In this episode, Founder Frank G. Cannata sits down with longtime friend Barry Simon, president of Datamax Arkansas. We reported in January that Simon would be retiring, and he offers some pre-departure advice to fellow dealer owners in their quest to improve profitability. Cannata asks Simon how he handles the persistent challenge of hiring and retention, which a preponderance number of participants cited in The Cannata Report’s 40th Annual Dealer Survey last year. Simon says “culture trumps everything” when it comes to recruiting, hiring, and keeping employees. Their reasons for choosing and staying at your dealership go far beyond monetary compensation, he adds, asking a simple question: “Are they happy working for you?”
Datamax focuses on first-time accounts
Cannata inquires about sustaining business amid more A4 MFPs and declining printed page counts, and Simon emphasizes the importance of acquiring net-new accounts. Getting deeper and wider into those new customers’ businesses requires a diversified product and service portfolio that, for Datamax, now includes cybersecurity, managed services, and phone services. Dealerships can’t neglect their existing accounts, Simon warns. The keys to success are finding out what else they need, he shares.
