Michael Boyle

Labels remain a dependable source of income for small distributorships. For the smaller distributor, labels have found their niche in providing a dependable—and often lucrative—source of income. "Labels have been a part of our product mix since the company's inception in 1983," said Michael Gordon, president of Commercial Business Forms, Cedar Knolls, N.J. "At that time, however, labels didn't play a significant role in the business because business forms dominated the market," he explained. "Now, about 25 percent of our business is centered on labels and tag materials that are adhesive-based." Veteran distributor Murray & Heister, Beltsville, Md., has been selling labels for

How distributors are saving time, opening doors and sharpening their competitive edges. It's no longer a question of "if" distributors offer online capabilities, but since when, or how soon. Indeed, today's marketplace demands that distributors implement Web-based solutions. But for every action, there is a reaction, and transitioning from manual to automated workflow is going to have a major impact on daily operations and relationships. In addition, while e-commerce can be an effective time-saving tool that streamlines routine operations, some distributors are finding that there are limitations when it comes to serving more customized needs. BFL&S invited the following panel of distributors