a large order and a net-new client,” Post recalled. “That told me there’s still a lot of money to be made when analog copiers made the move to digital. With 20 years of experience (at that point), there was no limit as to how much I could make and how much I could learn.”
There have been ample learning opportunities for Post, who benefitted from the wisdom of people such as that husband-wife tandem at a small dealership. Another influencer was the late Jack Carroll of Century Office Products, who passed along his wisdom and gave Post the opportunity to grow and develop a better understanding of all the industry’s key players. And it was Post’s mother who always stressed the importance of remembering those who have helped him along the way.
Foul-Weather Warrior
Persevering and even thriving during the past two years—plying his craft in a state like New Jersey that saw the most stringent of COVID-19 protocols in the nation—confirmed in Post’s mind that success can still be achieved in even the direst of circumstances.
“When you want it, you can still go out and get it,” he observed. Writing even more business in 2021 only solidified that notion for Post.
Even after 42 years on the job, Post doesn’t pass on any opportunities to expand his knowledge base. He knows that now is the time to drill even deeper and wider in his Stratix accounts through the additional services the dealer offers. While he’ll always seek out opportunities to push copiers, the ancillary products and services can wedge the sales doors open even wider.
Post and his wife, Kathy, have been married for more than 30 years. They have a son and two granddaughters. He’s an avid beachcomber who enjoys spending the winter making jewelry from the treasures he finds during the summer. When he’s not at the shore, Post invests much of his free time building the Print4Pay Hotel site, which has grown to include the sales videos he produces.
