What Happens When You're Numero Uno in Copier & MFP Sales

Every now and then I like to have a little fun with the blog.  Today, I had a few chuckles at Ricoh 's expense and a few others.

If you're number one, it always seems you're going to take some heat about something. In 20 or 30 years it would be interesting to see what the likes of Ricoh, Canon, Xerox and KonicaMinolta are doing and how they got there.

I'm thinking the past 4 years and the next 4 years will define how companies like  Ricoh, Xerox, KonicaMinolta and Canon will be moved forward or backwards.

I need to get to the chuckles right?  I was speaking with an RICOH person today just chomping it up about us being in the business for a long time and that person made a statement that they had to travel to Malvern for a corporate meeting, with that statement I could tell there was some, well...let's just say it was evident with the tone that Malvern is the NEW HQ as GMAN's (Member of Print4Pay Hotel) been stating for sometime! First chuckle!

But, even more unsettling was that I received a "ricoh" document the other day.   Nosey me, I clicked on all of the TABS and found out that what I thought was originally a "ricoh" document was actually  a document developed by IKON many years ago and then converted to Ricoh. Hey, there was the second chuckle of the day.

Sometimes I wonder....did Ricoh Americas buy IKON or did IKON get paid to take over Ricoh Americas? Ha!! Another chuckle, you really gotta laugh at this stuf.

Here's another, I follow Canon and Oce. Since the Canon take over, the web is flooded with OCE Press Releases, yet I get almost nothing coming from Canon. What gives?

What about this, how the heck can Toshiba, Sharp, or Kyocera Dealers and Direct Branches feel about their manufacturers marketing programs when there are virtually ZERO Press Releases for MFP, MPS or copier related products?

 I have alerts set for all four and I see more from Kyocera, less from Toshiba and a minuscule from Toshiba and Sharp.  By far the most press releases are in this order Xerox, Oce, Ricoh and KonicaMinolta. 

As my father in-law always stated "what do expect from a pig, but a grunt". True, you can take a visit to the Toshiba, Sharp and Kyocera....and where the heck are the mfp's and or copiers?? You really have to get down the page or dig deep to find them.

Thank you to Ricoh for sticking to MFP's and Copier for now, Hoping I'll be around in 30 years to see how all of this shakes out!

-=Good Selling=-

To Ricoh "What I Want for Christmas" 2011

The tradition of burning a Yule log actually has its roots in ancient Scandinavia. Supposedly the Yule log was a source of good luck and its remnants were saved to inspire good fortune throughout the year. It was such a widely held belief that people even threw the ashes in wells to make the water safer to drink.

It was once believed that any woman who went under a mistletoe and was not kissed would not marry the coming year.

Thanx to Interesting Christmas Facts for these.

I did a wish list for Ricoh last year, Here's what I want for this Christmas from Ricoh Americas for 2011:

• Dedicated A3 Color Envelope Printer with or without a Fiery
• 60-90 page per minute A4 MFP's
• Increased Mono & Color Scan Speeds for Segment 4 A3 MFP's
• A4 MFP's with an A3 "Cost Per Page Model"
• Embeded Browser Units on all MFP's so I can sell the heck out of UDOCX
• Duplexing A3 (11x17) Digital Duplicator
• 4 PPM Wide Format MFP with Color Scan
• Network Scanning Station: All of the Scan Features of the Ricoh MP5001 with NO print engine!
• Wide Format MFP that will Color Print/Color Scan and Color Copy
• Stop laying off good Ricoh people in favor of IKON people!

I'm sure there's a few more I could think of however these are on the top of my list!!

-=Good Selling=-

Selling Copiers & MFP's "Beancounters Enable More Sales"

Last month saw me not being able to maintain my monthly quota, and that really sucks!  Our month is suppose to close on the 24th of each month, however due to Thanksgiving and being closed on Friday and then the weekend we would have had until the 28th of the month.

Heck, I was good with that since Wednesday the 23rd is travel day before Thanksgiving and the 28th would have been a full business day to close additional business!    Thus I had the month of November at 23 Selling Days!!  Dam, just what I needed and extra day right?

Kinda, and not so fast, on or about the second week into the month we had a notice that we're closing the month on the 23rd which is the busiest travel day in the US. 

Basically means that you'd have to have all your sales completed by the 22nd of the month. So what was to be a bonus day, turned into one less day in the selling month, that's just like losing 10% of the month.  I'm not making excuses, however let me see some of those dam beancounters do my job and then let me take away a couple of selling days here and there, right!

