American Solutions for Business

Opportunities flourish in local retail establishments for a variety of products WHEN DISTRIBUTORS think of lucrative vertical markets, retailers are rarely the first to pop into their minds. Retail is often overlooked, even as it remains right under the proverbial nose of the distributor sniffing out new opportunities. Although consolidation has squeezed the middle out of the market, niches still abound for the perceptive distributor. "We produce a lot of retail signage," said Doug Marecek, sales manager for manufacturer Integrated Print & Graphics (IPG), South Elgin, Ill. One product that IPG sells, Teslin paper, which is "almost like plastic" and very durable, is

A challenging marketplace motivates and inspires this years' top three distributorships WorkflowOne's Five Keys to Success LED BY PRESIDENT Dave Holland—a 25-year industry veteran from the ranks of the major directs—Norfolk, Virginia-based WorkflowOne (formerly Workflow Solutions) has captured the top spot in BFL&S' distributor ranking this year. Holland attributes the company's success to a five-point strategic plan that WorkflowOne's management team developed after a thorough review of operations. "The first area we focused on is sales growth and retention, with a special emphasis on promotional items, commercial printing and print on demand. We have set up buying groups, both off shore and

Even small accounts can yield big gains for enterprising distributors. When targeting potential customers, distributors often think in terms of vertical markets, such as insurance, financial services and health-care. Within any vertical market, the biggest plums are presumed to be the larger businesses—corporations, hospitals and the like. But, don't overlook the smaller operations, such as individual storefront insurance agents, solo practitioners, and small group doctors' and lawyers' offices. Many distributors have profited by pursuing smaller professional office customers. For instance, when American Solutions for Business distributor Sherry Puckett Novelli, in Bowling Green, Ky., needed an orthodontist's services, she discovered that these specialists could give

The board of directors of the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) has named Larry A. Zavadil, founder and CEO of American Solutions for Business (ASB), Glenwood, Minn., as a recipient of the 2005 Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He will receive the award at a ceremony on May 14 at Ellis Island. Established in 1986 by NECO, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor pays tribute to the ancestry groups that comprise the United States' unique cultural mosaic. The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have both officially recognized the award, which ranks among the country's most prestigious. In addition, recipients are listed in

On May 1, the merger between American Solutions for Business (ASB), Glenwood, Minn., and Health Print, Amarillo, Texas became effective. Health Print was founded in 1988 by Charlie Graham as a health-care-focused distributorship and reports a sales volume of more than $8 million. "We welcome the Health Print personnel to the American team. The merger will make us stronger and give us a more significant presence in the industry," said Larry Zavadil, founder and president. "Adding the Health Print organization to American will increase our depth in the health-care market," added Craig McLain, COO. "Our status as an awarded supplier with Novation, coupled with

Manufacturers and distributors report on what's working, what's changing and what's in store for the future. End-users continue to demand the best for the least, as fast as possible, driving distributors and manufacturers to draw on their creativity and problem-solving skills to make it happen. Meanwhile, dynamics within the independent channel, as well as within the ranks of the major directs, are shifting, creating both opportunities to be explored and obstacles to be surmounted. Several manufacturers and distributors spoke with BFL&S about their products and services, relationships within the supply chain, the impact of the major directs and their outlook for the future.

American Solutions for Business (ASB), Glenwood, Minn., announced a 19 percent increase in net income (YTD), compared to this time last year, at its national sales conference held in Minneapolis earlier this month. In addition, the company experienced its largest billing months in its 24-year history during November and December 2004--reporting an increase of 4,600 invoices sent (YTD) over the same period the previous year. ASB is in its fifth year as an employee-owned company--the result of a decision by Founder and President Larry Zavadil to place the corporation into an Employee Stock Ownership Plan in 2000. Under the plan, which is

American Solutions for Business (ASB), Glenwood, Minn., recently completed its fourth year as an employee-owned company and has again reported a doubling in the company's share value. ASB has reported substantial increases in share value each year since the establishment of the ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) in 2000. Chief Operating Officer Craig McLain, said, "Fiscal year 2003/2004 was a very good year for us. Our ESOP share price increased 91 percent over the previous year--representing a four-year trend of double-digit growth in share value." McLain also said that Novation, one of the largest health-care group purchasing organizations in the world, has awarded ASB a

Economic and philosophical challenges are giving rise to X-treme distributorships. As Custom business solution aficionados, distributors are naturally going to devise unique strategies for growing their own companies. A few clearly dominant models have emerged. Among today's most influential organizations are the following: • American Solutions for Business, Glenwood, Minn.—Larry Zavadil, president • International Business Solutions Alliance (IBSA), Bowling Green, Ky.—Paul Keith, president, CEO • Proforma, Cleveland—Greg Muzzillo, founder, co-CEO Major Factors/Common Denominators With sales revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars, these organizations are unquestionably major companies. Each company's management team includes individuals who have prior experience working for the

Doors open wide for independent distributors probing this industry. To say that there have been a few changes within the independent channel in relation to the health-care industry would be a bit of an understatement. It is now well-known that in October of last year, American Solutions for Business, Glenwood, Minn., and International Business Solutions Alliance (IBSA), Bowling Green, Ky., pulled off a major coup by snagging Novation—the largest-volume group purchasing organization (GPO) in the health-care field. (Novation formerly contracted with major direct Moore Wallace, owned by RR Donnelley, Chicago, Ill.) This spells opportunity for manufacturers and independents affiliated with American Solutions for