White Fright - The Blank Page Syndrome

Have you ever had the feeling that you want to begin a new project but you struggle with where to start? You have a reservoir of pent up creative energy waiting to be unleashed...but you worry about making a 'wrong' first step. You stare at your blank notebook, blank Word page, blank canvas and drill holes in it with your eyes, looking for 'inspiration'.

It doesn't take long before that energy is redirected to a distraction - internet, creating to do lists, mindless tasks, cleaning up your email inbox - in the misguided hope that the distraction will kick something creative and productive loose. This step is called procrastination and it is the kryptonite of getting things done!

There is another way.

What works for me is a process based on what Tony Buzan developed called mind mapping. Essentially what you do is start with a blank space - it could be a piece of paper, a flip chart, a white board - and write you objective in the center. Let's use 'write a book' as an example.

In the area around the center, write down the various components of your project. From each of these headings, write down the sub headings that represent key facets of the heading that need to be created.

It is not critical to do this in one sitting - or standing - but to allow your brain the freedom to have inspiration and ideas 'arrive'. Keeping your map handy to record the ideas will help you avoid forgetting the ideas that arise but get lost by 'I forgot to remember to write this down'. If it's not practical to keep your map handy, a small notebook to record random ideas for transferring to the map later works just as well.

Two positive things happen in this process: you allow your brain to work the way it needs to during the creative process and the act of committing you ideas to a blank page often is exactly the trigger you need to stop procrastinating.

If you are comfortable working digitally, there are some very good free mind map programs available for downloading. The low tech version - paper and pencil - work equally well. Regardless of how you do it, the key is to do it!

If this idea appeals to you but you are not sure how to get it going, your coach may be the right next step to your completed project!

Is Mobile Printing Right for Your Business?

On-Demand Printing and Agility

Mobile employees need access to business documents, but "read-only" access isn’t enough. Mobile team members need to be agile: able to create, use, and share notes, invoices, and fact sheets. Mobile printing eliminates cumbersome workarounds (like emailing documents to yourself or a client) and can even allow guests and customers to print.

Considerations:

• Security — Passwords, ID cards, and two-factor authentication can all be leveraged in mobile printing solutions to prevent data loss. Of course, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies are mandatory.

• Costs — Mobile printing can reduce hardware expenses by freeing your team to use smartphones and tablets instead of costly laptop computers. Ensure central management—like an MPS partner—oversees your mobile printing solution.

• Ease of Use — Depending on your needs, you may prefer email-to-printer, browser-based solutions, independent applications, or MPS tools to get your documents from device to paper.

• Features — Your solution can include functionalities like guest printing and eco-friendly rules, or your devices can be set up to keep your options simple.

For more information regarding MOM's mobile solutions, check out the Mobile page on our website.

The Five Elements Of Authentic Happiness

The theory of positive psychology and its extension into the practice of authentic happiness were developed by Martin Seligman.  Dr Seligman is the acknowledged authority in this area and his many books and papers represent a practical starting place for anyone pursuing the goal of increasing their happiness.

Today the concept of happiness has turned into a catch all buzz word and most people have become deaf and blind to the array of information promoting happiness as a worthwhile  personal goal. The result of this overload is essentially no change.

It’s worthwhile to take a step back from the current happiness hype and revisit what Dr Seligman considered the specific aspects the led to happiness. Breaking the broad concept into practical elements can change a person’s perspective from apathy to proactivity and positive results..

Seligman’s theory of Authentic Happiness was that happiness could be broken into five different elements that we choose for their own sake: positive emotion, engagement, meaning, relationships and achievements. Each of these elements is better defined and more measurable than happiness.

The first element is positive emotion; what we feel: pleasure, rapture, ecstasy, warmth, comfort, and so on. An entire life led successfully around this element, Seligman called a ‘pleasant life’.

The second element, engagement, is about flow: being one with the music, time stopping, and the loss of self consciousness during and absorbing activity. Engagement is different – even opposite – from positive emotion.  If you ask someone who is in flow what they are feeling, they usually say ‘nothing’. In flow, we merge with the object.

