Q: Are you feeling the benefits of
the improving economic outlook?
DominicO’Connor, Director,
ManagedTechnology:
“Absolutely.
Asmost of our business is transacted in
the South East,we feel fortunate to be
in a position to capitalise on the recent
increase of confidence in thismarketplace.
We have recently experienced amuch
higher conversion rate for new customer
proposals, especially over the last quarter.
I would add that existing clients aremuch
more open to exploring new technologies
and additional serviceswith us too.
“After speakingwith clients and
other business owners in our geographic,
we believe that this trendwill continue.
We also believe that business levelswill
continue to increase for the foreseeable
future aswe look to capitalise on this in
the coming years.”
Andrew Jones, Sales&Marketing
Director, 1st Office Equipment:
“Without doubt there is a general
increased confidence in themarket and
whilst all decisions are still based on
careful financial commitment and diligence,
we are seeingmore decisions beingmade
in quicker timescales than inQ4 of 2013,
and average order values have increased.”
JohnGripton,ManagingDirector,
COSNW:
“In the current economic
climate, as a supplier/reseller,we are
seeing increases in copy/print usage
through our client base. However, both
existing and new/proposed customers are
tentative about committing to long-term
three and five-year leases.”
GaryDowney,GroupMarketing
Director, Balreed:
“Since themiddle
of 2013we have seen a growing
appetite amongst clients to improve the
performance and capabilities they have in
their print and document infrastructure.”
Confidence returns
...businesses
are feeling
morepositive
and are now
prepared to
invest
invested tomeet demand.
“It’s essential to have the correct
resource to satisfy clients in both the early
engagement and implementation phases,
through to support.Whilst this can be
challenging, you have to be bold and take
that leap of faith!”
Matt Goodall, ServiceDirector,
Office Evolution:
“Without a doubt,
the confidencewe are seeing in the
marketplace shows a definite improvement.
Clients are looking to replace older
productswith new, rather than continuing
to run the older products in an effort to
retainmoney in the business.This has
shown itself as an increase in our first
quarter turnover of more than 30%.We
are now recruiting two new staff, having
taken on one new staff member already
this year.”
AllanDavies,ManagingDirector,
SBMDigital Systems:
“SinceOctober
of last year we have begun to see an
improvement in the economic outlook,
following a long period in recession,
whichmade things very difficult for all
organisations but in particular small
businesses like ourselves. I feel consumers
are definitely feelingmore comfortable
making investments for themselves and
their organisations,which in turn is
benefitting businesses like SBM.”
Wayne Jones, Director of Operations,
Office Equipment Systems Ltd:
“Slowly but surely, there is a feel good
factor creeping into the economy.Over 12
months agowewere getting one enquiry a
month,where a potential customer would
call regarding a potential upgrade of IT.
Now, 12months later,we are getting five
plus phone calls aweek.
“This is a true sign that businesses
are feelingmore positive and are now
prepared to invest.There is no doubt that
the benefits are being feltmonth-by-
month, as sales are increasing. Customers
themselves are feelingmore positive
and I’m sure their businesses are feeling
the benefits of the improved economic
climate.”
As theUK’s economic climate continues to improve,
Print IT Reseller
asks leading lights from the reseller channel for their thoughts on
how this is impacting the printmarket.
Mark Smyth,Operations Director,
Vision:
“We are really starting to see
the recession loosening its grip on client
reluctance to invest and spendmoney
onways andmeans to drive business
efficiency and help grow their business and
becomemore productive.
“As a net result we have seen increased
activity and spending from clients on
Vision’s key products and services that
specifically act as business enablers.
Many clients are now confidently
embarking on business projects to drive
efficiency.We are enjoyingmore and
more success in this area and have further
opinion
01732759725
Print.ITReseller
24
AllanDavies,ManagingDirector, SBMDigital Systems
Mark Smyth,Operations Director,Vision
