Tagged With "Top Sales Reps"
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Re: Top Ten Copier & MFP Quotes for November 2016
What’s happened to our membership? I didn’t opt out! Sue at Copy-Fax
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Re: Post-Virus We Must Defeat The Zombie Companies!
Although I am 60% on board with your move to A4 strategy, most of the rest of the stuff you are posting is "knocking it out of the park"! I would like to see a poll. As a business owner, during COVID-19 would you prefer? 1). No lease payments for 90 days 2). 1/2 price lease payments for one year The auto industry is pushing no payments for 90 days but I think business owners are more concerned about cash flow for the next year. I think the correct strategy is to offer as part of your...
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Re: Post-Virus We Must Defeat The Zombie Companies!
We generally do not build in prepaid copy/ print blocks into our leases. We do give away free copy prints up front but only intended as a short term bonus. We do normally charge a $25.00 minimum monthly maintenance fee but have waived that until the economy rebuilds momentum. I am in Canada, lease vendors are currently offering 90 day payment deferrals added back on at the end of term for those customers who request them. Leases expire every month and customers are happy with the equipment...
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
Is it just me, or does West McDonald look like Wolverine? I watched the Seat-Based Billing video that was posted from the Top 100 Summit. Definitely some interesting points going back and forth. Print Audit has done a great job of persistently marketing seat-based pilling to the copier industry.
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
Czech funny you should mention that "wolverine" look, it was actually one of the "challenges" at the event. Whom ever had the most completed challenges won a MS Surface tablet. I did not win.
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
I disagree that you have to own the network in order to offer seat-based billing. Before I go into why, can we (imaging industry) please stop referring to Managed Services as MNS? No one in the IT world uses this term; it's industry jargon that makes you stand out as a copier dealer 1st and an IT Services provider 2nd. Managed IT Services, Managed Services...fine. MNS needs to die. Now, here is why I disagree that you have to own the network as a client's Managed Services provider in order...
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
Tx, awesome post! The conclusion for managed IT was at our own round table and not the general audience. One of the dealers in my group is heavily involved with managed IT, and thought it would be great offer. Yes, it was stated that MNS is only used by copier dealers and should be referenced to what you described. TY for the awesome reply!!
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
I will also add since you mentioned wanting to do this on copiers/MFPs: our industry also needs to get the idea that MPS only has to do with printers & A4 MFPs out of their heads. Output is output, & our clients don't see any difference so why should we? Properly deploy what systems meet the client's needs (or just get rid of them if that is best) & be of service in whatever way you can. Hell, our customers want all of this stuff to go away (just wait til the Millenials are in...
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
Is it just me, it seems that the general rule of thumb for the copier industry to end users is "the take or leave approach". Meaning, come hell or high water we're not going to change the way we bill, the way we support, or the financial solutions that we offer. While I was at the Top 100 conference, a rep from Wells Fargo spoke about the billing options that they now have in their leases. One of the options was for seat billing for managed IT services. My thought is that if it's available...
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
No, Art. You're spot on. I haven't had many jobs outside the industry, but the majority of the old guard is so proud of the way they've always done it & receives so much validation from other dealers with the same mentality (via BTA, CDA, SDG, et al) that they often refuse to admit the need to change until it's practically too late. There are ideas & concepts that I brought up 3-5 years ago that were considered to be "interesting but not really necessary" that we're suddenly latching...
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
Great minds think alike!
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Re: Top 100 Summit Highlights
So refreshing to see our industry being open, social and online like this!!
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Re: 7 Deadly Topics from 7 Deadly Sinners at Top 100 Summit (Part One)
Originally Posted by txeagle24: I disagree that you have to own the network in order to offer seat-based billing. Before I go into why, can we (imaging industry) please stop referring to Managed Services as MNS? No one in the IT world uses this term; it's industry jargon that makes you stand out as a copier dealer 1st and an IT Services provider 2nd. Managed IT Services, Managed Services...fine. MNS needs to die. Now, here is why I disagree that you have to own the network as a client's...
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Re: When is Net New Business not Net New Business?
Interesting perspective. We constantly have the talks about competitive machines we took on service, especially brands we don't carry. I tend to consider is taking a Konica on service and then a year or two later upgrading it to our equipment net new business from the sales side. Obviously we had net new business on the service side but not net new for "x" with the equipment sale. I'd be interested to hear how others see this. I hear a lot of people say it doesn't matter but if I bring a...
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Re: When is Net New Business not Net New Business?
I was wondering if the subject of those customers who were acquired through service was going to come up, & Jason's comment is certainly "food for thought"... In his example, he brought on the service customer (with the obvious intention of upgrading them at the first opportunity) & the dealer gets a contract & machine sale that they otherwise wouldn't have. Sounds like net new to me. In my experience, though, most of these service to machine sale conversions are from customers...
