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Are You Practicing With Purpose Or Creating Excuses?

"Most people don't have that willingness to break bad habits. They have a lot of excuses and they talk like victims."
Carlos Santana

Practice! Who Needs To Practice... Salespeople Need To Practice

Can You Imagine A Professional Athlete Operating With A Sales Reps Mindset?

Once asked why he was so successful on the basketball court, Kobe Bryant looked right at a reporter and said: “Have you seen Los Angeles at 4am? I see it often because that’s when I start training.”

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It can sometimes be difficult to find differences in top athletes which are noticeable. Their level of physical imbalance is minuscule. What separates the good from the great? What separated Kobe Bryant from good athletes?

Top athletes are finely tuned machines. They spend their lives perfecting their craft as they look to gain every conceivable physical and mental advantage over their opponents.

Let's look at Tiger Woods’ daily routine. He starts the day with an hour of cardio exercise and an hour-and-a-half of weight training. He follows this up by at least four hours of golf then another half an hour of weight training.

Since the age of three, he has always practiced his golf game. As Tiger transformed the game of golf, becoming the one of the greatest golfers of all time, he still practices hard to improve his game.

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What separates an average athlete from an average sales rep? Millions of dollars and their mindset.

Success is simply a consequence of practice and repetition. There's no shortcuts. It's based on pushing yourself to do better and better.

Sales reps consistently talk about their work ethic as most enjoy puffing the chest BUT are they really committed to it? How many walk the walk and talk the talk when it comes to putting in the hard work and long hours that it takes to become a sales professional?

Top athletes understand the process of developing their talents will have obstacles along the way. They embrace the challenge. They embrace the suck in order to get better every single day. They understand failure is just another challenge, a roadblock to overcome. 

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Top athletes encourage feedback from their coaches, using it to focus on areas of improvement. Less successful athletes tend to dismiss, ignoring feedback and focus on the person providing it, rather than using it as an opportunity to reflect and grow. This sounds an awful lot like most sales reps, doesn't it?

My challenge to all those in sales and management... come up with a meaningful and purposeful plan of not only when you're going to practice, but HOW. And then, just do it.

The roadmap to success for an elite athlete is based upon hard work, personal ownership and practice. They hold themselves accountable to the process and they just do it!

Why do sales reps have difficulties doing what elite athletes are paid to do? What makes a sales professional AND how they go about doing their job any different than an elite athlete?

My answer to all of you is quite simple - MINDSET, PRACTICE AND NO EXCUSES

TO ALL THOSE IN SALES MANAGEMENT... STOP USING SPORTS AND SALES ANALOGIES!

Are you willing, able and committed to provide an environment around practicing, planning and preparation? This is what professional athletes are held accountable to do every single day!

Are you holding your team accountable to practice?

NO EXCUSE MENTALITY

Athletes with an excuse mentality fear negative outcomes and make excuses to avoid responsibility. Sounds a lot like many in sales and management, doesn't it?

According to Patrick Cohn, PhD, sports psychologist and founder of Peak Performance Sports, "an excuse mentality results from allowing circumstances to dictate your actions instead of taking control of them."

Sales professionals hold themselves personally accountable. They hold themselves to a higher degree of standards than sales reps. They have a no excuse mentality and they don't point fingers when they fail to hit their sales plan. They hold themselves accountable even if their manager doesn't.

Why do so many in sales management accept excuses?

Salespeople of today love swimming in the sea of excuses. Many of you use excuses to rationalize your actions regarding the circumstances you've created for yourself - why you didn't hit your sales plan, why you lost one of your best clients and why you don't have time to prospect.

One excuse follows another excuse which follows another excuse. You want to know what the real issue is here... lack of commitment!

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When you only put half of yourself into something and then proceed to make excuses, you disrespect yourself and your manager.

Half-ass efforts gets you half-ass results
  • How committed are you to the sales profession?
  • How committed are you to practice?
  • How committed are you to yourself?

WHY DO SALES REPS INSIST ON GETTING PAID TOP DOLLAR BUT LACK A TOP ATHLETE MINDSET?

The biggest problem with salespeople today is they’re consistently inconsistent. 

True sales professionals, the elite of the elite do things just a little differently than the average sales rep. They practice with purpose, passion and pride.

Sales professionals practice with purpose. Sales professionals operate with a no excuse mentality.

GET REAL

Sales professionals set goals and invest the mental and physical energy towards achieving their goals. They equip themselves with an arsenal of effort, patience, and persistence as they know their journey is difficult. They are realistically optimistic.

Can the same be said for sales reps?

BE THE BEST

Sales professionals know, no matter what, there's always room to improve. This may involve learning a different technique, strategy, or even hiring a coach.

Can the same be said for sales reps?

CONSISTENCY

The success of sales professionals is built upon small sustainable changes. When those become second nature, they add in new challenges. Whatever their goal is they track their progress and are consistently consistent with practice.

Can the same be said for sales reps?

WAKE UP SALESPEOPLE

Imagine for a moment, how long would any professional sports athlete last on their team with the attitude and mindset of most sales reps? Not long at all, as they would be released from their team immediately.

Some can say athletes are over-paid prima donna's, however; the one thing they possess that most sales reps don't - a growth mindset.

I encourage the self-centered and the "all about me" sales reps out there to kick your complacent mindset right in the ass. Do you think a complacent mindset lands an elite athlete a new contract?

Sports athletes don’t come out of rookie training camp saying, “I’m shooting for average – average skills, average income and average performance.

When you started out as a sales rep you didn't set out with the goal of hanging on, doing enough to just “get by”, or riding it by figuring out how to survive until you can inherit another sales reps accounts. Well, at least not in the beginning, correct?

You learned that mindset. You learned that behavior. You learned to settle. You failed to practice. You started to make excuses.

I'm positive the mind can be convinced of almost anything if you tell it the same story over and over again. So here lies the question to all of you in sales...

Are you really happy with average results or have you just convinced yourself that’s the case?
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I understand and I get it. I get where you all are coming from. Every day, I walk in your shoes. I'm fully committed to helping your sales team integrate social aspects through the eyes of a practitioner into your current sales process to grow new business. I want you to get results. This is why I am passionate about doing this the right way, the genuine way, the authentic way! It's about understanding value before visibility.

Selling From the Heart is making a difference! I poured my heart into every page of this book and I think you're going to love it. You can find it on Amazon in paperback and Kindle. You can click on the book image below and this will take you to Amazon.

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I encourage you to find out more about Selling From The Heart.

In a world full of empty suits, I'm passionate about helping sales reps succeed by getting valuable before they get visible. I help sales teams understand the true value they bring to the market. 

I appreciate getting the opportunity to share my stories. Integrating the use of social and sharing my story on LinkedIn was my “game-changer” in the highly competitive office technology world. With great pride I transform, challenge, coach and inspire sales teams to grow new business by helping them share their story and how they communicate it out by integrating the use of social inside the sales process. You can follow me on LinkedInTwitter and on my podcast by clicking on Selling from the Heart.

 

MSP & MSSP Industry Notes for July 28th, 2019

July 28th 2019

 

MSP & MSSP Industry Notes

 

Carbonite Seeks CEO Amid Security Momentum, Data Protection Challenges

  • Carbonite CEO Mohamad Ali steps down to join IDG as CEO
  • Company hires executive search firm to find new CEO
  • Before leaving, Ali outlined strategy that would allow security and data production systems to work together. Malware blocking and instantly recovering infected systems whenever possible

NetGain Technologies announces new CEO

  • Leading managed IT provider in for South Central U.S., located in Lexington, Kentucky
  • Tim Burke will assume CEO
  • Current CEO will support Burke through transition
  • NetGain Technologies has a 35 history of providing technology services and solutions

MSP Acquisition/ Network Computing Buys Power On Technologies

  • Network Computing Solutions and IT solutions provider acquires Power on Technologies (MSP provider) located in Kansas City, Missouri
  • Network Computing Solutions is an end-to end IT and service provider
  • Power On Technologies started as a Copystar dealer and added IT services
  • Will now manage 4,000 networked devices

NetLogix Selected to the Channel Futures MSP 501 List

  • Managed-service provider based in Westfield, Arizona
  • Strategic IT Management, Business Consulting, IT Support Consulting, VOIP Phone Services

Softdocs' Continued Expansion of Higher Education and K-12 Client Base Marked by ECM Migrations

  • Education provider for enterprise content management
  • Record growth of Etrieve, companies enterprise content management platform
  • Last six months introduced new ECM clients across the United States
  • YTD milestones for highest quarterly revenue, best place to work in South Carolina, added to Eduventures 2019 Technology Landscape for ECM

Kudelski Security Recognized for Industry Leadership in Managed Security Services

  • Kudelski is cybersecurity division within Kudelski Group
  • Third year in row recognized for Gartner’s Market Guide for Managed Dectection and Response (MDR) services
  • Also named in the top 10 key players in Gartner Europe Context: Magic Quardrant for Managed Se3curity Services Wordwide

OneNeck, Dimension Data, and Dataprise Recognized as Innovators by 360Quadrants for Managed Services Space

  • 360 Quadrants released quadrant on Managed Services helping businesses make quicker and informed decisions
  • 360Quadrants covers 40 companies in the Managed Services space
  • One Neck, Dimension Data and Dataprise Netmagic and Allstream named as Innovators

ARG Named One of the World's Most Elite 501 Managed Services Providers

  • Managed Services provider located in McLean, Virginia
  • Comes in at #82 on the 12th annual list
  • Last 12 months has achieved double-digit sales growth
  • Increased portfolio to include IoT, eSim and advanced security solutions

Cenero Continues Growth with New Dallas Office

  • Located in Malvern, PA., leader in audio video, unified communications and IT solutions
  • Alan Davies Director of Cenero Dallas office
  • Looks at Dallas as high growth market

 

Iron Bow Technologies to Use Utelogy Platform to Extend Its Managed Services

  • Utelogy and Iron Bow sign solution partner agreement
  • Utelogy maker of intelligent management and control software platform for connected work spaces
  • Iron Bow is information technology solutions and global managed service provider for healthcare, commercial and government markets

