80 Years and Still Going Strong
An eighty-year commitment is nothing to scoff at these days. So, when Joel Wynne, senior marketing manager for Wilmer, Dayton, Ohio, reported that 2006 is the 80th anniversary for the business forms manufacturer, the news was received with much regard, and BFL&S wanted to know more.
According to Wynne, Wilmer first opened its doors in 1926, then servicing the industry by manufacturing what would now be considered antiquated manual business forms. Ever since, the company evolved to meet industry demands and now offers a wide-array of forms products including pressure-seal mailers and related folding/sealing equipment, healthcare claim forms, filing products, security deposit bags, presentation folders, integrated products, three-on-a-page checks, software-compatible checks and forms and one-write pegboard systems.
Road to Success
What did it take to endure in this business over so many years? Wynne attributed Wilmer’s longevity to its ability to adapt to change and to its willingness to develop steadfast ties with distributors and end-users. He said Wilmer developed a niche in the small- to medium-size business markets and has come to understand them better than less experienced manufacturers.
Another key component to Wilmer’s longevity is the experience of its people. Doug Apple, director and general manager of Wilmer, stated, “The average tenure of the Wilmer employee is more than 15 years. This gives Wilmer unparalleled experience in sales, customer service, marketing and manufacturing. We also employ more than 20 inside customer service people to assist with questions related to pricing, security features and/or rushing orders through the plant, as well as 10 sales representatives working in the field with distributors.”
Such tandem operations would occur in cases where pressure-seal documents and equipment would be sold, during which time, said Wynne, a Wilmer representative would demonstrate how a pressure-sealer machine operates to the end-user.
“We will help sell in this situation because it is more difficult than taking a stock envelope order, for example,” said Wynne. “If a distributor is not familiar with the machine or process, the Wilmer sales person is there to help.”