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Re: When is Net New Business not Net New Business?
Jay, We typically go after about any machine other than a Xerox. If someone wants us to service their machine and its not a complete piece of junk we will take it on and will get parts and supplies from dealers etc. until we can upgrade to one of our lines; Savin, Canon, or Samsung. We expect our reps to go out and take service agreements and we pay them the first months billing. Most don't like to mess with 30.00 agreements but they add up and eventually you find a big one. We had a rep who...
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Re: Why Social Selling Stinks for Most Copier Sales Reps
Art, love this! You know my take on the integration of social into the sales process. Sales requires hard work as most will not put forth the effort. The reason why ones social anything stinks is their effort, plain and simple. Operating with an analig mindset in a digital world = death blow to a sales rep.
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Re: Copier Parts & Accessories China Tariff Starts in 9 Working Days
I suspect that you are retired from the copier industry and do not have to earn commissions each month to support your family. As an active sales rep, I do not have the luxury of hoping that things will run their course when I have budgets and quotas to meet each month. The people who are going to be adversely effected will be US copier sales reps with a higher cost of goods.
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Re: Top Ten "Why Copiers Should Have Warning Labels"
Ty Jason! Had fun with this!! Ty for the email about your rep, that was very humorous sale!! Maybe post in on the forums?
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Re: Sales And Branding Must Get Married, And Larry Levine Is The Priest
What is a recovering copier rep?
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Re: Sales And Branding Must Get Married, And Larry Levine Is The Priest
Art, you will figure it out one of these days!
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Re: Sales And Branding Must Get Married, And Larry Levine Is The Priest
Do you mean former copier rep? The only way I can see myself as former is when I retire. Recovering almost sounds like selling copiers was a "bad thing"?
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Re: A Halloween Tale of an A3 Copier’s Death
What is even more scary is how your commission cheques will fall in $ value if you only sell A4 copiers. The copier/printer market is not getting any larger and if a commission sales rep focuses on selling lower $ value A4 boxes, they are going to have to make a lot more sales calls and sell a lot more boxes to earn the same money.
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Re: The A4 Challenge or Opportunity
In my experience A4 machines are as much or even more hassle than an A3 machine to install and train which I do myself for the customer but my income off of the sale of the A4 device is a fraction of what it would have been had I sold an A3. Beyond that most A4 machines lack a document feeder built to handle the page volumes of walk up copying and scanning my customers do. At the end of the day I have to make a living so I spend my time on A3 opportunities.
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Re: Assume My Copier Lease....What?
@Kitz: Dealer support is also a great question. Currently we approach this on a case-by-case basis. New transfers would go to an affiliated partner in the geographical territory that is qualified to service that equipment. Ultimately, we are building a network of independent dealers not unlike what the direct channel already has access to. This way, independent dealers can leverage the network for new contracts as well, such as when a sale is made to a head office that includes installations...
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Re: In Search of the Office Imaging Industry’s Top Sales People
I just do not understand why this is necessary. Unless of course you and Art are on some sort of a reward, working for or with the US Inland Revenue people ? We all know who we are, that are any good at selling !!! I do not see any real benefit other than those with Narcissistic tendencies.
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Re: In Search of the Office Imaging Industry’s Top Sales People
At least with this award not everyone will get a trophy~
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Re: In Search of the Office Imaging Industry’s Top Sales People
What about the direct side Art?
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Re: In Search of the Office Imaging Industry’s Top Sales People
Larry: Both Direct and Dealers are good!
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Re: Can I Copy Mixed Sized Documents on a Copier?
I disagree. Most law firms and many insurance companies still have a commonly re-ocurring need for mixed size originals. I am currently working with one European shipping company based in NA that wants to do do mixed size originals with a mix of A3 and A4 documents. I say it cannot be done as the paper is all of different widths. I am hoping that my unscrupoulous competitive vendors will admit to the same..... not likely!!! They want the sale today! Please advise.
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Re: 5 Questions for HP about the Acquisition of Samsung Printer Business Unit
I hope HP (Hardly Profitable)'s idea of market innovation is not to make the whole industry hardly profitable. Outside sales reps need to make a buck and will not flock to a new product that dramatically reduces their commission on every sale. Kind of like the A3 to A4 transition of a few years ago. Sales reps do not want to be forced to try and sell a lot more boxes to earn the same income regardless of how great the technology might be. Did that, been there.
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Re: 5 Questions for HP about the Acquisition of Samsung Printer Business Unit
I'm not sure......will be interesting to see how the industry responds. I think it may be time for HaaS or Seat Based Billing for MFP's. Get ahead of the curve and tie up your accounts now!
