Paul Thomas at Superior Document Solutions

Do you really need 11: x 17" printing?

A3 vs. A4 Printers - What's the Difference? Multifunctional devices and printers are essential tools for professional use, allowing us to bring digital content into the physical realm. But when it

Sharp Receives Four Frank Awards at The Cannata Report's Annual Imaging Industry Event Four Years as Best Manufacturer and for CEO Mike Marusic as Best Male Executive, the Third Year as Best-in-Class and the Second Year as Best Marketing

How to Find the Right Multifunction Printer for Your Business or Organization When shopping for a new copier or multifunction printer (MFP), things can get tricky. When you look at the specification sheets of similar devices from

https://business.sharpusa.com/simply-smarter-blog/3-key-ways-small-businesses-can-mitigate-cyber-attacks

3 Key Ways Small Businesses Can Mitigate Cyber Attacks Over the past few years, several factors have exposed vulnerabilities and gaps in security for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). From high-impact security breaches such as SolarWinds, to the increase in remote work, to the current Russia-Ukraine war – businesses across the globe have their...

All you know is you need a copier. Your old one Is dying a slow death, and the technician seems clueless. The choices seem endless. But a little preplanning can simplify the process. Here are a few things to think about.
1. Features. In the industry, we call them “Feeds and Speeds”. Things to consider:
• Print speeds (copiers print at varying speeds, measured in pages per minute or ppm)
• The friendliness of the user display, and whether you need a pull-out keyboard
• If you need a media or USB port to print on the go
• Access to cloud files and integration with software that is important to your business
• Scan capabilities – Scan to email, files, etc.?
• Finishing options (booklet-making, stapling, etc.)
2. Security. If you think about it, your office copier is connected to your Wi-Fi and your emails, which are basically the keys to the kingdom. So consider:
• built-in, multi-layered security with encryption
• Control over user activity
• Security measures enabled to ensure information is irretrievable by unauthorized users
• A feature to erase data at the end of use
3. Mobile Print, Copy and Scan-Most copiers today offer the capability to print, copy and scan from your phone.
4. Supplies and Service.
• If you’re the type of person that waits for the illumination of the gas or check engine light in your car, you need to look for a copier provider that offers automatic replenishment and/or service monitoring. Doing so will ensure that you never run out of supplies, your machine is always up and running and you know your costs upfront.
5. Do what you do best, and let Superior Document Solutions’ help with what we do best.
In Atlanta: (770) 446-5325
In Macon: (478)335-3324

Call us...if Retail is your best bet, we'll tell you. But if you already have office copiers at work, adding a desktop unit from your dealer brings many benefits.

Where to Purchase Print Hardware for the Home Workforce – Retail Store or Dealership? The shift to a work-from-home (WFH) model, thought to be merely a stopgap measure back in the spring of 2020, is starting to look more and more permanent, requiring many businesses to make long-term decisions on how best to equip home workers with the tools and hardware needed to do their jobs. Some...

We are seeing this locally, as well as nationally.

Xerox Revenue Continues Slide, Sales Down, $422m Backlog Crushes Earnings Xerox earnings are out and the bad news continues as a $425 million backlog in orders adds to the company’s woes. Even though print volumes were finally

Why Purchasing Through Cooperative Contracts is Simply Smarter   Today’s government marketplace has changed.  Budgets are constrained and staffing is reduced.  To fill this void, government, education, and nonprofit organizations are turning to cooperative purchasing to obtain the goods and services they need without the hassle and aggravation of sending p...

Headline: "Toshiba faces unclear future..."
some analysts said they expect sales of some assets such as Toshiba Tec, which makes point-of-sale systems and copiers.

A log, but imformative article. Increase productivity, save money and preserve I.T. sanity with Managed Print.

Why Invest in Managed Print Services? Organizations strive to reduce expenses and increase efficiency, but one area that is often overlooked is their print environment. According to Small Business Trends, 64% of small businesses can't track printer usage or cost. Managing a fleet of printers can require a significant amount of work, esp...

Proud to be affiliated with Konica Minolta!