IT Services Provider Ntiva Expands Into The Midwest By Acquiring HigherGround Managed Services

  • Provider of managed IT, cloud hosting, cyber security, unified communications, strategic consulting services in McLean, Virginia
  • Higher Ground, full-service IT and consulting firm with locations in Chicago and Rolling Meadows, Illinois
  • Increases Ntiva’s client base to more than 900 across the United States

EdgeConneX® and Rackspace Team to Provide Hybrid Cloud Solutions Across EdgeConneX Global Edge Data Center® Platform

  • EdgeConneX in Herndon, Virginia announces partnership with Rackspace to deliver enterprise cloud solutions and their global EdgeConneX data center platform. Include the following
  • EdgeConneX Data Center Services
  • Multi-Cloud Scalability
  • Private Cloud Services
  • Managed Hosting, Data and Applications
  • 24x7 Visibility and Enhanced Security

Novatech Partners with Global CyberSecurity Company Apptega to Bring Intelligent CyberSecurity Management to 15,000+ Businesses throughout US

  • Novatech a managed print, managed IT, cybersecurity and cloud solutions provider in Nashville, Tennessee
  • Partners with Apptega to market Apptega’s intelligent cybersecurity management plarform
  • Novatech merged with DynaSis in March 2019

 

INAP Launches First-of-Its-Kind Managed Cloud and Monitoring Service

  • INAP provider of high-performance data center and cloud solutions in Reston, Virginia
  • Announcing availability of Intelligent Monitoring
    • Managed cloud infrastructure monitoring service
    • Optimized for Bare Metal clients
      • Remote execution and scripting
      • Unified log management
      • Patch management and automation
      • Port, service and URL monitoring

Covington-based C-Forward named among premier managed service providers by Channel Futures

  • Named one of the worlds premier managed service providers
  • Located in Covington, Kentucky
  • Provides IT consulting services to small & mid size businesses
  • Founded in 1999, reached $1M revenue in 2005, Dayton, OH expansion in 2007, Columbus, Ohio expansion in 2008, $2M in revenue 2008

Jungle IT in Horsforth acquires IT operations of the managed services business of Mazars

  • Jungle IT based in Horsforth. England acquires Mazars in Leed, England
  • Mazars operates managed service business of accountancy
  • Jungle IT celebrating 15 years in business

Acordis Technology & Solutions Recognized on CRN's 2019 Solution Provider 500 List

  • Acordis based in Miramar, Florida services more than 2,000 clients (data center & virtualization, security, storage and backup, infrastructure management, managed IT, collaboration and enterprise networks, data management, digital signage & multi-functional printers
  • Services wide range of industries such as government , healthcare, and non-profits
  • Provides services for Royal Caribbean, Miami HEAT, Carnival Cruise Line, Ryder, Stiener, U.S. Sugar, Club Med and others

          Rehan Khan CEO of Acordis

-=Good Selling=-

PDF attached for Premium Members only

This Week in the Copier Industry 15 Years Ago (Last Week of July 2004)

Egads, it's Friday night almost 10PM and I'm still working.  My day started off at 5AM.  I arrived at the office about 6:30AM. Had to quotes to prepare before I had two appointments that were an hour away.  Closed two of the appointments and then traveled back to office to prepare some material for another appointment around 2PM.  Second appointment went okay and sparked some interest in the new PRO5160.  Did a few cold calls, nothing to speak of. On my way home, I received an email from a net new stating they wanted to move forward with an order.  Not bad three days into the new month and 3 orders. Gotta keep going!

Enjoy these threads from 15 years ago this week!

Xerox Copying New Growth Plan

$0.67 to $0.72 a share. Xerox has responded to the challenge of competitors such as Canon (NYSE: CAJ - News), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ - News), and Ricoh, which are making the shift to color products. With color products making up about 25% of Xerox's revenues, it is plain to see that the product line has become the key driver in the company's growth strategy. The company is also leading the transition from offset printers to digital technology through the recent introduction of seven digital
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Comparision Ricoh 2232 vs Canon 3200 saddlestitch finishers

What is the maximum weight paper that Risoh's 2232 saddlestitch finisher will fold and saddlestitch? What can the Canon 3200 do?
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What canon says about Ricoh

See the attached pdf This document has been archived, please send me an email if you would like to purchase. art@p4photel.com What Canon Says About Ricoh Document (July 2004)
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Canon posts record first-half profit;

cameras slowed in the domestic Japanese market, demand overseas continued to grow significantly," the company said in a statement. Overall camera sales jumped 22.4 pct to 347.3 bln yen, with sales of digital cameras surging more than 70 pct. Sales of business machines such as printers and copiers edged up 0.7 pct to 1.14 trln yen. Spurred by the results, Canon raised its earnings forecasts for the full year to December 2004. It now expects to post a profit of 320 bln yen, up from an earlier
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Introducing the Ricoh(R) AC104,

systems, including color and black & white digital imaging systems, facsimile products, printers, scanners, digital duplicators and wide format engineering systems. Additionally, Ricoh offers a wide variety of document and printing solutions directly and through partners that enhance office productivity and document workflow. Ricoh Corporation directly or through its subsidiaries markets and distributes products in North, Central and South America. For fiscal year 2003, Ricoh Corporation sales
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Software decisions

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I have a prospect who is looking to implement a new color system with scanning and I'm proposing the Savin C3828 (ricoh 2238 series). This is a law firm and they are interested in scanning mostly for manipulation. Our company is weak in this area, but I think the competition is weaker. I have shown the benefits of scan to archive and scan to share, with basic windows folders and Virtual Copier as options. Canon is showing Ecopy and Xerox Paper Port. My understanding is that neither of these
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Re: Type 2018 Fax problems

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We just saw this the other day on a Savin 4018d (same as Ricoh 2018). Lines almost like a notebook sheet but vertical. Seemed to only come from internal print outs from fax (confirmations, etc...) Looks like a firmware upgrade or something like that waiting to happen. Hope we don't have to wait too long, we are selling these like hotcakes and they are on back order as is.
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Kyocera KM2030 vs Aficio 2018

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I know there are a number of you kyo-ricoh dealers. I would appreciate your opinion ... which machine is built for the long haul? Cost per page is pretty much a wash, the 2030 has a premium of a couple hundred ... ?
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Re: Introducing the Ricoh(R) AC104,

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just not the market for most professional salespeople. The most disappointing aspects are the document feeder and the virtually non-existent dual/multi-access. It is okay as a printer with occassional convenience copying of single originals. Beware of this one, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Look for new Ricoh faxes that are also Samsung OEM. We have had some success with these, yet found Ricoh to be making a big profit on them. We cannot justify paying twice as much for the
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Re: Comparision Ricoh 2232 vs Canon 3200 saddlestitch finishers

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Hope this helps
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Sharp ux-1400

Can someone tell me how to clear a memory full error on this machine?ThanksTom
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PDF DIRECT PRINT

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HI GUYS ON WHICH MACHINES CAN ONE DO PDF DIRECT PRINT. ACCORDING TO MY KNOWLEDGE ITS ONLY ON SOME PRINTERS. IS THERE A WAY THAT THE AF2238/32 CAN DO THIS. MAYBE SOFTWARE UPGRADE. PLEASE HELP THIS IS A STUNNING SOLUTION FOR CUSTOMERS. THANKS JUNIOR
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551 Print Controller

Looking for print controller and NIC, can anyone help?? Art
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GOBY IS SINKING MY SHIP AND FAST!!!!! Question for the experts

Has anyone worked with GOBY? We have been attempting to use it on a pilot with a large organization. They have 5 locations where I am at and have been faxing 70 + page documents several times a day to these various locations. (These are long distance calls) The company does have a national with CANON DIRECT who has presented ecopy. They gave us the opportunity to show what we can do first The equipment that I have installed is Main Location : 9002 and DSc338 color All of the other locations
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Re: Type 2018 Fax problems

We have an RMAP 2015 with the same problem. Prints digital junk in RX as well as on internal fax reports. Copier and printer end both work fine. Machine was installed for only about 90 days when problem surfaced. (At least it is still under warranty.) Waited for backordered FCU for 3 weeks. Meanwhile Ricoh had changed the part # (also on backorder with no e.t.a.). Finally called RMAP about this issue, due to it being a Major Account. They could not help me. No FCUs to be found anywhere. Still
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Re: BIG $$$'s IN Telemarketing

through a unix server and was being output on an HP printer, We replaced that volume with a 7435nd (GESTETNER) 3) Billable Jobs, Web Smart Monitor, free way to accumulate jobs into a spread sheet in excel which can then be used for bill backs electronically, rather than manually. 4) At the end of each day all the sales that were being processed had to go through their mailroom. They had a humongous Pitney Bowes, Printer, Inserter, Folder called a documatch. It was extremely slow, unreliable and
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Re: wireless adapters

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A wireless bridge connects to the RJ45 port of a network printer, allowing a wireless connection to a network with a wireless access point or router. A wireless bridge simply takes the place of the CAT5/5e cable ... no hardwire necessary. THis allows you to put your printer wherever you want (within range of an access point) without having to do any wiring. Since the connection is through the NIC, all network functions are available (as opposed to using a wireless print server which connects
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Re: carrier sheets

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Item Color Price/Unit Quantity Clear doument carriers for the Synergix 8845 Wide Format Printer Reorder 8R3628 3 per package 1+ Package $63.25 from the xerox.com site - could not find them on Oce. You can also try Charrette.com
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BIG $$$'s IN Telemarketing

copier / printer / scanner 35sp conected copier / printer / scanner / fax 35nd color printer F104l digital fax solution (2) 45 ppm laser printers. (3) Software Packages. This solution replaced an old 55 ppm analog, HP 8500, A toshiba 35 ppm connected, and a brother fax. I guess the moral of this story is don't forget to knock on every door, you never know what lays behind it.
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C2338

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Has anyone tried to do covers on this machine? Typically, when we want to do covers we want to use heavier stock. Therefore, we'd use the bypass. On the new color system, bypass is not an option. Which limits the weight to 28lb bond. I know that Canon probably has it all over us on this feature (Canon reps?). Can anyone tell me if there is a solution or if you have to add the interposer?
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Fuser problems on DSc338/C3828/1238

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here's the scoop. we have the Gestetner version in a print for pay environment. they are running thick paper stock through the bypass tray and all the settings are right for thick paper. in the last 6 weeks we have had to replace 3 fuser units because the center pawl has dug into the upper fuser belt. they are right at specs for the thickness of the stock they are using and are running about 15,000 color prints per month. any ideas?
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GEM COMP for 1515's

Does anyone one the Ricoh GEM Comp for the new 1515's? If so, could you please email. thanx
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H.323 and 4410NF/5510NF

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Has anyone had any experience of a user incorporating the H.323 voice over IP application with either a Ricoh 4410NF or 5510NF?
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wireless adapters

Does the ricoh 240W have wireless network adapters available??
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New Biz/Stressed Credit Lease Program!!