But, you know, there is a shining light at the end of the tunnel.  When I'm back to work on Monday the 28, I'll still have 3 days left in the calendar month. So, I'll be back in the swing of things trying to get business closed with urgency before the calendar "end of the month".  In essence the beancounters need to close the month early gives me an additional "end of the month" closing tool.

Looking back, I kinda like having two "end of the month" opportunities, it gives me the additional desire to close things up and start the "new month" on a high note.

With that, we're into the last month of the year. I had a lot of business push to December and I'm hoping I can get it all done by the 14th, cause after that I'm closing shop until the end of the year!

Just a side note here from 1/20/2012, I was not able to finish the month by the 14th.  I was working all the way until the 23rd of the month.  For those that give up a few days before Christmas and pack it in. I was able close almost $100K in business on the 22nd and 23rd.  Just goes to show you that everyone is in buying mode around the Holidays!!!

-=Good Selling=-

Selling Copiers & MFP's "Alternatives to Discounting"

It's that time of the month again. I reached out to "Old Glory" a Print4Pay Hotel Member and asked Jim Parker if he'd being willing to write something for us. As always Jim came up BIG!  It's always good to talk to someone else who has been selling in the industry for some time.  Special thanx to Jim Parker for this this!  Jim is a Premium P4P Member and his input is always welcomed, take the time to become a Print4Pay Hotel Member, you'll be glad you did!

Alternatives to Discounting

Particularly when I am upgrading a current customer, I pretty much never let the current lease go full term AND pretty much never eat the whole cost of a buy-out and neither does the customer. I add the remaining months to the term of the new lease. If there are three months left on a 60 month lease, I tell the customer that the remaining obligation just becomes a part of the new lease.  Instead of back-to-back 60 month leases, they end up with a 60 month lease that only goes 57 and a 63 month lease...same 120 months. The extra funding that the 3 month longer obligation gets me comes close to paying the buy-out on the original lease. May not be able to do it again next renewal but I’ll worry about that when the time comes.

If you are hearing anything akin to “We’d have a deal if…” The first question needs to be, “Do you prefer to buy from me?” If the answer is yes then consider the following before giving in to discounting:

·        “Would you consider a longer term in return for the lower payment?” Earlier this year I placed 23 machines by matching the competitors 36 month payment by telling the prospect that I could match the competitors payment if they wouldn’t mind committing to 48 months instead of 36. They plan on always having a payment and never owning the equipment so does it matter that much whether the equipment stays 36 months or 48 as long as we keep them happy?

·        What about a step lease? “Mr. Customer, would you be willing to pay a little more in years 2 and 3 in return for the lower payment in year one?”

·        What about a deferred payment? “Mr. Customer, what if I could arrange for you to be able to go without a payment at all for a few months. Would that be helpful?” This will cost a small amount in funding but may be far less than the discount they were asking for.

·        If you are accustomed to -0- in advance leases… “The only way I can get you that payment is if are willing to pay a two payment security deposit. You’ll get it back in the end.”

Daily Managed Print Service Industry Notes from Around the World!

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) has announced a seven-year deal with Xerox managed print services through which it aims to save £1.2m. The deal, part of a wider project by Logica to create an intelligent back-office infrastructure for the Trust, means that UCLH will now have only one print supplier to manage. Before....read more here

Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc. (TABS), a leader in managed print services (MPS) that help organizations reduce cost by printing smarter, working safer and maximizing their green savings, continues leaving its mark in multifunction printer (MFP) innovations with the introduction of the....read more here

In 2012 what we’re focusing on is enabling our partners to sell more than just the box. While our core hardware business is very important to us, Lexmark, through a number of acquisitions over the last couple of months and through our own research and development, has come up with a number of tools to enable us help our channel partners go outside that normal channel sell. It’s very important for us as a print vendor to provide a compelling reason to partner with Lexmark, and we....read more here

Reading, UK, 22nd November 2011: Kyocera Mita UK Ltd is delighted to announce that it has successfully retained its Carbon Trust Standard certification following an audit by the Carbon Trust. The retention of the certification indicates that Kyocera Mita UK has continued to improve its carbon efficiency since the Standard was initially awarded in 2008. During a period of significant growth for Kyocera Mita UK, the company has achieved a....read more here

-=Good Selling=-

Daily Managed Print Industry Notes from Around the World!

