New Revenue Sources Ideas from dealers during the COVID-19 pandemic

New Revenue Sources

Ideas from dealers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Following is another of the questions submitted by a dealer member as part of BTA’s COVID-19 Dealers Helping Dealers resource, and several of the answers received. These answers and the answers to many other questions can be found in the members-only section of the BTA website. Visit www.bta.org/COVID-19. You will need your username and password to access this member resource.

What are some ideas for generating new sources of revenue during the pandemic?

“Document management software, IT support, picking up service for other brands (HP, Brother, Lexmark, MBM) and production print.”

Thomas Fimian, CEO Docugraphics LLC, Charleston, South Carolina

Compiled by: Brent Hoskins, Office Technology Magazine

are reviewing all leases and are considering signing lease extensions now before the leases are due. We are considering products related to the sign of the times and the future of work over the next six months.”

Ian Nash, vice president A.F. Smith, Hamilton, Bermuda

“We are creating remote workforce bundles. As it winds down, we’ll be creating back-to-work bundles. We have added emphasis on our additional products.”

Michael Ardry, executive vice president Automated Business Solutions, Warwick, Rhode Island

“We are seeing a pickup in managed IT services and AV [audio visual]. Both areas are growing during this period.”

Hunter McCarty, executive vice president RJ Young Co., Nashville, Tennessee

“Since we sell office supplies and jan san [janitorial supplies], we are selling what we can get in the jan san market.”

John Ney, owner Lake Area Office Products, Lake Charles, Louisiana

“We have focused on promoting products for folks who are working from home or have kids at home. We are running specials on chairs and have increased inventory of laser and inkjet cartridges and SOHO printers and MFPs. We also sell computers and a variety of peripherals.”

Steven McMahan, president Central Office Service & Supply, Clay Center, Kansas

“We are offering short-term rentals for our customers working from home.”

George Peckham, president Office Systems of Texas, Houston, Texas

“We are doing mass emails concerning refurbished equipment, much like we did during the recession.”

Daniel Bombard, CEO Yuma Office Equipment, Yuma, Arizona

“It may not be any that are new, but we are doing MPS studies and helping organizations better manage print and print-related expenses.”

Mike Steinhoff, president Rhyme, Portage, Wisconsin

“We have thought more about renting used equipment because of the uncertainty. We always try to sell more lines of business to our current clients.”

Robert Siemon, president HGi Technologies, Miami Gardens, Florida

“We are working on maintenance contracts that we might not have. We are also working on additional offerings in maintenance; extra supplies that we don’t sell to all our customers.”

Tim Jett, owner Jett Business Systems, Shreveport, Louisiana

Do you have a question for your fellow dealers? If so, email it to brent@bta.org with the subject line: “Dealers Helping Dealers.” BTA will then share your question with the full dealer membership with a request for guidance from your fellow dealers. n

Brent Hoskins, executive director of the Business Technology

Association, is editor of Office Technology magazine. He can be reached at brent@bta.org or (816) 303-4040.