Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D

"LeLu" makes a return..sorta.

Matrix meets Zombies meets 3D - all in L.A.

Enjoy.

New York Times Article Answers Lots of Hurd Questions

I was going to follow this one pretty heavily.

No doubt, in our industry, this little shake up is rivaled only by the RiKon merger in news worthiness - if not gossip value.

But soon after the separation, more and more information hit the 'net, that gave me pause.

And when phrases like, "nude pics" and "erotic film star" started to show up, well, I just decided to let the story ride, without much comment - you can not make this stuff up!

Printers not sexxy? Bravo Sierra!

From the article by Ashlee Vance, with the New York Times,

"...The company has uncovered communications between Mr. Hurd and Jodie Fisher, the occasional H.P. contractor who accused him of sexual harassment, that seemed cordial, even after a last meeting in a hotel room in Boise, Idaho, a person with knowledge of Mr. Hurd’s e-mails said...

Are You Selling Managed Print Services: One Print Solutions

August, 2010.

Over the past year, I have reviewed just about every MPS program out here - either for my own little practice or for articles and organizations.

I have seen them all.

Some are better, but all are good.

The one common theme I keep running into is this: we are all making this up as we go.

There are no standard processes, no benchmarks and no matter what any training or consultation firm tells you, we have never done this before, this is all new and there are no clear cut leaders.

No proven methods, only suggestions.

There is no easy way, or well defined proven path to MPS nirvana - yet.

Dynamic times like these are uncommon and we who are in them are lucky to be here, in this time. You see, there is no spoon, there are no rules...we can make them up.


Now, more than ever, we can determine our destiny.


Speaking of dynamic times, have you noticed all the Self Help programs coming out lately? Have you seen the late night commercials pitching, get rich quick, "like me" schemes.

Seen all those Scientology ads? And those new Amway Global commercials?

How about the reprise of one of the greatest motivators ever, Tony Robbins?

He's got his own show now!

Tony's good. But when it gets right down to it, everything is up to you and always has been.

Check this out, I met this guy, Gary a bit back. Now I had heard of Gary before he reached out to me, so I knew he had some sorta wiz-bang thing in MPS.

A "new" program. Yeah, right...they're all new.

What impressed me was the "every MPS Sales Person a Tiger" mentality inherent in his system.

In a nutshell, Gary can provide all the infrastructure a typical, MPS practice needs - more accurately, all the infrastructure an atypical MPS Selling Individual requires.

Think about that for a second.

Do you hate training the newest sales manager?

Has your MPS compensation plan structure changed over the past 8 months?

Do you still hear the old argument "MPS is just like color was..." knowing that it isn't?

How are all those MPS training classes working?

If you are in the trenches, you're doing assessments, cold calling, working leases up, perhaps calling in some EDM specialists (each one adds 30 days to your cycle), managing your funnel, AND meeting a hardware quota - is that really MPS? Should a hardware quota REALLY be part of an MPS compensation plan? Really?

And what of the mythical 50% GP on MPS engagements? The dealership is not getting 50% on hardware, the dealership still has the same amount of service technicians, meter reads and invoices going out each month.

Why should your MPS profit margin CARRY the lower margin equipment sales?

For the back-end rebates?

The One Print Solution offers up all the backroom infrastructure.

It is scalable and the system is designed to work with selling professionals who can pull MPS engagements together - all the sales, analysis and presentation - and shift the support to a third party. Splitting the profit.

No inventory
No service overhead
No admin overhead
No H/R

Here is just a taste of the services provided:

Sales Tools & Training

-Comprehensive Training Program
-Sales Leadership and Mentoring
-Formulated and Branded Marketing materials
-Deal Crafting Services
-Blending and Deal Scenario Tools
-Great America Leasing
-All Deal Docs

Infrastructure

-Contract management
-Creation and document package review
-Monthly base and Overage billing
-Device Administration
-Leasing Documentation, Approval and Administration
-Accounts Receivable and Cash management/Funding
-Vendor and Accounts Payable Management
-Full Account Management
-All other activities as solution requires/Full Back end Support

Do not get me wrong - this NOT for everybody.

This is a very big step and all angles must be considered.

Go on over to the site and look for some more information here on DOTC.


Update, 2016.

Click to email me.

Are you Selling Managed Print Services? Are you Good at It? Have I got an Idea for You; If You're Tuff Enuf

August, 2010

MPS is driving in all sorts of different directions and forcing everybody into making choices.

Not just Fortune 500, multi-national copier manufacturers, but the independent, local copier dealers, too.

And there is more - I am a big believer in the unique problem solving skills and sheer resilience of good, professional sellers.

Today, if you are selling in the MPS niche, you've already made some choices about your future.

How's all that working out for you?

Do you have a Manager? Is he a Managed Print Services Manager/Director?

Do you attend Monday morning Sales meetings? How about Friday at 4:00PM Sales meetings?

Let me ask you this, do you know more about MPS than you manager, VP of Sales or dealership owner?

How do you like your General Manager or Vice President riding with you on sales calls?

Funnel Planning, anyone?
Strategic Account Planning?

Are you successfully selling MPS? How much you bringing into the “house”?

Here’s the situation and this is not for everyone.

The MPS model is rife with alternatives – most set up for the dealership – I see no programs designed specifically for the Professional Managed Print Services Selling Individual. And MPS Training is not what I am referring to.

MPS is the “Wild, Wild, West” – we are all making this up as we go. There are no standards, little benchmarks, no well worn path. Times are perfect for the rugged individual; the self-assured, knowledgeable, MPS Selling Professional.

Could this be you?

Is this you?

How would you like to make ALL THE PROFIT on your MPS engagements?

Intrigued?

Email me.

Are you tough enough?

Click to email me.

Friday is Fun Day - IOWA Gurls - O M G

So...yeah...right...ok...

A few Friday's back, I splashed the blog with Katy Perry's "California Gurls" - an obvious shout out to the girls on my side of the world, the Best Coast.

Soon after, a reader "hipped" me to this little ditty.

You have got to love any video with the line, "...boys baling hay make me wanna act so naughty..." WTF?

In the Katy Perry vid, the dozen or so times I viewed her syrupy montage, I could not find ANY connection to MPS, copiers, printers or toner - I tried, I really did.

But this time we have a connection: Great America Leasing.

That's right. The creator of the Navigator program that "includes the process to plan, implement and grow a dealer’s business with MPS..." is headquarted in...Iowa! Schwing!!

Yup. They are.

Well, let's take I-80 West and see what Iowa has to compete with my golden beaches...

Enjoy.

HP Does Disney: Managed Print Services Program reduces the number of devices by 59%

But Wait. How many of us will get the chance to land an account the size of Disney?

You may ask, "Why does something big HP does, have anything to do with me, the small, independent MPS provider?"

And you may ask yourself, "..how can I possibly provide all the services HP can?"

You may ask yourself, how do I work this?

You may ask yourself, where does this highway lead to?

You may ask yourself, am I right, am I wrong?

You may ask yourself, my god, what have I done?

The answer, "Same as it ever was..."