Hello!! I worked for Copelco/Citicap for 10 years.. I left in Nov 2003 to escape the giant evil corporate machine.. I now work for a smaller & much more flexible leasing company in NJ.. I started a special leasing program for stressed credits & new businesses.. We've been able to approve a bunch of deals that the big 5 have declined (GE, WF, Citi, CIT, Fleet).. I've been working with a Ricoh dealer in TN and I'd like to spread the good word about our innovative new program.. For more info
Member

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Re: PDF DIRECT PRINT

My understanding is 2232/2232 is capable of direct pdf printing. Can anyone elseback me up on this? Art
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Re: PDF DIRECT PRINT

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But on the CL 7100 you print through desktopbinder.
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Re: 1515MFP

nope, no memory upgrades available for this product. Aficio 1515: standard 16MB copier memory, no upgrade Aficio 1515F: standard 64MB copier + fax memory, no upgrade Aficio 1515MF: standard 192MB copier + fax + printer + scanner memory, no upgrade.
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Re: 1515MFP

Thanks for the info, but Ricoh's site is stating the 1515 comes standard 16MB upgradeable to 192MB. We are receiving conflicting info. Who is correct ?
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Re: 1515MFP

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you add printing or faxing, the memory is already included in feature option.
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Re: Jam Frequency

kidding about the preemptive jam removal call. I like this site. The "I need a sales mgr" article hit home. Its Saturday I'm at work, need sales help,its beautiful day outside, wife and kid are at beach. Article didn't really have any solution though! Chris
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Re: wireless adapters

Thanks for the help one and all. Upon seeing the clients current set up... v-tec got it. The 240 is connected via hardwire to its print server and the print server itself has a wireless connection to the main network server. piece of cake?
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Re: carrier sheets

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Carrier sheets are like huge file folders made out of a thin but durable plastic. The drawing is inserted into the carrier sheet up to the point where the fold is. They come in various widths for various drawing sizes. Tracing paper is a good application for using them. Ricoh used to carry them but I do not think they do anymore. Here is Detroit, we used to buy them from a 3rd party company but the supplier we used no longer carries them. So, they can be handy but I do not know where to
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Re: New 31 PPM color

Has anyone put one in the field. I am going against a CANON CLC 1180, I wanted to put in a 6513 but my managment is trying to push me towards the new piece; I haven't seen it in person yet and feel a little sceptacle. Anyone have any thoughts
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Re: How to Beat the imageRUNNER 2200

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This is awsome and exactly the kind of information this site needs to make accessible. I can only guess as to how long it took you to put this together and I would hope that it will be a springboard to improvements and additions to this attachment as well as a template for similar comparisons in the future. I challenge all dual line Canon Reps out there to dispute or defend this information as well as provide additional bulletpoints .
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Re: 2238 Color Toner Yields

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yes thats what I meant....regardless...the numbers are based on 5% for each color so when the customers does full bleed we are screwed. Also change your meter to copy rather than development...That could help. Well Canon & Monica must be in the same boat too!
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Re: 2238 Color Toner Yields

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Ricoh is telling us there is a national backorder on toner as well. I cannot believe they actually run out of toner. I have two units sold that I cannot install because we cannot get toner.
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Re: Comparision Ricoh 2232 vs Canon 3200 saddlestitch finishers

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As a sidenote, the saddle finisher on the 2232/2238 is the same one Canon uses for their 2200/2800/3300 series. I guess if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
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Re: Comparision Ricoh 2232 vs Canon 3200 saddlestitch finishers

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it is my understanding that the finisher used by both RFG and Canon is manufactured by a third party source. Also, if what I was told is correct the RFG finisher offers hole punch while the Canon does not.
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Re: C2338

i am not aware of a color product where there is no bypass option available. as for canon i have a customer with the canon and the are quite a few issues with the box i would worry about those. i do believe you can get a bypass option for your 2238. although the max weight there is 43lb. bond.
-=Good Selling=-

This Week in the Copier Industry 10 Years Ago (Last Week of July 2009)

Usually I'll give a small snippet of how my sales day went in this blog series.  However, I'm writing this a day early since I have a corp meeting in PA tomorrow.

Enjoy these threads from ten years ago this week!

Another Ricoh Dealer Takes on Konica Minolta

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. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milner, Inc. Launches Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. Product Line and Grows Company Offering Raleigh, NC. – June 10, 2009 - Milner Inc., a leader in printing hardware, document workflow and imaging solutions, announces their growth strategy with new product offering of Konica Minolta products and services. Milner, Inc., a leading provider of advanced imaging and networking technologies for all office and print shop environments, annouced it’s new partnership with
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Canon and Konica-Minolta actions

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Has anyone seen recent (April on)published actions from these guys that would be helpful to us all from a competitive standpoint? I'm getting killed and would love to know some threshold info or even strategic actions. Thanks in advance.
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Konica Minolta and Equitrac Deliver World Class Print and Cost Management Solutions t

Ramsey, N.J. and Plantation, Fla. – July 23, 2009 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leading provider of advanced imaging and networking technologies for the desktop to the print shop, and Equitrac Corporation (Equitrac), an award winning print and cost management solutions provider, today announced the integration of Equitrac’s print management software with multifunctional printers (MFPs – print, copy, fax, and scan all in one system) by Konica Minolta. Part
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Konica Minolta Receives Multiple 2009 BERTL's Best Awards

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Konica Minolta Receives Multiple 2009 BERTL's Best Awards KMBS U.S.A. Website http://kmbs.konicaminolta.us/c.../kmbsbertl72309.html Konica Minolta today announced BERTL has awarded multiple 2009 BERTL's Best Awards to Konica Minolta; including the following awards: • Best Productive Color Printer Range - bizhub C652/C552 Series • Best Graphic Arts Color Production Printer - bizhub PRO C65hc • Best Value for Price Monochrome Production MFP in Segment 6 - bizhub PRO 950 • Best Departmental
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Konica Minolta Color MFPs Receive Gold Medal

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Konica Minolta Color MFPs Receive Gold Medal Awards in Wirth Consulting Head2Head Comparison Report Ramsey, N.J. - July 28, 2009 - Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leading provider of advanced imaging and networking technologies for the desktop to the print shop, today announced Wirth Consulting has awarded three Gold Medal Awards to Konica Minolta in the recent Head2Head Comparison Report. The bizhub® C253 received a Gold Medal for "Best Overall Performance
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Kyocera monochrome printer range recognised in industry-leading 2009 awards

standard Kyocera’s FS-3920DN was also awarded the Bertl’s Best ‘Best Productive Monochrome Printer’ award for its: - Exceptionally low printing costs in its class - ECOSYS long life consumables for reducing operating costs - Productive duplex functions for saving paper - Ability to print up to 42 pages per minute with up to 1,200 dpi resolution - Standard duplex unit for double-sided printing - Five paper trays for superior flexibility and high capacity with support for up to 120 lb. Index
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Print Audit Adds Machines In Field Report To Facilities Manager

management software solutions, the company has helped customers recapture over $150 million in printing and photocopying expenses while saving an estimated 90,000 trees a year. Print Audit has offices located in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada and the United States. For more information on Print Audit, visit www.printaudit.com .
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Idaho company cries foul over copier contract

members to review proposals from four copier companies, including Konica Minolta, IKON Office Solutions, Fisher's Document Systems and Xerox, Exline said. The school board voted to renew its contract with Xerox on July 21, deciding the benefits of selecting the copier giant outweighed the savings of picking a less expensive company. Cost was among several factors considered by the committee, which included a school secretary. The copier companies were also graded based on their history, equipment
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Ricoh Printer Competetive Matrix

Picked this up today, thought it would be good for everyone, enjoy!!
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Printer Competetive Matrix (Ricoh)

Picked this up the other day, thought it would be good2share.
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InfoPrint Solutions Company Establishes Leadership in Digital Color Production Printi

Boulder, Colo. – July 15, 2009 – InfoPrint Solutions Company, a joint venture between IBM and Ricoh, today announced its leadership in the digital color production space with more than 50 global installations of its full-color, continuous forms inkjet drop-on-demand printing system, the InfoPrint 5000. Many of these systems have been implemented to enable TransPromo applications, as well as to produce Print-On-Demand (POD) books. The InfoPrint 5000 has been selected by customers in countries
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KODAK Capture Pro Software, v 2.0 Delivers Enhanced Productivity, Focusing on Improve

scanning environments, from departmental to batch production scanning. “With Capture Pro Software, v 2.0, businesses will be able to handle a broader range of capture needs and get an even better return on their investment by saving costs by building upon existing capabilities of scanning equipment,” said Robert Bijster, Worldwide Director, Software Products, Document Imaging, Business Solutions and Services, Eastman Kodak Company. “It’s the latest advance from Kodak and our reseller channel in
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Kyocera Mita America Launches High Speed TASKalfa 750c Color Multifunctional Product