Midway, KY– The managed print services (MPS) market continues to make great strides and grow in this tough economy, according to the 2011 MPS Market Size, Share and Forecast Study from Photizo Group, the leading research and transformation firm for the MPS market. With a 27 percent year-on-year growth in 2010 revenue, the MPS market indicates a....read more here

Managed Print Services give your business the tools that you need to succeed. MPS offers a variety of benefits that range from increasing the productivity within your office to reducing costs and helping improve the environment. In part one of this three part series, we will be discussing the benefits of Managed Print Services on Office Productivity....read more here

Manchester, UK – 21 November 2011 – M2’s independent managed print IT services (MPS) has helped one of the UK’s leading regional law firms, Pannone to reduce its spend on print and unnecessary print consumption....read more here

-=Good Selling=-

Daily Copier & MFP Industry Notes from around the World

Contex Group has signed an agreement to sell its subsidiaries Z Corporation and Vidar Systems to the American company 3D Systems Corporation. The enterprise value amounts to USD 137m. In connection with completion of the deal, a large part of the bank debt in Contex Group will be....read more here

LEXINGTON, Ky., Nov. 21, 2011 -- Lexmark International, Inc. (NYSE: LXK) has announced the opening of a new regional office in Moscow to help meet increased demand in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Since 1994, Lexmark was represented in the region through a distribution....read more here

The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s (NMMU) Bulk Printing Facility has a print output of just over 2 million A4 images a month. Being a strategic business unit that receives no subsidy from the University and with stringent SLAs in place with its internal customers, the Bulk Printing Facility has a tight business case to fulfil. During a recent open tender process, the University appointed Xerox to replace its ageing fleet with new high speed digital 4127 Copier/Printers and a Xerox 700 Digital Colour Press....read more here

Nov 21, 2011 London – Ricoh Europe, a specialist in office solutions, managed document services and production printing will be working with the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London this week to make document processes at the high profile tennis tournament more sustainable. The activity forms part of Ricoh’s commitment to providing carbon neutral document management to all its sponsorships through its award-winning....read more here
Nov 18, 2011 Ricoh employees, members of Sunnyfield’s Day Options Program and their carers gathered together at Ricoh’s Head Office in French's Forest to launch the Sunnyfield Buddy Program on Friday 4 November, 2011. Ricoh’s Sunnyfield Buddy Program is designed to provide an opportunity for staff to share their interests and develop....read more here

-=Good Selling=-

IKON brand Copiers & MFP's to Disappear

Once upon a time there were three Independent Copier Companies in the US and the time came for them to leave home and seek their fortunes.

 Before they left, their Stockholders told them   “Whatever you do, do it the best that you can  because that's the way to make your shareholders lots of money.

The first Independent Copier Company built their brand by acquiring dealerships, the second Independent Copier Company built their brand with Konica and Canon, and the third Independent Copier Company built their brand with Sharp, Canon & Ricoh.

Then in the course of two to three years, there were THREE large wolves, who dearly loved to gobble up copier companies. The first wolf swooped in devoured up Global, the second wolf feasted on Danka and the third wolf barbequed on Ikon.

There's no happy ending here, and that’s a shame, the likes of Xerox, KonicaMinolta and Ricoh thought they needed to preserve market share and instead of supporting dealers, they went out and bought market share.

So, with April 12th fast approaching another iconic brand will disappear. Ricoh will drop the IKON name as of April 2012. Those branches will now carry the Ricoh Americas Corp banner from here on.

For those who don't know, I'm still in the business of selling copiers, actually going on my 32nd year in 2012. I've sold for a Minolta, Mita, Adler Royal, and Ricoh dealerships in that time.

Weekend Copier & MFP Industry Threads

Thought I'd just take the time to share some of the interesting threads that have been posted on the Print4Pay Hotel forums in the recent week. If you're not familiar with the site, the Print4Pay Hotel forums designed for the Imaging (copiers, mfp, printers, mps) Professionals to seek information, gather knowledge and collaborate with Industry Peers in a secure setting.  To date we have over 2,300 registered members from all almost every country in the world.  Visit the Print4Pay Hotel and then click on the link for forum access (it's FREE).

Most Viewed Threads
Monocomponent vs. Dual Component
Comments on the Canon 1730/1740/1750 Models
Sharp MX-2310U/MX4111N
Western Digital Factory Under Water
Question for everyone..... with leasing are any of
Kodak & Possible Buyers?
Rumor has it.....
New Rep needs encouragement

Most Popular

Ricoh SP5200 Brochure
Top Color Production Systems?
Check this ^%$^ out!
Cloud Poll
HDD Wiping/Reformatting
Toner Save Software to Get MPS CPCs Down
Q. How does your company handle networking charges?

