When Benjamin Franklin coined the statement: "The only things certain in life are death and taxes," he should have added one additional certainty – change. He lived it in his day, and we see it in business every day. And, in the copier/printer businesses we see it perhaps more than the average industry.
The stories of how many of the copier companies got their starts are similar. They began in the mid-1950s when the industry was brand new, and entrepreneurial men with a vision started dealerships. Emery O. (E.O.) Johnson, founder of EO Johnson Business Technologies, did just that. He recognized the sales potential the new copy machines presented and sought out 3M to become a dealer. His business of selling, servicing, and supporting 3M copiers opened on May 1, 1957 in Wausau, WI.
The industry didn’t just move from selling copy machines to providing solutions utilizing sophisticated software and technologies. Since the 1960s, there has been a continuous evolution of products all driven by advances in technology and customer demand.
“In the earlier days the changes were more driven by technology advances,” said Mary Jo Johnson, CEO/Owner – EO Johnson Business Technologies (E.O.’s daughter and second generation business owner).
“We would get a new product from the manufactures and literally take it to businesses, showing it to them, demonstrating how it worked, and then take orders. And believe me, the orders came. It’s different today. Now we need to really know the customer, know what their business is, identify their needs, and then present the best solution to them. The orders still come, but the process is one of providing a solution to a business issue and not just selling a piece of hardware.”
And just what were some of those product innovations over the years?
“At the time, each of the products were true innovations,” Johnson said. “When my dad started selling overhead projectors and the accompanying curriculum sets for schools he tested them on me. The sets sold like crazy because they were huge innovations for schools at the time.”
From one hardware product in in the 1950s to a continuum of products and services, the industry today is focused on providing sophisticated technologies, software, and IT services. Business solutions tied to document and print management and a business’ network are where the industry is – powerful strategies that can help companies increase efficiencies and productivity as well as promote sustainable business practices.