Konica Minolta Group’s Response to Ukraine Crisis Tokyo (March 16, 2022) - The Konica Minolta Group expresses its deep condolences to the victims under the recent worsening situation of the invasion in

Is Xerox Selling Defective Printers? New Class Action Lawsuit Says Yes The following appears on topclassactions.com By Abraham Jewett - Xerox Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells certain Versant digital presses that

https://www.crn.com/news/channel-programs/xerox-president-there-s-a-300m-backlog-we-can-t-ship-because-of-product-shortages #.YiIIYK9DrCk.link

Xerox President: There’s A $300M Backlog We Can’t Ship Because Of Product Shortages Xerox CEO John Visentin believes supply chain shortages will start to ease up in the second half of 2022.

LONG BUT TIMELY
Copier companies have faced a number of issues when it comes to successfully keeping equipment and supplies available within local dealers. Toner and machine shortages have led to headaches for organizations relying on these products to operate their day-to-day.
One particular issue has been the absence of microchips that are used for a number of processes. These particular microchips are used within multifunction-printers (aka copiers) within their hard drive or accessories. Sharp, for example, has met this challenge by removing the chips needed for optional, seldom-used accessories.
Working with a local copier dealer can create advantages for you because they are not confined to carry a single brand; giving you options. Superior Document Solutions carries multiple brands, allowing them to take advantage of brands that are handling the shortage better than others.
Superior Document Solutions also has the luxury of an onsite warehouse and keeps their supplies stocked as they become available. This is an advantage for their customers, because it increases the chance that they will have the supplies and machines necessary to keep their organization's print demands satisfied.
Like supplies, the quality of the service you're offered will have a dramatic impact on your overall satisfaction and machine performance.
Most multifunction-printers have similar performance abilities, but even if your machine is 99% reliable, but it takes you days to get it running again, that reliability means nothing.
The pandemic has had a dramatic impact on staffing within copier dealers, especially the large manufacturer direct operations. As business declined, they have had to cut back on the number of service and administrative personnel.
Delays in getting your devices up and running can occur thanks to a variety of reasons:
• Overwhelmed or inefficient call center
• Reduced administrative staff resulting in delayed or incorrect invoicing
• Anemic service staff that may be struggling with demand
• An inefficient system of getting parts to service technicians when they need parts that are not immediately available on-site
Superior Document Solutions has maintained a full staff. In fact, we are adding technicians as our expansion has required that we do so. Flexibility is the key to success in any business, and we have prospered and grown by remaining flexible in meeting our customers’ demands. We are here to assist you with your office equipment requirements.

https://www.industryanalysts.com/011322_sharp/?fbclid=IwAR1UStSqxwl8luhlLQiIX4shoMDDTRhqbBNCZhP6nrgTXEafn-9jsWTqVXA

5 Ways to Improve Company Culture in the Hybrid Workplace According to a recent study, only 29% of surveyed employees want to be back in the office full-time, and 56% would quit or look for a new job that offers

With two 20-something daughters, both college graduates, I have come to know many millennials. Our personal family experience illustrates two extremes of the education/career experience. One daughter went immediately into her “Field of Dreams”, the career she was educated for, and is enjoying great success doing what she loves. The other daughter discovered that being laid off due to the pandemic was a blessing in disguise. It gave her a chance to be exposed to a different and more satisfying career in nursing, which she is now pursuing. If you are considering a career in sales, know that regardless of your major, your college experience is valuable and beneficial. Sales requires skills that you have learned that are transferable in the workplace, such as: time management, problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and more. A career in Technology Sales can be both financially rewarding and intellectually challenging, but maybe most importantly…personally satisfying. Call me…let’s talk. I can give you the opportunity, what you do with it is up to you. 478-335-3324

Hmmm...doesn't give you a warm and fuzzy feeling driving on the Interstate surrounded by 18-wheelers, does it?

Lack of drivers hamstringing supply chain recovery Federal regulators have vastly improved the ability to keep unsafe drivers off the road but the trucking industry is scrambling to make up the shortfall.

Reason #2 to do business with local, independently owned companies. When you support that local business, you are supporting your friends, family, and neighbors. These business owners are the people that you smile at while grocery shopping, play with in local community sports events, and wave a hello when going to get the mail. The local business that you support will help contribute to their livelihood in the community, as they in turn help improve your livelihood by offering high-quality products and services that you desire.