Request for Proposals

Purchase of one (1) unit Taskalfa Kyocera-Mita
Pennslyvania
New Mexico
South Carolina
STATEWIDE IT PROCUREMENT OFFICE (NC)

Welcome to Friday @ Print4Pay Hotel

Welcome to Friday...!!!
With the fourth Thursday in November less than a week away, we are pleased to bring you this Thanksgiving-themed installment of "Happy Friday from the Print4Pay Hotel."

But, did you ever wonder... why the fourth Thursday... or why do we traditionally serve turkey... or who else was with the pilgrims on the Mayflower...? We won't keep you in suspense any longer. Here are some fun and interesting facts that you may not have known about "Turkey Day."

Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone...!!!

Now, for some stuff you may not have known.

Sarah Josepha Hale, the author of the nursery rhyme "Mary had a Little Lamb," is credited with convincing President Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a national holiday... which he did in 1863 as a way of trying to unify the country after the stress of the American Civil War.

Hale's letters to President Lincoln also included some "suggested family recipes" to be used during Thanksgiving dinner... many of which are now considered traditions, such as turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

Prior to the addition of Thanksgiving, the only national holidays celebrated in the United States were President Washington's birthday and Independence Day.

President Roosevelt (FDR) once changed the traditional date of Thanksgiving to extend the Christmas shopping season by a week... in an attempt to boost the economy. After some disagreements, Congress stepped in and officially set the date as the fourth Thursday in November.

With more than 280 million sold annually, about 91% of Americans serve turkey on Thanksgiving.

More than 20% of all cranberries consumed in the US per year are eaten on Thanksgiving.

Of the 102 people that arrived at Plymouth Rock on the Mayflower, only about half of them were what became known as "Pilgrims." The others passengers, who were called "Strangers," were recruited to govern the colonist.

BTW, I borrowed his from our companies blast email, hope they don't mind!

-=Good Selling=-

800 Ways to Save & Serve: "How 2 Take Out Spots & Stains"

The information below was derived from a pamphlet that I found while cleaning out the attic. The pamphlet was printed in 1941 and was titled "800 Ways to Save and Serve", which was designed to help Americans with the World War II effort.

(Caution: In the long run, there is only one safe rule to follow when removing spots and stains from non-washable materials. Take them to a reliable dry-cleaner. The special solvents and cleansing agents needed make it impractical to attempt the job at home).

ADHESIVE TAPE MARKS

As a rule, these come off easily with a few dabs of non-flammable cleaning fluid.

ALCOHOL PAINTS AND STAINS

Sponge with turpentine; launder.

BLOOD STAINS

Lady MacBeth never knew that blood stains could be easily removed by soaking in plain cold water, then washing. If stain remains, soak in ammonia water (1 1/2 tablespoons ammonia to one gallon of water); then wash.

CHEWING GUM

Hold a piece of ice directly under the stuck-to part. This freezes the gum, which can then be picked off easily. Sponge with non-flammable cleaning fluid.

COLD LIVER OIL

Sponge with non-flammable cleaning fluid; then launder. If stain remains, use chlorine bleach, unless color of fabric is affected by bleach.

COFFEE

Copiers & MFP's A4 vs A3 Model "The War has Just Begun"

This question or statement was posed on one of the Print4Pay Hotel forums just yesterday.  I didn't think that I was in the mood to write tonight until I viewed this thread.

"I am interested in hearing feedback on the recently introduced Canon IR 1730/1740/1750 models. These look to be similar to the Ricoh A4 B&W models introduced at the beginning of 2011 - the Ricoh models appear to be slow sellers. Wondering if these Canon models will be accepted better than the Ricoh models..."

My response

The Ricohs have been slow sellers is not because of end user needs or wants. Basically ours is a quota/revenue driven business from the top to the bottom.
The preferred compensation model for commissions is that of a revenue based plan with commissions. Why have a GP driven comp plan for your sales people when your Dealership or Branch has a revenue based quota plan from the manufacturers?  It just doesn't make sense....

800 Ways to Save & Serve: "5 Tips for More Heat from Less Coal"

The information below was derived from a pamphlet that I found while cleaning out the attic. The pamphlet was printed in 1941 and was titled "800 Ways to Save and Serve", which was designed to help Americans with the World War II effort.