FAIRFIELD, N.J. – July 27, 2009 - Kyocera Mita America, Inc., one of the world's leading document solutions companies, today announced the availability of the TASKalfa 750c series of color Multifunctional Products (MFPs), bringing high-speed color and advanced in-house document creation and finishing capabilities to organizations. Designed for today’s fast paced business environment, the TASKalfa 750c series offers high-speed color printing, copying, scanning and optional faxing to provide
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RICOH SELECTS SAVVIS TO UPGRADE DOCUMENTMALL DATA CENTER

for businesses needing to store, share and maintain critical documents. For more information about Ricoh’s DocumentMall software, visit www.documentmall.com . About Ricoh Americas Corporation Ricoh Americas Corporation, headquartered in West Caldwell, N.J., is a subsidiary of Ricoh Company Ltd., the 73-year-old leading supplier of office automation equipment and electronics, with fiscal year 2008 sales in excess of $20 billion. Ricoh Americas Corporation is a leading provider of document solutions
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Xerox loses tax dispute with state

Xerox loses tax dispute with state Associated Press 11:54 AM CDT, July 30, 2009 MADISON, Wis. - Xerox Corp. has lost a tax dispute with the state of Wisconsin involving millions of dollars of equipment leased to Milwaukee and La Crosse. Xerox argued that the stand-alone devices that can print, copy, fax and scan should not be subject to personal property taxes because they should be defined as computers, which are exempt. The 4th District Court of Appeals on Thursday ruled that the devices are
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Parallel Print

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Never really had a use for this feature until recently. One of our reps has a prospect who could benefit from a Savin MLP175, but its a little cost prohibative at around 12k. We found that they can get 2 MLP150s for about 1/2 and use parallel print through Smart Device Monitor (Desktop Binder Lite and Smart Device Monitor Client) to run these at 100ppm! Note: this only works when printing sets and works better when devices are similarly configured. Windows only. By decentralizing, the customer
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Re: Around the World with Ricoh III

offices, schools, banks, universities, military bases and embassies whether in sales, installation or after-sales support. During the ceremony, Mr. Paul Renkema, Sales Director for Ricoh International announced that Modern Home had increased its total MFP sales by 160%. It had also almost doubled its colour placements for both MFP and printers, by increasing its business-to-consumer ratio from 21% to 40%. Put together, total turnover had increased by around 56%, year-on-year. 'In a country that
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EFI Announces Partnership with Masterpiece Graphix (MGX) to Supply Coated Substrates

) is the world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation. EFI's award-winning solutions, integrated from creation to print, deliver increased performance, cost savings and productivity. The company's robust product portfolio includes Fiery® digital colour print servers; VUTEk® superwide digital inkjet printers, UV and solvent inks; Rastek UV wide-format inkjet printers; Jetrion® industrial inkjet printing systems; print production workflow and management information software; and
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Paradigm Imaging Releases Enhanced Flex System!

controls Over 550 printers supported Includes over 325 ICC output profiles Mini 101 keyboard with touch pad 15” touch screen panel Paradigm’s sleek Ergo® Stand, adjusts to accommodate a wide range of printer models One-year on-site warranty with an optional two-year warranty upgrade The EIS Flex is a versatile system that allows the customer to utilize wide-format printers that they already have to create an all-in-one scan-print-copy system. With over 550 printers supported by Paradigm’s
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Re: The Cleansing

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Trippin' - The position was filled by a DSM that formerly supported IKON. Correct? Yes. Not many Savin Dealers will appreciate that fact. Oh by the way, the former Savin Brand Manager that was spirited out of the company in quick fashion was #1 (highest percent of revenue plan) in the United States for the 1st QTR of FY2009, for all Ricoh, Savin, and Lanier Brand Managers. Correct? Yes. As Ricoh shrinks the talent pool and fills positions with IKON personnel (or those who just recently
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Lexmark builds on unique RFID solution with award-winning monochrome lasers

: Faster printing of RFID label media up to 20 pages per minute in RFID mode RFID tags can be placed either horizontally or vertically on the print media A broad range of media support from 5 inches x 7 inches to 8.5 inches x 14 inches Lexmark's RFID UHF solution has the radio and antenna built directly into the printer option, so customers who already own a Lexmark T654 printer can leverage their current Lexmark investment and easily upgrade their T654 into an RFID-enabled device. Customers who don
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RISO, INC. ANNOUNCES OPENING OF BOSTON BRANCH

of production inkjet printers, digital duplicators, and supplies. RISO, Inc. sells high-speed color and monochrome printing solutions throughout the Americas. RISO provides fast and affordable full color digital printers for everyday communications, at speeds of up to 150 pages per minute. Its line of digital duplicators includes one and two-color systems that reliably produce millions of copies, are environmentally friendly, and are easy and inexpensive to use. Launched throughout North
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Re: The Cleansing

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You are incorrect. The assignment was made from within Ricoh. Let's play "Can you correct your previous statements and retract your prediction?"
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Re: The Cleansing

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Trip - Here you go, for all the world to see. Let me know if you want to know the three options that the Savin Brand Manager was given.
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Re: Canon and Konica-Minolta actions

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I had posted some published Canon information a few months ago and they are dropping their drawers to move current Inventory (since they lost IKON distribution) so they can launch the new Canon line next month.
-=Good Selling=-

This Week in the Copier Industry 5 Years Ago (Last Week of July 2014)

Yesterday marked the end of the month for me. Thus we have seven months in the books and so far 2019 has been awesome.  August brings us those "dog days" of summer and many objections due to vacations, not enough time, get back to me after Labor Day or you can't get anyone to respond. I get it, and I've adjusted my habits over the years. August needs to be one of the biggest prospecting months in the year. The time you spend prospecting in August will pay HUGE dividends moving into the last quarter.  Yes, we are measured by our month to month sales, but we're also measured on our quarters and year end.  Ours is not a thoroughbred horse race each month. It's not about who gets there the fasted. It's more about the strategic month, the strategic quarter and the ability have a plan in place to get you where you want to be.

Enjoy these threads from 5 years ago this week!

Loffler Companies Introduces New Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C1085/C1100 and Canon imagePRESS C800/C700 Devices

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(PRWEB) July 30, 2014 Loffler Companies, the leading business technology and services provider in the upper Midwest, is pleased to announce new production printing machines from Konica Minolta and Canon to help busy work places print faster, smarter and better. With blazing 100 page-per-minute output speed in brilliant color, the Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C1100 color press raises the bar in digital productivity, saves space on the production floor and saves time and labor costs with simple
Blog Post

This Week in the Copier/Office Equipment Industry 10 Years Ago Third Week of July 2004

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on the site here I can't find it. I have a shot at beating Kyocera and canon . Please reply Thank you. Aficio 2232 - 2238C 7/22/04 9:06 PM Topic by Guest manufacturer amassing an 85% market share in 2003. Infosource also reports that Ricoh held a 26.3% overall market share for black and white devices in 2003 to maintain the number one position over second and third placed rivals Canon and Sharp . In addition Sharp Adds Unique Advanced Finishing 7/19/04 6:37 PM Topic by Guest Sharp Adds
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Konica Minolta Receives 6 Buyers Lab 2014 Summer Picks

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RAMSEY, NJ, Jul 24, 2014 (Marketwired via COMTEX) -- Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announces that Buyers Laboratory LLC (BLI) has awarded Konica Minolta six 2014 Summer Picks for its bizhub series of multifunctional peripherals (MFP) and its PageScope mobile application. The Company has been awarded three Summer Picks in the A3 monochrome category, two Summer Picks in the A4 monochrome category, and one pick in the mobile print application category. The
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RICOH BRINGS ‘CLOUD PRINT’ TO BUSINESS-CLASS MFPS

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Malvern, PA, July 28, 2014 - Print servers can cost an organization thousands of dollars to buy and manage, but in 2014, they’re not always necessary. Just print through the cloud. That’s why Ricoh Americas Corporation today announced the release of an application that will make its business-class printers and multifunction products (MFPs) Google Cloud Print Ready. With the Ricoh App for Google Cloud Print web printing services, organizations can print from smartphones, tablets, laptops and
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5 Reasons Why I Like Print Audit Best Over PaperCut

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Print4Pay Hotel members that helped me with this! Also, yes, Print Audit is a sponsor the Print4Pay Hotel. However, from someone who owned a copier dealership for 12 years, and33 years of down the street sales allows me the see the value of Print Audit Premier. -=Good Selling=-
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Canon U.S.A. Expands imagePROGRAF Lineup with Six New Models Featuring Faster Print Speeds and More Intuitive Software Options Than Predecessor Models

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24-inch printers now also come standard with a Flat Stacker/Basket that provides the capability to neatly stack up to 20, 24 x 36 inch plain paper prints. Simple, Intuitive Software Addressing the needs of a diverse range of users, Canon's Direct Print Share 2.0 software is a downloadable cloud portal solution for expanding printing workflows. This software empowers users to view, share and print a variety of files, including PDF, TIFF, JPEG and HP-GL/2 formats, from virtually anywhere. Users can
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TerraSky Inc. Forms a Relationship with Canon Information and Imaging Solutions, Inc., to Expand the Portfolio of Cloud-Based Offerings with Canon’s Forms and Print Services

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." Canon’s Forms and Print Services for Salesforce allows users to create and print sophisticated, professional looking documents, such as sales reports, quotes, proposals, invoices and purchase orders, from data across the applications on the Salesforce1 platform. The PDF documentscan be generated effortlessly right from the cloud, even with a mobile device, and then printed on-the-go, at any FedEx Office location in theUnited States. TerraSky's history of working with complex enterprise customers
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Seminole Office Solutions becomes Ricoh Certified Services Provider through CHAMPS program

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Scouts to name a few. For more information about Seminole Office Solutions, visit http://www.sosfla.com | About Ricoh | Ricoh is a global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in about 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ending March 2014, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,236 billion yen (approx. 21.7 billion USD). The majority of the
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Welcome Back!

