Gary Watson

A panel discusses the advantages, disadvantages and the necessity for value-added services. For many years the job of distributors in the forms industry was to package, ship and deliver forms. By forms we mean those that are basic, tangible, paper-based and traditional. Today, however, the expectation of the distributor is to provide more than forms. End-users are looking for solutions to help them streamline their forms operations. In addition, as more businesses use the Internet, they're demanding special amenities to ensure the efficiency of electronic services. In fact, BFL&S recently conducted a survey to find out what distributors are doing these days to maintain

Survey says strong investments result in solid retention. Last April, BFL&S sent out surveys to more than 200 distributors asking for information about how salespeople in the forms industry are compensated. While the results were somewhat varied, they revealed that most companies invest significant time and energy toward keeping sales staffs satisfied, an attribute that is especially important during an era when many workers perceive the grass, and the money, to be greener on the other side. The Initial Investment It's this new work philosophy that has employers carefully profiling potential new hires, while also presenting an attractive compensation package from