Consumer Quiz:  When do you add coal to the fire?

Answer:  After poking but before shaking for adding the coal AFTER the shaking hinders combustion and is wasteful.

Variety in the coal bin means savings in the budget. Always buy two sizes of coal, using the larger in the very cold weather, and the smaller, mixed with the larger, on warmer days.

Black diamonds in your own furnace await your discovery. Sift your ashes, and you'll be amazed at the amount of coal that is good for another burning. Salvaging those extra pails of coal will help you face the fuel shortage with a warm, as well as a stout, heart.

In hand-firing, observe these shortcuts to maximize heat at the minimum cost:

1. Keep the ash pit clean. Piled up ashes interfere with the draft and burn out the grates.

2. Keep the firepot full. It is not economical to run a low fire bed.

3. The fire door is for feeding only. Don't waste fuel by using it as a draft regulator.

4. If your coal is too fine, it smothers the fire. If too large, it burns uneconomically. Check with your coal merchant and get the right grade.

5. Don't invite costly troubles by using your furnace or boiler as a garbage dump.

-=Good Selling=-

Daily Managed Print Industry Notes from Around the World!

Nov 14, 2011 Ontario, Canada. — PrintFleet Inc., a global leader in managed print software announced today that it has launched its latest PrintFleet Enterprise software version, Impact. PrintFleet is pleased to announce that after a year of focused R&D and substantial investment, its next series of product has been launched. As with all recent....read more here

IT solution providers report that more businesses these days are open-minded about managed print services that consolidate printing and related document management costs. Demonstrating those cost savings is a key component of managed print sales. ...read more here

James Laszko, CTO for managed services provider Mythos Technology, talks about his success with managed print in this excerpt from the webinar "Do You Own Your Customers' Entire IT Environment?" Mythos implemented its managed print services just two ....read more here

Tim Brien, director of managed print services for OKI Data, and James Laszko, CTO for managed services provider Mythos Technology, discuss reseller success with managed print in this excerpt from the Q&A session of the webinar titled "Do You Own Your ...read more here

Will managed print services contracts cannibalize machine and supplies sales for traditional printer manufacturers? Will managed print services contracts cannibalize machine and supplies sales for ....read more here

C3 Office Solutions, a value-added service provider of document imaging, copiers, printers, managed print services and digital display solutions, has moved to new offices in Irvine with expanded ...,read more here

HP joins as first Platinum Sponsor November 14, 2011 -- Midway, KY  -- Photizo Group will lead the print services market in a new direction at the Transform 2012 Global Conference in Orlando, Florida on May 24-25, 2012. Transform 2012 is the next evolution of the popular Global Managed Print....read more here

-=Good Selling=-

Veterans Day 11/11/11

Daily Managed Print Industry Notes from Around the World!

In its annual report on MPS, Gartner provides insight gleaned from global customers into the benefits and challenges of implementing managed print services, and criteria for identifying and evaluating providers. "We consider it both an honor and a ...read more here

TOKYO — Ricoh Company, Ltd., a worldwide leader in digital office equipment and advanced document management solutions and services, today announced Ricoh Managed Document Services™ (Ricoh MDS) 2.0, born from an in-depth analysis of customer engagements and focused on measurable results. MDS 2.0 represents significant....read more here

 The TAFE, which services over 60,000 students, turned to HP's managed print services division to help slash its fleet of light production printers from 2,200 to 1,020. TAFE NSW's John Myles, who managed the project, said the overhaul has saved in waste and costs and created a "much more professional print experience". "TAFE NSW's Sydney Institute....read more here

New managed print services with existing Xerox clients could cannibalize equipment and post-sale revenue by reducing printing costs by up to 30%, potentially offset by cross-selling opportunities for other Xerox products and services. ...read more here

WALNUT CREEK, CA, Nov 10, 2011  -- ARC, one of the leading document solutions companies in the U.S., today announced it has been positioned in the October 2011 Magic Quadrant for Managed Print Services, Worldwide, by Gartner Inc., the world's leading information technology research and advisory company. In its annual report on MPS, Gartner provides insight gleaned from....read more here

-=Good Selling=-

Daily Copier & MFP Industry Notes from around the World

ROCKVILLE, MD, Nov 08, 2011-- Notable Solutions, Inc. (NSi), a leading developer of distributed content capture and workflow solutions, announced today that a leading Canadian manufacturer of plastics and chemical products will integrate NSi's AutoStore(TM) with the company's mixed fleet of 250 MFPs in business divisions across a wide range of geographic locations. The value of the contract to NSi is $300,000....read more here