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July 28, 2014 A little over 3 years a go we lost an account to a Global (Xerox) Branch selling Konica Minolta. It was a school that by all accounts they said that we were doing a good job supporting the equipment, and that our Canon equipment had run well. I think part of the problem was they asked us to include in the bid a price for a Document Management system with an AP Workflow. Our price was about $10K higher than the Global quote. Which I think pissed them off and made them think we were
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Grohe Improves How Work Gets Done; Cuts Costs with Xerox Managed Print Services

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, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Switzerland, Xeroxdelivers print behavior analysis, IT infrastructure planning and implementation, device maintenance and proactive supplies replacement. To keep information protected, Xerox’s secure print feature requires employee badges to be swiped to copy or access printed documents. Grohedecreased print volumes and related costs as unnecessary printouts areavoided or deleted after an extended period of time. The company alsoreduced help-desk calls by
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Konica Minolta Releases Automated Workflow Solution for Financial Documents

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RAMSEY, NJ - Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. ( Konica Minolta ) today announces a new automated workflow solution to help financial providers securely capture, process, and distribute financial documents with ease while meeting regulatory demands. Part of Konica Minolta's EnvisionIT Finance solution portfolio, Dispatcher Phoenix Finance helps banks, financial institutions and accounting departments streamline paper-based document processes to reduce costs, increase efficiency
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Its Time For A Print Audit

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automatically), and it connects and is ready to go. Merrily print away. When toner or a printer cartridge is needed order it through the approved office supply company and make the change. If there are 10 or 20 printers that get connected this way, the costs associated with operation can really quickly escalate. Unfortunately, unless a true print audit is done no one will identify that these costs are even occurring. read more here
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New SmarTech Report Projects that 3D Printing to Generate $1.4 billion in Plastics Sales in 2019

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July 31, 2014 According to " Plastics In 3D Printing Markets: A Ten-Year Opportunity Forecast ," a new report from the industry analysts SmarTech Markets Publishing, the market for polymers used in 3D printing has already reached $310 million and will grow to $1.4 billion by 2019. With a rapidly growing user base in the consumer and professional market, SmarTech believes that high value-added plastic materials used by 3D printers represent a high-margin opportunity for materials companies
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Epson Enhances Managed Print Service Offerings through Validated Device Support Status with ECi FMAudit(R) Software

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LONG BEACH, Calif., July 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Epson America today announced its WorkForce(R) Pro business printers have achieved validated device support status with ECi FMAudit(R) software, a leading provider of innovative Managed Print Services (MPS) technologies. Epson's validated device support status with FMAudit enables extensive access, data monitoring and collection to streamline MPS deployments. Together, Epson and FMAudit deliver a powerful solution for IT network professionals
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WOODHULL BECOMES RICOH CERTIFIED SERVICES PROVIDER THROUGH CHAMPS PROGRAM

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Malvern, PA, July 31, 2014 - Ricoh Americas Corporation today announced that Woodhull has been officially confirmed as a Ricoh Certified Production Printing Professional Services Provider through Ricoh’s CHAMPS program for dealer transformation. Individual workstyles continue to quickly evolve in today’s dynamic work environment, and as a result Ricoh is focused on information mobility: helping workers at organizations of all sizes access relevant information from anywhere and at any time to
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RICOH AMERICAS CORPORATION RECEIVES EMC GLOBAL INNOVATION AWARD FOR GOVERNMENT WORKFLOW SOLUTION

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enable citizens to review and print government documents such as deeds, taxes, bills. “As information grows exponentially, innovation in enterprise content management becomes critical to the health and growth of organizations around the globe,” said Karthik Manimozhi, Head of Worldwide Alliances and Channel Sales, EMC's Information Intelligence Group. “Ricoh is not only being recognized as an innovator and valued partner, but as a company bringing significant business value to our customers.” The
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Nikec Solutions upgrades its file sharing software to heighten document security and control

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30th July 2014 - Building on the success of the previous release, the latest enhancements provide heightened security to enhance information integrity and help firms meet data protection regulations. Among the new features, Nikec Docstore offers audit trail capabilities, improved activity reporting on users and/or files and integration with Document Management Systems (DMS), Active Directory and Outlook. It also offers users superior control when sharing files and folders internally or with
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Toshiba e-STUDIO306LP/RD30 Reduces Paper Consumption in Governmental Office

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TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 31, 2014-- Toshiba TEC (TOKYO:6588), a global leader in printing, imaging solutions and services, introduced the world's first eco-friendly MFP system to the governmental offices - Shiga Prefectural Office, Japan. The ground-breaking MFP system was consciously designed to be environmentally friendly. It consists of the e-STUDIO306LP which prints the document in an erasable blue toner, and the e-STUDIO RD30 which erases the identifiable print from paper. At the same
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Tinkerine and PrinterWorks Partner to Launch Nationwide Managed 3D Print Services

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Managed Print Services. From consulting services, to procurement and installation, to total outsourced solutions, PrinterWorks is unique in its ability to support large and diverse fleets of printers, copiers, scanners, MFP's and fax machines. PrinterWorks holds sales and service authorizations from all major printer equipment manufacturers and has forged unique partnerships with the largest printer services organizations in Canada. Contact: Stefano Walker Vice President Sales Marketing swalker
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Bend Mapping Scanning Sales Grow by 50% with Contex HD iFLEX Scanner

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scanning area. Though the HD iFLEX has an A2/C-size footprint, Contex's Nextimage scanning software allows the device to capture an A1/D-size original. The hardware scans the image area in just four seconds, and its camera provides a full 600 x 600 optical resolution. Bend Mapping staffers can easily connect the HD iFLEX to any one of its five wide-format printers. A case study ofBend Mapping and the HD iFLEXis available at Contex's website. For more information, contact salesamericas@contex.com
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Global Engineering Firm Invests More Than $700,000 In A Kofax Accounts Payable Automation Solution

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capture and processing of invoices and provide advanced analytics to monitor and meet internal key performance indicators (KPIs). By deploying the Kofax solution, the organization was able to bring invoice processing in-house to better manage and control costs, improve the quality and security of the data captured, and reduce processing times. The customer estimates it will achieve a 25% cost savings by not outsourcing. “Outsourcing business processes such as accounts payable can be cost
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Middlebury saved $2,500 by joining cooperative to buy map copier

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MIDDLEBURY -- Larry Hutvagner, Middlebury's chief financial officer, saved the town close to $2,500 on a new map copier for the Town Clerk's Office by joining a cooperative with the state of Texas. A salesman for Konica Minolta Business Solutions, which produces the copier, suggested that the town sign the Interlocal Cooperation contract for information resources technologies [--] joining the cooperative for free [--] then benefiting from the lowest bid Texas received on copiers. Hutvagner said
Member

Blog Post

ONE Awesome Way to Seperate Yourself From Other Copier Reps!

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I've been chomping at the bit to write this blog. Picture this, there are three sales people from three different dealers, all of have secured an appointment with theDecision Makerto replace the aging copier. All three have the same level of tenure and experience, all three are offering a different brand of copier, all three bring a full color brochure. They all tout how good the service is, how amazing the support is, and that their systems are so much more reliable than the existing system
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Stratasys Objet30 OrthoDesk 3D Printer Selected by IDT Magazine as a Top-10 Technology Product for 2014

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MINNEAPOLIS REHOVOT, Israel, Jul 29, 2014 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- StratasysLtd. , aleading global provider of 3D printingand additive manufacturing solutions, today announced the Objet30OrthoDesk 3D Printer was selected as the top-10 technology productfor 2014 by the readers of Inside Dental Technology (IDT) magazine. The top-10 list, featured in the July issue, was compiled by IDT’s reader service card data. Each product was assigned a number to accurately track interest from print and digital
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New Middletown schools copiers contract means big savings for district

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MIDDLETOWN The school board is seeking a second capital lease agreement to cut costs on the district’s copiers, projecting five-figure savings every year. The city signed the first of two leases a year ago, although the payments on the contract come from the district’s budget. The board entered into negotiations for the leases in order to consolidate its dozens of contracts for different copiers – 30 agreements for 68 machines – and to upgrade its hardware. more here
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New Ricoh/Xante Envelope Press

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Has anyone sold one of these yet?  Are they available?   Lot's of questions here and can't find nothing more than a brochure (xante) and pricing.   Thanx   Art
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Re: 5 Reasons Why I Like Print Audit Best Over PaperCut

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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 environment.
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BTA Southeast & IBPI Partner to Host Consecutive Events

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. Since 1987, the organization has built an outstanding reputation based upon bringing tremendous buying power to its dealer members. IBPI’s membership is composed of more than 350 independent commercial copy, print and IT dealers located throughout the United States. Its members, which have a combined annual sales volume in excess of $4.3 billion, sell and service all OEM copier/MFPs and print devices, along with providing managed print and managed network services. For more information, visit www
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DocuWare and Objectif Lune Announce Connector

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For Immediate Release DocuWare and Objectif Lune Announce Connector New Windsor NY, July 24, 2014 – Industry leaders, DocuWare, in the Document Management field and Objectif Lune, providing variable data printing solutions, are proud to announce the release of a new connector within the PlanetPress Workflow Tool integrating their two powerful solutions. The free connector allows for easy document routing through PlanetPress directly to a DocuWare system. The functionality of the recently
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InnoMark Communications Targeting Efficiency in Comprehensive Production with EFI Radius Software

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Business Intelligence module will be an important feature ,” said Roberts, “ because it will give us the big picture information we need to track down trends .” With its robust technology for planning and managing nearly every converting, die-cutting, laminating, folding and gluing process, EFI Radius is the leading business software for the package printing industry. Those comprehensive features can provide substantial benefits for InnoMark – a leading print, fabrication and fulfillment provider
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Portable High-Volume Production Scanners Make It Easy For Document Management Service Bureaus To Bring On-Site Scanning To Clients