The third element of happiness is meaning. Humans want meaning and purpose in life. A meaningful life consists of belonging to and serving something you believe is bigger that the self and society has created an array of positive institutions to allow this: religion, political parties, protecting the environment, charitable organizations, family.

The fourth element is relationships; that individuals flourish through their connections through relationships. This concept may seem obvious but, many cases, relationships are taken for granted and the impact of them is significantly diminished.

Seligman’s final element of happiness is achievements; which are activities in which we engage to the unique purpose of making an impact and feeling successful

When assessing our own sense of happiness, we will get a far more accurate picture when using Seligman’s five elements to create the assessment. Answer the question "how much of a specific element am I actually bringing into my life?". If this idea is appealing but you don’t know where to start, perhaps your coach get  you going in the right direction!

And the Foolish Man Built His House on Sand

Recently, my 4-year-old Lane wanted to get a treat all by himself.  After all, he is 4 years old now.
The Skittles he wanted was on the top shelf in the pantry.  Yep, Skittles.  Not the apple or banana he passed in the fruit bowl on the way to the pantry.

So obviously, he couldn’t reach it.

• At first, he tried to stand on his bean bag to reach them.  His bean bag is pretty old, so it is really just a bag at this point.  That didn’t work.
• Then he tried blocks.  He came tumbling down like a bad game of Jenga.  
• Next, he tried a chair, but it was still out of reach.
• Lastly, he asked his dear old dad for a little help.  I picked him up, he grabbed the goldfish, and life was good.  

Lane needed a solid foundation to achieve his goal.

The same is true with your business.

You need solid foundations for your solutions.  There are no quick fixes.

• If you are having cash flow issues, you may need to dive deep into the numbers.  Getting a loan may only be standing on a bean bag, especially if you don’t address the source of the cash flow problems, i.e. accounts receivable, having too much payroll, not charging enough.
• If you are having personnel issues, continuing to hire the same type of person, may be like standing on a set of blocks.  It may be time to review the set of qualifications needed for the job you have, such as the attitude and translatable skills versus just having experience in the industry.
• If you want to have a consistent marketing approach for your business, you need to have your own content and a calendar to keep you on track.  Just dragging up a chair to stand on, every time revenue dips will only get you close to your goals.

While you will have to be patient, building your business on a solid foundation will always beat sand.

Or a bean bag…or blocks…or a chair.

The Magic of 5th Color Print Technology

Ricoh's workintelligent.ly site is a wealth of knowledge for our industry and we look forward to sharing many articles from their site in 2017. One of the most interesting products that Ricoh released in 2016 was the Pro c7100-c71170 series with it's ability to print with both White and Clear Toner. Below is an article by John Fulena about the impact the 5th Color station can have on your printing environment. Internally, MOM has utilized the 5th Color station for event flyers, candy bar wrappers, and tickets with a clear coat so they cannot be duplicated. Enjoy the article below...the 5th Color station is definitely worth a closer look for your business in 2017.

John Fulena

John Fulena, Vice President, Production Printing Business Group, Ricoh USA, Inc., oversees the design and implementation of all marketing and business strategies to drive Ricoh’s success in the Production Print market. With more than 30 years of industry experience, Fulena continues to be an integral part of Ricoh’s leadership in the Production Print market.

What would it take for Graphics and Marketing (GAM) to enter the luxury retail, customized promotions and packaging, restaurant and hospitality industries?

That question had been plaguing GAM’s owner, Nathaniel Grant, for the past few years. Located in Sterling, Virginia, the firm offers a broad portfolio of services and print technology: advertising, branding, bindery, creative services, direct mail, strategic marketing, print and fulfillment services, and large format / tradeshow displays.

Nevertheless, even with offset, digital and wide-format equipment acquired over the firm’s 40 years in business, Grant watched profitable jobs walk out the door because he lacked in-house capabilities to produce decals, loyalty cards, oversized brochures, and short-run book jacket covers.