Xerox India, a part of Xerox Corporation participated in PAMEX 2011 to showcase its technological strengths through a wide range of revenue-generating applications, digital presses and solutions. Among the key attractions at the Xerox booth this time were innovative application zones on photo applications & 3UP A4 applications enabled by the recently launched Xerox iGen4 EXP with the 14.33” x 26” print size capability! Speaking on Xerox’s participation at PAMEX 2011, Pankaj Kalra,...read more here

Nov 08, 2011 TOKYO — Ricoh Company, Ltd., a worldwide leader in digital office equipment and advanced document management solutions and services, today announced Ricoh Managed Document Services™ (Ricoh MDS) 2.0, born from an in-depth analysis of customer engagements and focused on measurable results. MDS 2.0 represents significant early progress in the evolution of the services-led business model Ricoh unveiled in January 2011,....read more here

Nov 08, 2011 Ramsey, N.J. - Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), today announced Konica Minolta's placement in the Leaders Quadrant of the "Magic Quadrant for MFPs and Printers, Worldwide"1 published by Gartner, Inc. "We are proud that Gartner has recognized the Konica Minolta Group as a global leader in the highly competitive MFP and Printer marketplace," said Rick Taylor, President and Chief Operating Officer, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.  "The year 2011 has been....read more here

Nov 08, 2011 Ricoh Europe, London – Ricoh Europe has welcomed new research by analysts Quocirca* which reveals that businesses are taking unnecessary risks by employing a fragmented approach to document security. According to the research, a significant 70 per cent of businesses surveyed have suffered one or more accidental printing-related data breaches but only 15 per cent are concerned about data loss through printers or multi-functional products.  The findings align with a study commissioned by Ricoh where....read more here

-=Good Selling=-

Dude, WTF is up with the USA Copier Direct Channels?

A little harsh you might say.....naw just disappointed again. 

A Print4Pay Hotel Member emailed me a Quote/RFP that he received for a School in...... The quote was presented for a Ricoh MP6001SP with all of these awesome features:

SR 4030 Stapler/Finisher
DOSS (Data Overwrite Security Unit)
Super G3 Fax (there's actually no Super G3 fax listed on Ricoh price sheet, there is a fax option type 9001 and a G3 option to add a second line. I'm thinking the rep just added the type 9001 option but added some hype with the SUPER.)
Power Filter

Keep in mind that these are all options and not the main frame.  The MSRP list for the MP6001SP is $21,500, add up the accessories at $4,765 and we have a total of $26,264, not included delivery and installation.

So, what's so spectacular about this quote? 

800 Ways to Save & Serve: "10 Tips Caring for your Rayon Flimsies"

The information below was derived from a pamphlet that I found while cleaning out the attic.  The pamphlet was printed in 1941 and was titled "800 Ways to Save and Serve", which was designed to help Americans with the World War II effort.


More care, less tear.....more mending. less spending

BTW, yeah I know this is a blog about copiers , MPF's and MFP Solutions, however these are some really good reads and insights from years gone by.

The Art of Caring For Your Rayon Flimsies

With silk off to war, you will be relying more and more on rayon for your pretties and utilities. These pointers will save you money, trouble and disappointment in your rayon handling:

1. Because rayon threads are from 40% to 60% less resistant when wet,  rayon garments should be handled with special care in laundering. Never wash a rayon garment that does not carry a "washable: label. Certain weaves shrink, stretch or mat. Read the label - it is a dependable guide.

2. Hard water is hard on rayon and is likely to leave mineral deposits on the fabric, which weakens the fibres. Use a softener if the water requires it.

3. Don't soak rayons at all because soaking permanently dulls delicate shades. Wash quickly and carefully in lukewarm suds made with mild soap. Follow with throughly rinsing in several lukewarm waters to remove all traces of soap. which tends to weaken the fabric if not washed away.

Daily Managed Print Industry Notes from Around the World!