At Superior Document Solutions, we understand that you have choices. We know that there are other companies knocking on your door that sell products similar to ours. Sometimes (not often), they may even offer a better price. But always try to balance that fleeting moment of satisfaction on the "best price" vs. the long-term misery of lousy service. We believe in local businesses. So for the next week, I will be posting short tips and reasons why I think you should shop local.
The Benefits of Doing Business with Local Businesses versus Multinational Corporations:
1. Keeps Money in the Local Economy
Doing business with local companies will ensure the money stays in the local economy. This leads to shared prosperity in the community and increases the tax revenue of the city or town. With more taxes, the city can provide better services to its citizens. The city can also invest the money to improve the quality of life of people and develop community spaces for a greater sense of identity.

If your business is operating in a hybrid mode, you should read this.

Why Managing Your Printers is More Important than Ever in a Hybrid Workplace Despite all the talk of the paperless office, over the past decade even more businesses have become aware of the benefits a managed print services (MPS) program can deliver. Printing remains essential, with almost half of companies surveyed telling Quocirca print will continue to be important throug...

I can save you $$$ in the office and it won't cost you a dime for me to show you how.

Nine out of ten companies don’t track their printing costs. NINE OUT OF TEN. It makes sense, then, that those printing costs represent the largest under-reported expense businesses have. It’s not until an analysis is conducted that many realize just how much of their annual spend (about 15%) has gone towards their copiers and printers. Additionally, without a managed print service in place, it’s likely they’ve experienced operational downtime due to equipment issues and supply shortages.

Ask your I.T. folks what is their biggest pain and wasted time. I'll bet it is printer issues. That's $$$.
Do you have different Brands/models of print equipment? That's $$$.
Supplies and service are handled by various vendors? That's $$$,
Equipment is bought through various dealers/stores? That's $$$.
Charges for equipment, supply, labor, and IT support are on multiple invoices? That's $$$.
Supply shelves full of toner for printers you don't have anymore? You guessed it: That's $$$.

I promise we can get a handle on this for you. Send me an email at [email protected] and I'll show you how it's done. Won't cost you a dime.

"When you have dozens of copiers and printers as we do, it is critical that all aspects of the relationship work well. Regardless of our requests, your administrative department, your service department, and your after-the-sale support from sales has been above and beyond."
Kelly

"After working with several national vendor it is a relief not to be lost in the clutter. As we have always known, what matters most is the support after the sale and Superior has proven to be the best we have seen in over a decade."
Mark

"Superior not only worked hard to win our business several years ago, but they continue to offer great service and work hard to maintain our business by providing excellent customer service and aggressive pricing."
Paul

"When I have contacted you, personally, you get back to me quickly with a resolution or with the information I need on the same day – just as you did before you made the sale. Thank you for being there for us after the sale."
Richard

"Great Service! Helped us from the beginning to end with all of our technology transition. Thanks again!"
Ben

This is a long-winded “Help Wanted” ad.
During my career in sales, I have been National Sales Manager of two large national companies. I have also turned down a Sales Management position because I learned I was happiest and could make more money by being responsible only for my own sales success. I am now at the point where I look forward to mentoring others and helping them reach the success that I have enjoyed. I am looking to add 2 sales associates to our team at Superior-Middle Georgia. Please read this post, and if you are curious, or know someone else who may be, IM me on this Facebook or email me at [email protected].

When choosing or making a career change, you first want to make sure that it will be in demand, both now and in the future. So, is sales that career? Absolutely! The products sold may change as technology continues to improve our lives, but the need to have someone sell them won’t.

Not only are qualified salespeople always in demand in the marketplace, regardless of economic conditions, but they earn an above-average income as well. Salespeople consistently earn well above the average for their age group and education level. The main reason is that people who earn their living in sales are truly compensated on their performance. They earn above-average incomes because they are in charge of their own destinies. When everyone else is locked in to a 1% or 2% cost-of-living wage increase, salespeople can go out and write their own paychecks!