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reflect different results. Image Data’s three KODAK i5800 Scanners run at speeds comparable to other, more expensive scanners, and deliver overall faster throughput at higher dpi and color settings. In general, more customers are asking for color and higher dpi scans in order to assure record output maintains outstanding detail, printing quality (when needed), and photo reproduction. “The i5800 Scanners are significantly more affordable compared to our previous high-volume units, with list prices
Blog Post Premium

Copier Reps Can Pay it Forward Also

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Just a few days ago, I attended a webinar from GE. The theme of the webinar was to inform GE partners more about social selling techniques. Since I'm an avid fan of social media, I thought the time would be well spent to hear what Mike Kunkle had to say. Hey, you can always teach and old dog new tricks right? Or, is it, that you can't teach and old dog new tricks. Well, screw it, I sure leaned an awesome technique and I'm an OLD DOG! Mike was an awesome presenter! Much of the information that
Blog Post

5 Reasons Why Cold Calling is NOT Dead

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good at honing their sales skills. Now, do any of us enjoy looking at a client in our database, recognizing that you've called them for four years and you've gained no ground in getting through to the Decision Maker? Yeah, just what I thought, the answer is NO! However, you can make cold calling fun! What I do, is to put on my ultra happy as every to call you mode. Through the tone of my voice, I'm projecting that I'm delighted that I 've called XYZ company. I then ask if the person I'm speaking
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Re: RICOH BRINGS ‘CLOUD PRINT’ TO BUSINESS-CLASS MFPS

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Ricoh would try to charge for this. In my opinion, this should be included as a firmware update that brings additional value to the client potentially helps Ricoh and its dealers capture more prints from mobile devices. I do like the idea of Ricoh starting to offer additional features via firmware installation (chargeable or not). If they truly want to be a Services-led organization, we should be able to add features like this or OCR to products across the line. It's ridiculous that if we have
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Re: The Death of the 48, 60 and 66 Month Lease

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daily basis (leasing/banking is very paper intensive), many of our machines work just fine even though they are older than 3 years. During my tenure at this company, our machines are kept from 3-7 years depending on the needs of the users. From a dealership perspective - I have sat in on many training sessions and the industry experts have shown dealers that the most profitable term for the company (not the sales rep) is the 60 month lease.
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Re: The Death of the 48, 60 and 66 Month Lease

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A mandate like that would drastically increase the monthly budget of non-profits and other cost-conscious organizations. The right lease term for a client isn't up to us as salespeople; it's up to the client. Meeting their needs (not setting yourself up to churn your base) should be the priority when discussing lease term options with a client. Some companies want the latest greatest technology and are fine paying more over a shorter term to have that luxury. Others don't care about that so
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The Death of the 48, 60 and 66 Month Lease

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Technology is changing so quickly and 5 years is a long time to wait for contracts to expire... Do any of you feel the industry would benefit from a government law that prohibited lease contracts on multifunctional printers to be no longer than 36 months in length? On the other side, do any of you strictly use shorter lease terms in order to flip your base customers quicker? Cheers!
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The Labeltape Group Installs Epson SurePress to Deliver Short-Run Solution with High Color Quality to Broad Range of Customers

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July 23, 2014 -- LONG BEACH, Calif. , July 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Epson America , Inc. today announced that The Labeltape Group, Inc. has purchased and installed the Epson SurePress L-4033AW for its label printing services. The Labeltape Group owns and operates two label printing companies Labeltape in Caledonia, Mich. and A-Flex Label in Willowbrook, Ill. The Epson SurePress is installed at the A-Flex facility, producing labels for both locations that serve a broad range of markets
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Masergy Featured in CRN's Annual Network Connectivity Services Partner Program Guide

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solution providers to locate vendors offering complementary connectivity solutions and services. Masergy's partners include value-added resellers, master agents, OEMs, systems integrators, independent consultants, and more. The company recently announced its new Platinum and Gold partners for FY15 in its Global Partner Program . The Platinum and Gold partner status is based on sales performance for Fiscal Year 2014 which ended June 30, 2014. Masergy continues to offer an exceptional experience
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Newest-version EFI Fiery proServer Creates a 7X Speed Improvement in Inkjet Graphics File Processing

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- to superwide-format inkjet printers. It features the Fiery Accelerated System Technology (FAST) RIP, which processes PDF files up to seven times faster than before. More than a RIP, the proServer provides a high-performance color management workflow, supports FOGRA PSD Print Check and is compatible with more than 540 printers from numerous major manufacturers. “Fiery proServer 6 is a truly innovative addition to the world of wide- and superwide-format printing ,” said John Henze, vice
Member

Member

Comment

Re: ONE Awesome Way to Seperate Yourself From Other Copier Reps!

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Have been vendor neutral for years. Avoids customer objections and has good control of sales track. Makes process a little easier..
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Re: New Products

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Production is partnering with Xante on their Ricoh engined envelope press. I think it uses a SP C831 and the system looks solid. Rumors have new Color production coming soon.
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Re: Scan to Hosted Exchange

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I'm playing Monday morning quarterback so take this with a grain of salt and know that I am not perfect and have made many mistakes like this in the past and still continue todo sofrom time to time. I know the customer is always right, but sometimes you have to take back the posture. In hind sight, maybe you should have said we will come onsite once we have the mail server settings. Remember, even in sales sometimes you have to say No! It seems the issue you are dealing with is because the IT
-=Good Selling=-

College Park Aviation Museum Preserves History with a Contex IQ FLEX Flatbed Scanner

History Captured in High-Res Makes for Eye-Catching Displays


Chantilly, VA — July 23, 2019 — Contex, the world leader in large format scanning, today announces that the College Park Aviation Museum recently installed a Contex IQ FLEX flatbed scanner. The College Park Aviation Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, is a top aviation destination in the Washington, DC area. Located at the College Park Airport, the world’s oldest continually operating airport, the museum boasts a vast collection of local aviation history dating back to 1909, including over 10,000 documents, photographs, and other historical materials.

The museum staff acquired a Contex large format flatbed scanner to preserve that history and make its collection — especially fragile materials — easily available to visitors, researchers, and other interested parties. The assets are also used for museum displays and marketing materials.

“Our museum collection has a large number of photographs, maps, handbooks, and newspapers, among other items, some of which are not on display because they are too delicate. With the Contex scanner, we can digitally preserve these valuable pieces and make them available online for interested parties,” comments Laura Baker, Curator of Collections, College Park Aviation Museum.

“Many museums choose Contex scanners for the important function of preserving history,” comments Steve Blanken, General Manager, Contex Americas. “In addition to producing museum-grade images for preservation, the scanner is also one of the most efficient, even with the most delicate material.”

The Contex IQ FLEX is ideal for digitizing oversized and fragile originals, as well as scanning books, textiles, and artwork. The IQ FLEX also simplifies book scanning with the use of a wizard helper. Users can scan material up to double the size of the A2/C-size glass plate, including A1/D-size originals. With an optical resolution up to 1200 dpi, the flatbed scanner produces sharp images even at large sizes.

For more information, visit a www.contex.com or send email to salesamericas@contex.com.

About Contex
As the world’s leading developer and producer of large format imaging solutions, Contex leads the market with innovative technology and advanced scan and copy software applications. Sold worldwide in more than 90 countries, Contex solutions are recognized in a wide range of industries for reliability, value, high performance, and superb image quality. For more information, please visit www.contex.com.

OMG, it's a Brother "Part 4"

It's been about three months since my trip to Itex 2019 where I had the chance to meet Peter (birth full brother) for the first time.  Yup, there's been a lot to digest since Ancestry gave me that DNA hit for a full brother.

Just a few days ago I have the chance to meet Pete's daughter (my niece), she flew out to NJ with her Aunt.  Such a smart girl for 11 eleven years old.  We had the chance to go out to dinner and after dinner I took them over to Sandy Hook so they could have some fun with the Atlantic Ocean.  Later that evening I brought them to my shop where she helped herself to some of the shell jewelry that I make. A great time for someone who was small on family.

DNA Connections

Speaking of small on family my Ancestry DNA connections to date stands at 10,100!  WFT, I went from 3 to more than 10K after taking the test.

During the last three months I've always dome my fair share or digging in Ancestry. Not sure if you remember from the first blog I wrote, but I made mention that I had received a non redacted copy of my birth certificate a few years ago.  Two years of search birth, death, marriage and baptism records turned up ZERO.  These two people did not exist or maybe they were part of a coverup, better yet may they were sequestered away and given new identities from the Government? The thought even crossed my mind since I was born in NJ and am of Italian heritage that maybe there was some type of mob thing going on?  Those crazy thoughts can go through your head when you're left with dead ends.

Thanks to Ancestry they will list DNA matches for "close family" members which could be an Aunt or an Uncle. Moving down the list are peeps listed as "first cousins", then "second cousins" they'll even list all the way to eighth  cousins.

Ancestry also gives you the ability to PM those peeps and then it's up to that person if they'd like to respond. 

Private Eye

Here's what I found after playing private eye and fitting the pieces of the puzzle together for who were my birth parents.  When you get to a certain age you'd like to know because of medical reasons. The only thing I had to go on was the medical history of my twin.  He passed almost twenty years ago.

The key person in all of this was my 92 year old aunt (my birth mothers sister) that is still living in Florida. I was not able to speak with her since she is not in the best of health. But through Ancestry I was able to connect with one of her granddaughters who did some digging for me.  She also gave me my aunt's maiden name. This was huge!

With Ancestry all you need is a few names, a few places, and a few chats and the jumble of people pieces can start to come together.

Ready?  So my birth parents fibbed about their last names (not their first names), can you imagine that?  Lying to someone in the hospital about your names, guessing there was no medical coverage at the time and no one was asking for ID's?  Thus the reason that these two people did not exist on google or anywhere else.