OKI will be demonstrating the company's proprietary Managed Print Services (MPS) solution Total Managed Print™ (TMP) within their booth (#302), and will be discussing the solution's value to the channel during a breakout session entitled “The 30-Day ...read more here

"We wanted to get control of our costs, make genuinely positive green decisions and refocus our IT resources on core functions and services." Sydney Institute adopted HP's Managed Print Services, which offered automated supplies, reporting functions ...read more here

TRUMBULL, Conn., Nov 07, 2011 -- Oce, a Canon Group Company and an international leader in digital document management, today announced the Document Printing Systems division of Oce North America has begun selling the Canon imageRUNNER 1700 Series of monochrome, multifunctional office devices. These compact, yet effective systems will easily integrate with existing MFP and printer fleets and allow users to control their devices in a flexible and convenient print solution....read more here

-=Good Selling=-

Selling Copiers & MFP's "I'm Thinking this is Not for Me" Ask Art

We (Print4Pay Hotel Members) try to help whenever we can.  Ours is not an easy business and we can all agree to that.  Since the Digital revolution of copiers, the new Digital systems offer companies endless opportunities to enhance work flow, reduce paper, scan 2 ERP systems and much more. But, I wanted to get to the the matter in hand.  Yesterday this thread was posted on the Print4Pay Hotel forums.

I've been selling MFP's for 9 months. I've only gotten a commission once. I'm starting to get discouraged. Questioning if this is the right industry for me. Can't see me supporting my family on base alone. I guess I'm looking for encouragement, words of wisdom etc.

One P4P'er (thats our short name for members) posted this today:

Quit selling MFP's and start selling solutions.
"You can get anything you want in life if you just help enough other people get what they want."
Zig Ziglar

Daily Managed Print Industry Notes from Around the World!

EFI, a world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, today launched PrintMe® Mobile, a new mobile print solution available to IT resellers and managed service providers. PrintMe Mobile can help resellers with mobility practices, office technology solutions or managed-service businesses increase revenue opportunities and deliver new value-added services by meeting customers’ mobile printing needs. PrintMe Mobile provides SMB to,,,,read more here

There's now a new service provider in the Managed Network Services (MNS) sector and growing Managed Print Services (MPS) sector. Agiliant is officially open for business and is targeting customers looking to optimize their overall network performance, ....read more here

Pitney Bowes has launched its Managed Print service – a core element of the wider Marketing Lifecycle Services http://www.marketinglifecycleservices.com/ suite - designed to help marketing departments execute the print process more efficiently, more affordably and with uncompromising quality. Recent Pitney Bowes research reveals that European private and public sector....read more here

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Nov 03, 2011 -- The explosion of color printing represents lots of green for imaging vendors reaping the rewards of high aftermarket profitability when compared to monochrome printing. According to survey results delivered through a new study from International Data Corporation (IDC), users of color devices reported that 47% of their weekly print volume contained color on the....read more here

 

....read more here

-=Good Selling=-

NEW YORK, Nov 02, 2011  -- Oce, an international leader in digital document management and delivery, announced today that the company has been placed by Gartner, Inc. in the Challengers Quadrant of the 2011 Magic Quadrant for Managed Print Services (MPS) Worldwide.*

800 Ways to Save & Serve :7 Well-Dressed Tips on a Rationed Wardrobe"

The information below was derived from a pamphlet that I found while cleaning out the attic.  The pamphlet was printed in 1941 and was titled "800 Ways to Save and Serve", which was designed to help Americans with the World War II effort.
More care, less tear.....more mending. less spending

For Durability's Sake

Conserve materials. By with the fore thought and put off the need for replacement. These shopping secrets will help you get the most out of your purchases:

1. The best flannels, cheviots, jerseys and tweeds are those which are closely woven. Looser weaves are likely to get baggy.

2. To judge the quality of woolen material (in case you have that opportunity), squeeze it in your hand. It should feel smooth, rubbery, springy, when you open your hand. If it has a rough feeling, the grade is inferior.

3. Suits made of worsted will hold their shape better and wear longer than those of wool.

4. Fabrics with light colored dots or figures often wear out quickly because the dots have been bleached.

5. Think twice before selecting a dress or a skirt made on the bias. Remember, such clothes are more difficult and costly to alter and make over.

6. Buy dresses on which the material has been cut the long way. Crosswise cutting betrays skimping. In the long run, the most economical dress to buy is one in which is made up of pieces cut with the grain of the material. If they are cut against the grain, the dress will get out of shape easily.

7. Dress the youngsters in cotton as much as possible. Cotton is cheaper, and survives constant laundering. Also save yourself time by selecting children's clothes that haven't too many buttons and buttonholes to be replaced and repaired. The closely woven cottons wear the best, Seersucker needs no ironing.

How can you tell whether clothes linings are color-fast? Try this little trade secret: Rub a handkerchief over the lining. If any color shows on the handkerchief, look for another lining.