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Re: Real Copier Sales Mistakes
sooner or later that will come back to bite that sales rep in ass
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Re: Konica Minolta Acquires More Than Just Copier Dealers
Muratec Dealers should also be in a good place. I just spoke to my rep who was in the meeting this afternoon and he said we should now have full access to everything Konica - production print, wide format, IT etc. Im pumped about this
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Re: Inbound Marketing For Sales Reps (and Sales Vets)
Art, That traffic is incredible. I think a large part of it is that you've been doing this for 10 years. Persistence as they say, is the key to success! (Imagine if everyone copier rep blogged and stuck it out for 10 years!) Are you the leads you receive local or nation-wide? I'd love to offer more tips but really I'm not the guy to do it. I can only point people in the right direction. Gary Vaynerchuk - Social Media Glen Allsopp - SEO Tim Ferriss - Productivity Frank Kern - Direct Response...
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Re: Inbound Marketing For Sales Reps (and Sales Vets)
Originally Posted by gwalters2009: Interesting and an awesome amount of work for the standard copier dealer. Additionally, it is and always has been my belief that CONTENT maintains sustainability - so in your Step 5, most organizations fall short. Don't you think? Greg, It is a lot of work! That's why many dealers hire us to do it for them. However, sales reps play a huge part by: 1. Sharing relevant blog articles their dealerships post 2. Actively participating in LinkedIn 3. Following...
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Re: Inbound Marketing For Sales Reps (and Sales Vets)
Czech, Thank you for the very kind endorsement at the beginning of this article--I appreciate it. Most of our industry lives in the "outbound" side of lead generation with prospecting, cold calls, etc... This is good, but with today's buyer 57% of the way through the buying process before they contact a vendor or rep (Harvard Business Review survey of business decision makers, 2012) we HAVE TO get GREAT at inbound marketing. We're working on some exciting things to pull it all together and...
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Re: 5 Reasons Why I Like Print Audit Best Over PaperCut
I do like the control that the dealer has with Print Audit as well as the pre-sale MPS tools if you are one of their Premier dealers. But, turning on various rules in PaperCut is MUCH easier than in Print Audit/PCS Director or other similar products in our industry. Additionally, it works extremely well in environments in which Mac workstations are present, & their embedded (PaperCut MF) software works with most product lines which makes it easy to integrate if a client has a mixed ...
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Re: Top Ten MFP Copier Industry Predictions for 2015
I really like number 4, and I believe #7 is going to happen sooner than we expected. I hold out hope as well.
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Re: Top Ten MFP Copier Industry Predictions for 2015
Not liking the Kyocera part of #4 at all. On the other hand really liking # 10 Add: Color equipment will become more prevalent with costs of color equipment continuing to drop and coming more in line with monochrome.
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Re: Top Ten MFP Copier Industry Predictions for 2015
5) - Canon bought a very large stake in one last year (Therefore). Locally hosted or cloud based.
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Re: Should Ricoh Offer a Rebate When Dealers Buy the New Smart Op Panel?
We have probably put it on 3 machines since it came out and the funny thing was it was our sales rep who is almost 70 years old. He loves that panel. My younger guys could care less it seems. King of backwards in my mind. I haven't quite found the practicality of it other than making everything "look" like a tablet. If they could make it as functional as the new Samsung 10.1 tablet on the MFP's it may become more practical. Just my $0.02
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Re: Selling Professional Services for SMB Accounts, Worth it or Not Worth it!
As an independent dealer we are definitely giving away too much Pro Services in the SMB space. We kind of us it as a sales pitch against the National vendors who almost always charge Pro Services. Right now we are starting to give the customers invoice for many Pro Services that we deliver but offset it with a credit, so that they can see it's value. This will set up a future invoice where there will be no credit. We leave it up to the sales rep how he sells the workflow and how much...
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Re: Selling Copiers "Opportunties Abound to Make a Few Extra Bucks"
Old Glory: Great comment, off hours would be the key. If you are salaried then you need to stick to working those hours for the company you work for, period! However, if you are a commissioned only rep, or looking to get out on your own, the opportunity stated above is a good way to get a start.
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Re: My Top New Years Work Resolutions for 2015
Hey Art, Was wondering if you set resolutions to get x amount of $$$ in your pipeline for the year?
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Re: My Top New Years Work Resolutions for 2015
Nope, no resolutions for x amount of dollars. It's my belief that if you do the prospecting you'll have the pipeline of dollars.
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Re: Tell em Columbo Sent You!
I agree with dr print. I always ask who my competition is and I know them well enough now to ask which rep it is. I've found lately with one company the owner has been traveling on appointments with a new rep. I've been using this to our advantage as the owner of that company is quiet an aged fellow that knows little about our industry anymore. Find out who your competition is and if that company is listed, ask how they came about selecting them (since you mentioned the incumbent is out).