However, I should tell you that sales is not for everyone. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Research tells us that 1 out of 4 people can excel in sales. How do you know if you could be that one out of four?
Generally, if you’ve got what it takes to succeed in sales, you:
• Like the idea of being your own boss
• Are willing to take control of your life
• Are excited at the idea of financial freedom
• Have the self-discipline to work on your own to achieve your goals
• Are a relationship builder who enjoys helping your customers win
Successful salespeople are not born with the skills they need to succeed. Successful salespeople are trained for their trade, just like every other profession. We have training programs in place, and I will be available to assist you on appointments with potential customers.

I often remind myself that if I am doing a good job, I will sell the first copier to that customer from Superior, but it will be my service and administrative team members that will be responsible for subsequent sales down the road. Superior has that team.

Think it over, and let me know if you are interested.

About Me
My first position in this industry was as Major Account Manager at Georgia Duplicating Products. Twenty -Five years later, I decided to open my own Konica Minolta dealership, partnered with Randy Smith at Micro Technology Consultants. After 3 successful years, I required serious heart surgery, and the decision was made to sell the dealership.

We sold to Federalgraphics, where I once again assumed responsibility for Major Accounts. When Federalgraphics sold to Sharp Business Systems, I stayed on until the opportunity to retire came in October 2020.

Jackson Henderson and I have known each other for at least 20 years, and the opportunity for us to join forces was presented. Jackson’s business philosophy of “customers first” aligns perfectly with mine, and I couldn’t be more excited about our prospects as we bring our brand of “Superior Service” to Macon and Middle Georgia.

Of all the successes that I have enjoyed in Macon, my greatest accomplishment was marrying my bride of 36 years, Juleen Johnston Thomas, and raising our two beautiful daughters, Kelly Thomas Malone and Kate Thomas. Macon is a beautiful city, with a unique blend of history and soul, filled with vibrant, growing businesses. I can’t think of a better place to raise a family and do business.

Office copier too big, but Desktop models too small?
When shopping for a new multifunction printer all the choices can be overwhelming. The technical terms involved with the buying process can make it confusing. When you see A3 or A4, that refers to the paper sizes the printer is meant to handle.
An A3 printer, copier, or MFP is designed to handle letter, legal, ledger and some smaller sizes like postcards & envelopes.
An A4 printer, copier, or MFP is smaller and more compact. It is designed to handle letter & legal, but not ledger sized paper. An A4 machine will also typically handle some smaller sizes like postcards and envelopes.

Many offices use only letter and legal sized paper. However some offices use the larger ledger size for engineering documents, making booklets, menus, and design layouts. Ledger size paper is the same size as two letter sized pages put together. This makes booklet making easy by simply folding the paper in half. Also because of the large size it is useful for enlarging engineering diagrams to a readable size. Ledger is also great for printing large spreadsheets on. It’s much easier to read a spreadsheet printed on ledger sized paper than reducing the font to mice type to fit on letter sized paper.

The Size Difference Between A3 and A4 machines
Since an A4 machine is designed to work with A4, letter, legal and smaller paper sizes it has smaller internal components. This allows for a more compact design which results in a machine that takes up less space than the larger A3 machine. And that’s a great feature for small offices. On the other hand, an A3 machine is designed to work with the larger A3, ledger sized paper and has larger more durable internal components. This results in a larger frame and it will require more space than an A4 machine.

Available Options On A3 and A4 machines. The smaller and lighter A4 machines generally have only light duty options available. For example, if the machine has a stapler option it may be limited to stapling only 20 pages at a time. There might not even be a large capacity tray, folder, 3-hole punch, or finisher available for the machine.If you require equipment options such as large capacity trays, 3-hole punching, folding, finishing, or stapling 50 or more sheets at a time than you will likely need a a full size A3 machine to handle these tasks.

Cost difference between A3 and A4 machines.The larger more robustly designed A3 machine will cost more in terms of equipment costs. And the A4 machines with their smaller lighter frames and lower yielding internal components will cost less in terms of equipment costs.
But equipment costs are not the only thing you should be keeping an eye on. You should also be paying close attention to how much it will cost to use the machine. Service and supplies are not cheap. Service and supply costs are generally higher on A4 machines. This is because the A4 machine has consumable items that are light duty and do not have high page yields. In addition, many of the internal units are disposable and are not designed to be repaired or maintained. So while the A4 machine costs less, they typically cost more to use on a per page basis than the larger A3 machine.