A wonder of effects

That all changed the day he was offered the chance to put a powerful  5th Color station, digital color production print system through its paces. He couldn’t believe his eyes. The press did everything he wanted. It supported White Toner, which made images printed on dark colored and metallic media pop. It supported Clear Toner, which added a gloss effect, creating a premium look for store catalogs, business cards and packaging. And it printed oversize sheets, which could open the door to customers who required full-sized, trifold brochures and unique folding pieces.

Creative possibilities danced before Grant’s eyes. No longer would he have to offload jobs to a specialty printer. He could handle decals, window clings, metallic effects, light box transparencies and more from his own production floor.

Behind the magic

Once the press was installed and operators trained—simplified by step-by-step video instructions—Grant set to work, unveiling the capabilities to an array of prospects. He felt like a magician when he demonstrated how quickly and easily the press handled seemingly impossible tasks. He glowed at the delight clients expressed when they saw minute details of their products leap off the page, and he grinned as orders flowed in from new clients.

• Simulating metallic printing and producing promotional displays on synthetic materials opened the door to luxury brand clients.
• Producing in-store signage and seasonal promotional items landed jobs from food service clients.
• Enabling cost-effective security and authenticity watermarks drew another group of clients.
• Printing unique, eye-catching pieces, on short runs, at affordable prices brought designers and creative directors knocking at the door.

GAM has been approaching high-end retailers, ad agencies, and hotel and restaurant chains to tell their story and discuss how the new 5th color technology can set them apart from their competition. Orders have been coming in for large, personalized posters, six-page newsletters with variable data, and even postcards 4-up, and brochures running 2-up. Ultimately, GAM has made a measurable impact on its business and future proofed itself in a rapidly evolving industry.

Learn more about GAM’s successes with 5th Color technology in its case study here.

The Benefits Of Mindfulness

It is difficult for one to avoid information promoting the benefits of mindfulness, so much so that one's own self defense mechanisms filter much of it out and deposit the information in the overload scrap heap. This is a shame because mindfulness really works!

The important aspect of mindfulness is that for a practice to be effective, one needs to tailor it to your personal needs, lifestyle, and how you learn.

There is tons of credible research available to define the benefits of a mindfulness practice. With this research as the basis, here are some of the widely accepted benefits of a mindfulness practice:

1. Reduced rumination. Rumination is the continual replaying of similar thoughts and often associated with worry or even obsession. Typically, the thoughts are focused on the past or the future and the more a person ruminates, the less they are focused on and aware of what is happening in the present.

2. Stress reduction. Stress is often associated with worry and worry typically is related to something in the future. By focusing on the present, you become more aware of what you can influence and manage and what is beyond your control.

3. Boost working memory. The mind can only hold 5 or 6 separate things in working memory. When you add an additional element to be considered, something usually falls by the wayside. Focusing on the present allows you to keep the elements that are critical to the present in front of you and you are less likely to ‘forget’ something. For example, if you are ‘thinking’ about what you are going to do on the weekend, you may overlook something you meant to do on your present shopping trip.

An effective way to stay focused in the moment is to keep a note pad handy to record things that need to be done ‘in the future’.

4. Improved focus. Mindfulness helps notice when an intrusive thought arises – a thinking habit ‘fork in the road moment’ – and makes it possible to let the thought go or record it for attention later.

5. Less emotional reactivity. Emotions arise regularly. This is the mind’s normal response to experiencing life. How you respond to the emotion – how much energy you devote to reacting – can be managed. Mindfulness allows you to recognize the emotion and respond skillfully rather than getting indefinitely lost in the grip of an emotion.

Emotions are cyclical – they have a beginning and an end. The length of the cycle can be heavily influenced by the messages we send ourselves about the emotion. For example, when anger arises, you could think “I am angry” or you could think “There is anger”. Two completely different perspectives about the same circumstance.

6. More cognitive flexibility. We judge so much of what we experience in life and when we judge something, we have already formed an opinion about it. When an opinion is formed, we stop learning. When we stop learning, life begins to close down.

The more mindful we are, the more aware we are of our judgments and can use that awareness to take a more curious approach to the array of people and circumstances we encounter.

7. Greater relationship satisfaction. The quality of our relationships with others directly impacts the quality of our lives and the amount of happiness we experience. One of the simplest ways to improve the quality of our relationships is to be appropriately mindful when we are with someone. Listening mindfully sends an incredibly powerful message to another person.

