We interviewed Ray Belanger, the owner of Bay Copy in Rockland, to find out more about his business as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. The following is an edited version of that exchange.
How has your business changed since its inception?
When the business was founded in 1972, the mainstays of our business were duplicating machines (the equipment that schools used to make copies), and we even did typewriter repair.
Over the course of four decades, a lot changed. As copiers became more sophisticated, we led the way in changing from analog to digital. We have become even closer partners with our customers. We help them understand how to use the technology to streamline their work flows, reduce costs and drive productivity.
Most businesses spend between 1 percent and 3 percent of their total bottom line on generating documents. It’s an area that is often overlooked. We can offer a CEO or CFO a review of their current process and costs. Often this approach finds immediate areas for cost savings and improved productivity.
How has your industry changed over that time?
Properly networked digital technology can help businesses save significantly on time, labor and costs, and can result in a better quality of document generation. We shifted our model from a company that sells and services office equipment such as copiers and printers to one that offers “efficiency audits” to see what savings can be achieved by leveraging the benefits of technology. Technology also helps companies to become more “paperless” than they could have been even a few years ago.
In the early days, copiers produced documents that by today’s standards would be judged mediocre at best. Today’s equipment can produce documents that are of the same high quality as originals. With that there is also the responsibility we have to help customers understand how to best adapt the technology to their business.
How does your business differentiate itself from its competitors?
We are independent of any manufacturer, so we can use our expertise to pick the best products and services for each customer. We are a locally owned and managed business. We are nimble and we have a strong, close relationship with our clients. Locally, we have a long-term commitment to the community. And we are proud that we have a number of long-term, knowledgeable employees.
What are some of the advantages and challenges of doing business in this region?
The South Shore is a great growth area, and one that supports a strong, diverse mix of businesses. As a longtime South Shore resident, it is a great place to work and live, and I am proud to be an active member of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce. Every place has its challenges, which I don’t believe are unique to any geographic region. The overall challenge in this business, as I suspect is the case for most businesses, is staying focused on customers and doing your best each day.
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