Birth Mother

Birth mothers last name was Casazza and not Gall as the birth certificate stated.  She did not fib about her first name which is Dorothy.  That real last name was a huge help because I was then able to see birth, death, census and marriage records of other peeps in the family.  In a month or I so I was able to find out that my birth mother had three additional sisters. In addition I was able to find my birth grandparents (long deceased).  Thus I kept PM'ing other cousins and found out more about my birth mother.  She was married in the late 30's and her husband went off for WW2.  They had three children (these would be my half siblings) two boys and one girl. At time my half sister is deceased and maybe another brother (can't clarify). There is one half brother alive and living in Florida. Keep in mind that these siblings were born in the forties.  Thus my birth mothers husband survives WW2 comes home and leaves his wife for another woman. First STUNNER!  My birth mother then gives two of the siblings (brother and sister) up to an orphanage and the other brother goes to one of her sisters.  This is all happening in NJ.

It's now the 50's and my birth mother is still in New Jersey. Through others I heard she had a wicked sense of humor and was very creative.  My birth mother passed about 25 years ago in NJ.  The cool thing is that I do have a picture of her (at least I think i do).

Birth Father

Construction in New Jersey, born in Nebraska, first name is Nicholas, all of that is true. The fib was the last name again. Last name on my birth certificate was Conti.

I forgot to state this earlier my 92 year old aunt had her DNA on Ancestry. Now I find that amazing because you just don't see that many profiles of elderly people on Ancestry. I'm thinking that maybe she wanted to be found because she knew her sister gave up three additional children for adoption in the 50s.  Me, my twin brother (Tony) and Pete. Frak, it's the only thing that seemed logical to me.

Right, back the DNA stuff. For months I was at a stale mate with my birth fathers side of the family. I had some hints, some ideas but nothing rock sold with a DNA hit. The construction worker, came from Nebraska and the first name Nicholas.  Wait for it.........my sons first name is Nicholas! I tell ya it gets crazy.

K, so I have a couple of leads and those leads are pointing me to this one family in Bergen County, NJ.  But with no DNA hit and the some of the last names not matching exactly it was a crap shoot.  I did have some help with a third cousin who had a huge family tree and that's where I got many of my leads for possible family members.  I'm thinking it was about six weeks ago and a new close  DNA match of a first cousin came up on Ancestry.  Sure enough that DNA match pulled together the rest of the family puzzle. My birth fathers last name was Biancullo. So, there you have it both last names of both birth parents.

Husband & Wife?

Now it gets creepy.  That would be a no.  Seems like my birth father had an extended affair with my birth mother in the middle 50's. Could have went on longer but getting info out of my birth fathers side of the family difficult to say the least. My birth father passed about 15 year ago in NJ.  Turns out he had eight children with his wife (that's eight more half brothers and sisters), and with some digging on ancestry I believe his father had 12 brothers and sisters (not exactly sure). Thus 8 half brothers and sisters on the fathers side, 3 more on the mothers side along with Pete, Tony and me. WTF!

One other note my birth father was 47 years old and my birth mother was 35 years old when I was born.  Just thought I'd through that in because.....

DNA does not lie. Ain't that the truth. 

I think it was about four weeks ago when I had a message from someone on facebook. It was a reply to the picture that I posted on facebook of Peter and I in Vegas at Itex2019.  The message was "I guess this makes me your cousin". Well that was enough for me to respond and indeed this person was my cousin. One of the peeps that I had connected with on Ancestry did some research also and pointed him to me with my contact information.  Guess he did some searching like I did on Facebook.  Facebook is also an incredible resource that helped me. 

We messaged a few times through Facebook, and he offered to chat on the phone and gave me his cell.  I called and we spoke for at least an hour if not longer.  He is the son of one my birth fathers daughters, however he also got adopted out in the mid sixties.  He wasn't able to find out his family until he got his non redacted birth certificate from the State of New Jersey also. His however did have the correct last name of his birth mother.  Thus here's a guy who had done all of the research on my birth fathers side of the family.

One of the talk tracks that I remember is that Bergen County, NJ at one time was kinda know as the Adoption Train in NJ.  Since that area was populated with many Italians, abortion for pregnancies was not an option.  Thus most children were adopted out at birth or right after.  Praise the lord for no abortions!

Another statement that was made is that we (Pete, Toy, me and him) were the lucky ones. Why you might ask? Well seems like the birth fathers side of the family had some issues and I'll leave it at that. 

This is where I was floored.....he told me that he wasn't sure that my father was a "made man" but was a "connected guy".  Remember when I started this blog and I made mention of my initial thoughts why I couldn't find them?

I was stunned. he went on to tell me that many of these types of guys kept mistresses aside from their marriage. In fact that many named their daughters after their mistresses. One of his daughters has my birth mothers first name. In fact get this, my mothers maiden name on my birth certificate is listed as Gall. My birth fathers wife's maiden name is Gall.

I can only think that I may have more half brothers and sisters out there because some of the peeps that I connected with on Ancestry have no recollection of the family names I mentioned.\

I'd also like to say that I've connected with a few cousins and many nieces and nephews and all of them have been awesome in helping me in my journey.  Finally it puts the rest the mystery that I was carrying for 59 years. I can still remember me and Tony in the back seat of a car rolling down the New Jersey Turnpike.  We asked where are we going (we had just left our foster home, which we thought was our real home), we were told we were on our way to meet our new parents.  Looking back that was one of the best moments in my life, me and my bro going to a loving couple that would nurture and raise us to become what we are today.

-=Good Selling=-

Special Report from Ray! (Video)

Geesh, do I write the forward before or after the video? 

There are web sites to visit if you only want the "happy" news about the industry or let's say the spin from one perspective.  Over the years we've (Print4Pay Hotel) has always posted the good, the bad and the ugly, because those of us that are in the trenches day and day out deserve to hear or read it all.
Enjoy Ray's Video

Will, The Imaging Channel's Private Equity run out of toner and stop printing money?

With the lack of dialogue in the Imaging Channel regarding the situation, Clover finds itself. I wanted to share more thoughts and concerns for the Imaging Channel. I also believe the Imaging Channel is not alone, and other technology reseller verticals will face challenges of their own as Private Equity reexamines what they thought they knew.   

Private Equity will begin auditing market realities amid Clover (4L Holdings) apparent troubles. The Investments in the declining industry of print equipment and service resellers without diversification has always puzzled me. Private Equity continues making short term bets that another P/E group will bail them out at a higher price than the one they bailed out. The time is fast approaching where the buyers will securitize the realities of the market, and investors will stop making those bets. 

My friends, when a billion-dollar organization fails to get funding the examinations on those remaining in its industry will be forensic. Investors do indeed chase and gamble for high returns. However, once there is a significant failure, they will pick up their chips and go to another table. So, Caution! To those with too many chips on the table, or those who have high credit lines with banks. 

Everything is excellent when investments align with markets, but when the market gets out of alignment, the investors go to another market. 

The industry is heading in the direction which should scare all logical people into focusing on market realities and then change the game being played. Dealers have to develop strategies which allow them to capitalize and profit off the decline in print, and they must diversify. 

The industry's obsession to continue overselling A3, to ignore competitive threats, and operate on outdated processes will expedite the ending of their relevance. The Imaging Channel must stop chasing revenue at all cost, or that too will cost them their future. 

"A company becomes obsolete when they focus on delivering the past to the future instead of delivering the future to the present." 

So, as your status quo, competition continues chasing revenue with no regards to profit or keeps buying each other with no diversification strategy. Be different and sell based on market realities. Become a customer-centric organization and change the game. Look for partners who have imagination and won't hold you to programs built from memories. Join new peer groups in adjacent industries and stop doing the same things you were doing in 2000. Remember, my friends; the future is easier to navigate for those who have been there in their mind first.   

"Disruptions are a result of tired industries who feel more comfortable being complacent that challenging themselves to create the new relevance."  

"Status quo is the killer of all that will be invented"

Send me a Linkedin invite if you wish to connect. Also, I invite all to subscribe to my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channe...A?view_as=subscriber

Ray Stasieczko  

MSP Industry Notes for July 21, 2019

Each week we'll be giving you a round up of MSP activity. This is my first attempt and this and as time marches forward we'll expand and get better.  Thus for the next month the content will be open for all to view, read and comment. PDF is available for Premium Members



MSP Industry Notes

July 15th, 2019

CGI is awarded major managed and IT contract for Public Transportation Administration in Stockholm.

  • The value of the contract is about 900 million Swedish Krona ($900 million US Dollars)
  • Includes IT management, proactive end-point management, consultancy services, end-user and cyber security services

lot Managed Services Market will grow at a CARG of 20.% in terms of revenue for 2018-2026 according to Persistance Market research

Microsoft has selected Aryaka as one its first partner for managed services provider program. https://www.fiercetelecom.com/...ice-provider-program

Vion a cloud service provider launches Vion Cloud Enterprise

  • Better able to provide clients with the public cloud experience they want behind their firewall
  • Allows clients to manage multi-cloud environments from a single cloud platform
  • Simplifies the entire multi-cloud management experience

Logically Strengthens Senior Management Team

  • Names Karl Noone as Chief Financial Officer
  • Noone responsible for finance operations, accounting, financial planning and recruiting
  • Previously served as SVO & Corporate Controller for Global Capacity
  • Logically is Managed IT Service Provider (MSP) for small & midsize organizations

ThinPrint Launches Cloud Partner Program for Micrsoft CSPs

  • New partner model is designed for cloud service providers to integrate ThinPrint’s ezeep for Windows Desktop into their services portfolio
  • ThinPrint is being presented at Micro Inspire 2019 in Las Vegas
  • Goal is to enable Mircosoft Cloud service providers to easily add professional printing support to their services

Great America Launches Enhanced Private-Label Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) Solution Collabrance MSSP Offering help IT Solution Providers

  • Collabrance Master MSSP to provide end-user clients with different cyber security components the seek
  • Help progressive IT providers differentiate in the IT channel
  • Portfolio includes several components designed to help IT providers offer subscriber clients cyber security

Fujitsu and GE Research Join LF Edge as Premier Members to Propel Open Source Innovation

  • Launched in January 2019, LF Edge is comprised of five projects
    • Akraino Edge Stack
    • EdgeX Foundry
    • Home Edge
    • Open Glossary of Edge Computing
    • Project EVE