Care for your dresses pays in dollars-and-cents, and keep you  looking "like a million". Keep your eye on the little things. Careful darning will often hide snags, worn places, little cigarette burns. Matched patches hardly show on a print dress. Sometimes a little reinforcement of the seams and buttons on a new dress will save mending bills later. Check buttons and other trimmings before sending to the cleaner's, and sew on any loose ones, It pays to have burns and tears re-woven by the invisible process, if the garment is in good condition otherwise.

Clothes tossed or draped over chairs quickly loose shape, require more pressing and mending, wear out long before they should. Precaution: hang them up or fold neatly and put away!

-=Good Saving=-

Daily Copier & MFP Industry Notes from around the World

The world’s struggling economy made events worldwide in 2009 a damp squib. It had little effect on India’s print industry and on Pamex 2010. And this year’s event is set to be no different. If you have still not thought what to do after the Diwali festivities are over, listen up, because between 1-4 November something important is happening in New Delhi...read more here

CEO Lawrence Gamblin indicated in court papers filed Monday that his company intends to stick to its intention to withdraw a longstanding contract with Eastman Kodak Co. and directly supply ink to most Kodak's Versamark printer customers. ...read more here

At PAMEX 2011, Kodak will showcase its wide portfolio of innovative products and services for printers, publishers, and packaging professionals. Visitors to the Kodak booth, Hall 4, will learn about a variety of KODAK Products ranging from thermal CTP devices to digital printing presses, as well as workflow and packaging solutions. "Visitors come to PAMEX....read more here

Alleroed, Denmark -- November 1, 2011 -- Contex, the world's leading developer of wide format scanning and imaging solutions, today announces the all-new HD Ultra wide format scanner. The HD Ultra is the market's most advanced wide format scanner, featuring unmatched productivity and versatility. Built with Contex's next generation xDTR2, its exclusive extended data transfer rate with...read more here

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Nov 01, 2011  -- Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the availability of the EFI(TM) PrintMe(R) mobile print solution for Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE multifunction office products (MFPs). Developed by EFI utilizing Canon's MEAP platform, EFI PrintMe provides an intuitive method for mobile device users to send documents through EFI's PrintMe Service for output on Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE MFPs. Offering significant...read more here

-=Good Selling=-

Countdown to the 1,000th Copier & MFP Blog

What started as a way to vent, turned into an aspiration to share informative information among my peers in the Copier and MFP Indsutry.

In the last 5 years I've met some awesome people and keep in touch with many awesome P4P'ers (that's our short name for forum members) that I've never met.  In short most or all of these people have helped me sell more, become more knowledgeable and continue to inspire me!

I started the MFP Solutions Blog in January of 2007, I can't believe it's been five years!  The Blog title was Has Ricoh Under Estimated Color Scanning?  With this blog we'll have 952 with 48 left to reach the 1,000th Blog.

Over the years, I've tried to get readers of the MFP Solutions Blog to migrate to the Print4Pay Hotel forums. With the forums we have a closed secure way of sharing just about everything related to the Imaging Industry.  To date the Print4Pay Hotel has over 3,000 followers via the forums, twitter, feedblitz, and Linkedin. 

This year marked a milestone where the Print4Pay Hotel and Forums hit the ONE MILLION page view mark in late October of this year.  October of this year also saw our highest page views ever on the forums at 143,000 page views! 

On some other notes, our advertisers have benefited also, October of this month readers of the blog and forums produced almost 10,000 click through to one advertisers, while 5 others came in at close to 4,000 click through, and one new advertiser came in at over 3,000. If you like information about advertising with us please send me an email art@p4photel.com

Our revolver map shows visits from 171 countries in the last year. 

Also I've posted a short list of our most viewed Blogs from the last 5 years:

Copier Sales Forums Oct 15, 2007 3,272 Pageviews

I Want My....I Want My..... SMART MFP Jun 21, 2011, 2,892 Pageviews

HP LaserJet Pro CM1415 Color "What's the Total Cos... Sep 29, 2010, 2,143 Pageviews

Print4Pay Hotel's Copier Forums "Weekend Updates" Apr 3, 2011 1,833 Pageviews

"MFP Weekend Industry Updates" P4P Hotel forums Apr 10, 2011 1,576 Pageviews

Panasonic Copier Division Dumps all but a Handful ... Feb 14, 2009, 1,525 Pageviews

Special Kudos to all, thank you for taking the time to read what I post and write on the forums and the blog. 

-=Good Selling=-