Volume. You’re monthly printing/copying volume will be the key to determining which machine is most cost effective for your office. If you’re only running 1000-4000 pages a month then even with higher per page costs the A4 will usually be the most cost effective. If you’re monthly printing/copying volume is above 4500 pages a month an A3 machine mightbe a better fit.
Summary. A4 machines are a great option for small offices or work-groups that don’t have rigorous requirements or high copying/printing volumes. A3 machines are the workhorses that are built to handle demanding jobs and higher printing/copying volumes.
Confused? Don’t be. The secret to Superior’s long term success is that we are experts at helping you select the right copier/printer to meet your needs at the right price point. Typically, we can save our customers 20% while introducing new solutions that make document handling easier. Feel free to contact me. In just a few minutes I can let you know if you can realize these same savings.

1982, Jackson Henderson founded Superior Photocopy Co. of Atlanta. His vision was to give his customers the best service possible. We have evolved during our 40 years of business and our name has evolved to reflect the change in technology and the needs of our customers. In 2003 we became Superior Document Solutions and embraced the expanding capabilities of imaging technology and the way in which businesses could leverage the new capabilities. Since then, we have grown to over 50 employees, and we service more than 9,500 units in the field. We are proudest of the fact that many of our largest customers have been with us for 25+ years, in spite of the intense competition in the Atlanta market.
In this age of mergers and buyouts, Superior Document Solutions continues to be the largest locally owned and operated company of its kind in the Atlanta area.
Since our beginning in 1982 our reputation for quality equipment and guaranteed service has been second to none. Backed by a five year fix-or- replace policy, the fastest response times, and a dedicated team of professionals, you can see why our motto is:
“Our Service Makes Us Superior”

Working Hybrid? Here are some tips from Konica Minolta.

What Does Hybrid Working Mean For Your Business | Konica Minolta Here are some practical tips on how to approach Hybrid working, and what tools you need to make it work!

The Reemergence of the Independent Dealers
As a 38 year veteran of this industry I have seen many trends come and go, and we are in the midst of a changing trend as I write this. Beginning in the ‘80s, we had the emergence of the “mega dealer” such as IKON and Global buying up Independent office equipment dealers to form very large, very powerful nationwide distributors. Many Independent dealers took advantage of this and cashed out. Some however, stayed independent and continued to grow their business from within.
Initially, the Mega Dealers did well, as long as they left their acquisitions under local control. Soon enough, though, they thought they could be more profitable by standardizing and unifying administrative and accounting tasks under one large, unwieldy model. Local controls gave way to Corporate structure, and with it went the local Customer Service that had made them successful.
Regardless, the equipment manufacturers saw these Mega Dealers as too powerful and deemed them to be a threat. The result was the emergence of the Manufacturer Direct sales operations. Initially only in the largest cities, Manufacturers opened up Branch offices, and began competing with the Independent Dealers who had contributed so much to their success. Eventually, they bought out the Mega Dealers, as IKON became Ricoh and Global sold to Xerox.
The manufacturers forgot what they do best. They design, engineer and build office equipment. They then distribute those products. Independent, locally owned businesses are best suited to bring those products to the local customers who will be using those products. Local dealers know the customers, they are staffed by local people, and they contribute to the communities in which they do business. They have policies and systems in place that are suited and designed for business-to-business.
One by one, the manufacturers are reaching the conclusion that their corporate model is not working. They simply cannot provide accurate invoicing, supply replenishment, and other aspects of customer service that customers were accustomed to with Independents. Ricoh was the first, handing off all but their largest customers, back to Independents. Others are quickly following suit. Our industry is returning to what it should have been all along…a network of Independent, locally owned businesses with the proper systems, flexible policies and knowledgeable, dedicated people to bring quality products to our local customer base.

Chips, Ships, and Office Technology Tips: Why Your Copier's Delivery is Delayed In a situation like today — where the entire system, from manufacturing raw products, to shipping to the consumer is delayed — there is very little ability for Just In Time shipping to catch up, or prevent itself from falling further behind.