Support emerging edge applications across areas as non-traditional vide and connected things that require lower latency, faster processing and mobility

Joins a growing roster of 70 plus current members

TPx Receives 2019 Unified Communication Product of the Year Award

  • Award honors most innovative communication products and solutions
  • Integrates several functions and third-party applications into a single function app
  • UCx desktop and mobile apps, users are able to call, chat, video conference, start interactive meeting from anywhere

DataBank Deploys Expansion if its Pittsburgh Data Center

  • 1500kW of 2N critical UPS IT capacity
  • Supplements 400kW of N+1 IT load capacity on first floor N+1, including upgraded rooftop heat rejection equipment
  • New 1500kW of IT load supported by two new 2500kW generators with 2N redundancy 
  •  
  •  
  • Utility power delivered through new 2N transformers served by DQL 23kVA primary utility service
  • 250 Tons of N+1 cooling
  • Customer space including office, conference and break rooms

Square Clover Launches Desktop Defenders, Endpoint Detection & Response for SMBs

  • MNS offering. Desktop Defenders features advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) for SMBs
  • EDR software provides immediate resolution to ransomware attacks, can restore a PC in minutes

Apiphani Selected as Enterprise Cloud Partner

  • Selected by Dallas-Based Hunt Consolidation to host and manage their SAP Business Warehouse and Business Process & Consolidation
  • 3 year contract
  • Migration with included an inflight upgrade of the underlying HANA database and managed services

Align Ranked in World’s Most Elite 501 MSP Providers

  • Winners are most elite, innovative and strategic IT service providers on the planet
  • Align is a global provider of technology infrastructure solutions
  • 32 years offering IT services
  • Headquarters in NYC and office in London, Chicago, San Francisco, Arizona, New Jersey Texas and Virginia

One Neck Ranked in World’s Most Elite 501 MSP Providers

  • Winners are most elite, innovative and strategic IT service providers on the planet
  • One Neck placed in the top 20
  • Offers full suite of hybrid IT solutions including cloud and hosting solutions, managed services, enterprise application management, advanced IT services and hardware
  • 12 years offering services

Cloud Carib Ranked in World’s Most Elite 501 MSP Providers

  • Winners are most elite, innovative and strategic IT service providers on the planet
  • Ranked 150 out of 501
  • Highest rated in both the Caribbean & Latin America
  • Solutions range from complex bespoke dedicated cloud offerings to hybrid cloud services


Navisite and Alert Logic Provide New Managed Threat Detection

  • Fully integrated portfolio of Managed Threat Detection and Remediation services for enterprise cloud clients
  • Solution designed with a focus on intelligent threat detection
  • Cyberattacks are more frequent
  • Clients in need of help in mitigating risk if breach

Alaska Communications Awarded Multi-Million Dollard Contract

  • Build high-capacity network in Alaska also to provide network services to major international telecommunications and its client
  • 10 year contract and opportunity to extend for another ten years
  • Alaska Communications is the leading provider of advanced broadband and managed IT services in Alaska

Acquisitions

  • CompassMSP (Jacksonville) acquires GreenPoint (New Jersey)
  • Techaisle survey found that 35% of MSP’s sees mergers or acquisitions in the next three years

 

 -=Good Selling=-

Practice! Who Needs To Practice... Salespeople Need To Practice

"I know I'm supposed to be there, I know I'm supposed to lead by example. I know that. And I'm not shoving it aside like it don't mean anything. I know it's important. I do. I honestly do. But we're talking about practice, man. What are we talking about? Practice? We're talking about practice, man!"
Allen Iverson

What a fantastic quote which reminds me of a past blog... Can You Imagine A Professional Athlete Operating With A Sales Reps Mindset?

The roadmap to success for elite athletes is based upon hard work, dedication, personal ownership and how it's all applied. Athletes understand they must commit themselves to all facets of training. They take extreme ownership, holding themselves accountable to the process.

A growth mindset is such a critical component to the success of an elite athlete and a sales professional.

What separates an average athlete from an average sales rep? Millions of dollars and their mindset.

PRACTICE... the separation point between elite athletes and average sales reps.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." 
Will Durant

Think about what it takes to move from being ordinary to extraordinary. Think about what it takes to move from being a sales rep to becoming a sales professional. It starts with transformation, accepting you can do better and developing the mindset to do better.

Transform your thinking from sales rep to sales professional. I encourage you to think of the sales profession as a work of art and handle it with care. 

Immerse yourself in your work, become fully engaged. Transform your mind to one of growth. As this happens, you improve your ability to grow. As you grow yourself you grow your career. The opposite is to disconnect, settling for complacency.

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PRACTICE IS THE DIFFERENTIATOR

Sales professionals practice, sales reps find excuses

A basketball game isn’t won on the court. The game is won in the days, weeks, months and off-season work leading up to the 48 minutes of actual playing time.

Elite athletes win with preparation. They watch film, memorize plays, hit the gym and eat properly.

This all leads me to asking all of you...

  • How well are you preparing?
  • How well are you practicing?
  • How well are you planning?
The lie you tell yourself, "But, I practice on the job."
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Kobe Bryant saw Los Angeles at 4:00 A.M. Michael Jordan was the first person on the court and the last one off. Magic Johnson was the true definition of a work horse. It was his work ethic, growth mindset and his commitment to practice that made him one of the best basketball players of all time.

I'm concerned with how many in sales struggle so much with practice. I'm concerned how many sales managers fail miserably at holding their team accountable to practice.

Why has PRACTICE become a nasty eight letter word?
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What are you doing to become the best you can be? In sales, you don't have the luxury of an off-season to condition your mind or body. You don't have 3 months off to prepare for the season long grind.

CONSISTENT PRACTICE

Consistency, this separates elite athletes from good athletes. The ability to go out there, day in and day out, week in and week out, month in and month out for years is simply incredible.

The same can be said for top sales professionals versus average sales reps.

  • Consistent practice
  • Consistent planning
  • Consistent prospecting
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What makes elite athletes and top sales professionals so consistent?

It's methodical preparation in every aspect of what they do including physical conditioning, practice, technique, tactics, mental aspects, nutrition, sleep, and on-going learning.

Consistently great performances comes from consistency in practice.

Unfortunately, I see a disconnect between elite athletes and those in sales. Elite athletes have great coaches. Can the same be said for sales people?

How many sales can honestly say their managers make great coaches?

PRACTICE HAVING A GROWTH MINDSET

If you aren't willing to help yourself and practice then how can you help your clients do better business?

LEAVE YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR

Many of you are portrayed as egomaniacs with a “do whatever it takes to close the deal” mentality and "I'm above this thing called practice." There's always some truth to stereotypes.

Ego can also hinder one from sales growth.

In today’s highly connected, digitally driven and socially empowered business world; highly assertive, a know-it-all mentality combined with super-charged egos will be the kiss of sales death.

“A huge ego is a sales growth buzz-kill”

Top performing sales professionals, the true superstars – sell from the heart, are the open-minded, curious, collaborative, vulnerable, open to learning and practice. These sales professionals have humility and operate without any deception whatsoever. This is a direct conflict to the behavior of ego-driven salespeople.

PRACTICE BECOMING BETTER LISTENERS

Seeking to understand goes a long way. Too many of you listen just long enough to spew out crapola. Listen with intent to understand and learn. Practice at genuinely being interested in helping your clients for their reasons not yours.

  • Listen for clues and look out for problems affecting their business
  • How could you fix these problems?
  • What potential implications could this have to them?
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PRACTICE BECOMING BETTER AT PROSPECTING

Point blank... how can you call yourself a sales professional when many of you simply believe prospecting is beneath you? This blows my freaking mind.

I get it. Prospecting is a challenge. Many of you aren’t very good at it. Why? Because you haven’t cultivated the right habits and you've failed to practice.

"Sales reps have hypnotized themselves into believing what they aren't doing doesn't work"

It deeply saddens me that most sales reps lack the fundamental skills necessary around practice and prospecting.

Ask a sales rep the hardest part of their job and if they're honest they'll will utter the word, PROSPECTING.

If one fails to practice at the single most important aspect of their job then how can one achieve a consistent level of success?
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A true professional continually practices the art of prospecting as they keep their sales and relationship funnel full of opportunities. They divide their time between selling, prospecting and taking care of their clients. Those professionals who crush their quotas are fully dedicated to prospecting. The primary differentiator of today’s successful sales reps is their ability to prospect.

PRACTICE, THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS

Elite athletes and sales professionals who achieve extraordinary results put in more hours of practice than the average. While their performances, outcomes and what they do are remarkable, there's no mystery how this was developed. They practiced beyond the average ordinary individual.

If you want to reach the next level in your sales career, it’s imperative you spend more time preparing and more time practicing. It’s foolish to say it is all about working smarter, not harder. If you really want to win in sales, you have to work harder and smarter.

Don't be an Allen Iverson!

I understand and I get it. I get where you all are coming from. Every day, I walk in your shoes. I'm fully committed to helping your sales team integrate social aspects through the eyes of a practitioner into your current sales process to grow new business. I want you to get results. This is why I am passionate about doing this the right way, the genuine way, the authentic way! It's about understanding value before visibility.

Selling From the Heart is making a difference! I poured my heart into every page of this book and I think you're going to love it. You can find it on Amazon in paperback and Kindle. You can click on the book image below and this will take you to Amazon.

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I encourage you to find out more about Selling From The Heart.

In a world full of empty suits, I'm passionate about helping sales reps succeed by getting valuable before they get visible. I help sales teams understand the true value they bring to the market. 

I appreciate getting the opportunity to share my stories. Integrating the use of social and sharing my story on LinkedIn was my “game-changer” in the highly competitive office technology world. With great pride I transform, challenge, coach and inspire sales teams to grow new business by helping them share their story and how they communicate it out by integrating the use of social inside the sales process. You can follow me on LinkedInTwitter and on my podcast by clicking on Selling from the Heart.

 
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