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Hereford dealer switches from Progress

Prima Business Control Software has signed up Herefordshire-based Border Office Supplies and Systems Ltd, after they had switched from ECI2's Progress. The company's IT director, Brian Jones, explained: "We are really, really glad we made the change. It was a tough decision, but we are already seeing the benefits. "We have also been really pleased and impressed by the efforts made by the Prima team, both during and after installation.

One of the main reasons for the change was that we wanted more efficiencies through automation of the business. Prima is already helping us achieve that." Border, a member of the Advantia dealer group, provides a range of digital technology solutions throughout Hereford, Shrewsbury, the Marches and mid-Wales, plus general office, IT solutions, furniture and general office supplies.

Prima's MD, Steve McLaughlin, said: "Dealers want a system that can develop with the business. Our system offers total integration from the web into the dealer's business - something recognised by the Border team who are already acknowledging the positive difference Prima is making."

UOE show 11 % rise in growth

UOE sees 11% growth At a time when high-street stores are reporting drops of 3-8 per cent in like-for-like sales, Office Friendly member UOE has reported same store growth of 11 per cent from its retail division, UOE Stores, in 2008, bucking the current downward trends being reported across the UK.

Commercial Director Elliot Jacobs says: “Our retail team have worked harder than ever to offer our clients a quality service, a wider, exciting range of products and genuine offers. This, coupled with our series of pro-active, marketing campaigns has delivered increased sales and many first-time shoppers to our stores.” “Retail remains a tough environment and we will have to work hard to continue our retail growth trend over the next 12-18 months.

Suppliers need to tailor their offerings to the market with really great offers not just try and clear dead stock and stop trying to just raise prices based on data that is six months old.”

Asked about the impact of the VAT reduction on retail sales, Jacobs says: "considering we’ve had massive price inflation over the past months – in some cases 10 fold the VAT reduction -it makes no difference at all. "The VAT thing is just a heap of work and a complete waste of money, designed by idiots in government who clearly have no concept of what drives customers to shop or how to encourage spending.” 07-Jan-2009 Reproduced from Channel Info Magazine

Denis Smyth in Northern Ireland goes live with Prima

Denis Smyth Office Products has become the latest dealer to take on Prima’s Business Control Software system.The business, based in Mallusk in Northern Ireland, decided to move its back office system to Prima earlier this year and went live with the new software on November 1.

Managing Director David Martin, who acquired the dealership just over a year ago from husband and wife team Denis and Pamela Smyth, believes the change of system will play a major part in his future growth plans for the company.David Martin said: “The business has been using Integrity’s Vision for a long time, but we felt the move to Prima was a necessary one, especially with our plans to very shortly acquire another business.

“We went live on November 1 and we’ve been very impressed with the system’s capabilities, ease of use and speed. We’re sure it’s going to be a major asset to our business.”

Denis Smyth’s move to Prima is one of five new signings for the software company in the past month. Others include Northern Ireland based Central Office and Chattertons of Kent. Prima's sales and marketing director Trevor Pathak says: “These latest signings demonstrate yet again just how much customer confidence there is in the Prima system and our determination and commitment to providing the very highest quality back office system for dealers.We wish David and his team every success.”

“In today’s current financial climate, having a cost-effective, user-friendly, efficient back office system has arguably never been so important. We can deliver this to our customers and they are recognising this fact. That’s why we have installed 21 new dealer sites in the past six months, achieving sales figures up 60 per cent on last year.”

Successful go live for Office Giant

Office Giant the Manchester based Office Products dealer went live with Prima and the new dll Integrated Web Cart library facility. The facility permits Prima users to create their own designed web cart, but retain all the rich functionality of Prima Integration into Prima back office system.

Prima replaces a Progress system. Prima wish all the team at Office Giant success in their newly launched services.

Miles Shepherd among four new signings for Prima

Systems specialist Prima Software has secured four new dealer contracts. Viking Office Supplies, CTS Business Supplies, WT Supplies and Miles Shepherd dealerships have all taken on Prima’s Window based system.

Prima’s Sales and Marketing Director Trevor Pathak says the new signings are yet another clear indication of the company’s growing presence in the office products market. This brings Prima’s total of new dealerships in the last year to 24, many of which have been won from competitors. Trevor Pathak says: “Sixty per cent of our new signings have been won from older DOS based systems such as Progress, or where the customer’s tied-in contract has expired such as Vision. The other 40 per cent are predominantly Sage users who have realised that Sage alone will not permit their businesses to grow in the way they would wish.

” Prima Managing Director Steve McLaughlin adds: “The general profile of a Prima client is that they want to grow their business without increasing their overheads and/or additional staff. Our system allows them to achieve this, simply and effectively.”

“Prima is the only system for dealers with a fully integrated Web Cart which enables one touch ordering of contracted items by their customers and a fully integrated contact management system. That’s a winning combination and one that’s being recognised as such by our dealer clients. ”

One of the latest dealer signings for Prima is Nemo member Miles Shepherd of High Wycombe, run by business partners, Andy Duncan and Jez Hodges. Andy Duncan says: “We are absolutely delighted to have signed up with Prima.

"The Prima system will allow us to streamline the operation so that we are able to produce professional looking documents, such as invoices and delivery notes, quickly and easily. The integrated Web Cart will enable our customers to do business with us 24/7 and means no duplication at our end. This will then allow us to concentrate on the core area of our business - selling office supplies.”

"Prima will save us so much time and will also help us project a professional image to new and existing customers. It is destined to be a very worthwhile investment for us."

Re launch of Style Office Solution web site

Style Office was formed in August 2001 with staff that has many years experience within the office furniture and supplies industry. They firmly believe in team work and going the extra mile in ensuring that customers’ expectations are fulfilled.

Based in Aberdeen in a busy industrial estate they went live with Prima’s back office system in 2007. Adding to a successful year of business growth, Duncan Page, Managing Director decided to extend this growth with the redesign of their web site and the introduction of Prima Integrated Web Cart.

Prima added value to Style Office existing SAGE Line 50 system

Hereford dealer switches from Progress

Prima Business Control Software has signed up Herefordshire-based Border Office Supplies and Systems Ltd, after they had switched from ECI2's Progress. The company's IT director, Brian Jones, explained: "We are really, really glad we made the change. It was a tough decision, but we are already seeing the benefits. "We have also been really pleased and impressed by the efforts made by the Prima team, both during and after installation.

One of the main reasons for the change was that we wanted more efficiencies through automation of the business. Prima is already helping us achieve that." Border, a member of the Advantia dealer group, provides a range of digital technology solutions throughout Hereford, Shrewsbury, the Marches and mid-Wales, plus general office, IT solutions, furniture and general office supplies.

Prima's MD, Steve McLaughlin, said: "Dealers want a system that can develop with the business. Our system offers total integration from the web into the dealer's business - something recognised by the Border team who are already acknowledging the positive difference Prima is making."