As a place to start, check out this short piece on mindful breathing. Breathing is something available to everyone and a simple, personal yet exceptionally powerful foundation upon which to build a mindfulness practice.

If the potential for mindfulness appeals to you but you are stuck in getting a practice off the ground, your coach may be able to help you launch.

Security Breaches can be Costly for Businesses

Sensitive information leaked can equal a scandal for companies. Besides the obvious loss of customer trust, reputation, sales and lowered stock price, the non-compliance fines can spell real trouble for an unwitting business. Audit committees are voracious about protecting customer-related information and corporate sensitive data.

Companies are required to comply with data-privacy regulations, best practice requirements and industry guidelines regarding the usage and access to customer data. Privacy requirements for protecting non-public personal information include: selective encryption of stored data, separation of duties, proper access control and centralized independent audit functions.

Data security is not an option - it is mandatory according to government legislation and industry regulations. For example, the U.S. Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) requires financial institutions and their partners to protect non-public personal data while in storage, while implementing a variety of access and security controls. Failure to comply with GLBA results in big regulatory fines for the financial institution. Equally damaging, the CEOs and directors can be held personally responsible and legally liable for any misuse of personally identifiable non-public information.

There are $4 million in losses quoted as the annual estimated loss from security breaches according to the Computer Security Institute (CSI) Computer Crime and Security Survey. Further it was revealed that over half of the databases have some kind of breach on a yearly basis. Being that these are only the security problems that companies are reporting, this percentage is staggeringly high. Organizations don't want to advertise the fact that their internal people have access to customer data and can cover up their tracks, take that data, give it to anybody, and stay undetected and employed while a crime is committed.

Download our document on How to Avoid Getting Ransomware. 

App Maker - Build Your Mobile App with Google

App Maker - a new service that people inside organizations can use to easily develop custom applications based on their business needs. Google is now taking applications for early access to the tool from organizations that pay for the G Suite (formerly known as Google Apps) Business service tier.

The service lets users drag and drop widgets around on a user interface that complies with Google’s Material design principles. But they can be customized further with scripts, as well as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and JQuery content. And once apps are live, it’s possible to monitor usage through Google Analytics.

In being easy to use by default, App Maker will be useful for people who are less technically savvy — people other than full-time developers, in other words. Having this sort of thing available means that IT teams can spend less time dealing with requests from these types of people, who might not otherwise see their ideas ever fleshed out.

“We’re really targeting enterprise developers who need to build line-of-business solutions for an entire company but need there to be less (sophistication) than developers who might build Snapchat or external-facing applications,” App Maker product manager Ajay Surie told VentureBeat in an interview.

That means App Maker will compete with existing “low-code” application development services. That includes Salesforce’s App Cloud, as well as tools from Appian, Mendix, and OutSystems, among others.

There’s no need to worry about maintaining the necessary infrastructure for running the apps. Apps built with App Maker run on the same data center infrastructure as Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive. This is different from the cloud computing and storage infrastructure that people can pay for through the Google Cloud Platform.

New data that’s generated inside Apps built with App Maker can be stored in a new service called Google Drive Tables, which is essentially a managed structured database that stores data in Google Drive. It’s simpler to set up and maintain than something like Google Cloud SQL from the Google Cloud Platform.

App Maker lets users integrate their apps with many services, including Google Calendar, Google Contacts, Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Forms, Gmail, Google Groups, Google Translate, Google Maps, Google Sites, Google Sheets, Google BigQuery, and Google Calendar.

Is Managed Print Right for Your Company?

Managed Print Services (MPS) is an extremely valuable solution that enables a third-party provider like Modern Office Methods (MOM) to effectively manage and maintain your organization’s print environment. This can offer benefits such as enhanced efficiency, increased productivity, and reduced costs. The right MPS solution from the right managed services provider can add significant value to a company. But is MPS right for your business?

Here are some questions you should ask yourself when considering an MPS solution:

Will an MPS solution provide your business with a return on your investment? 

MPS can reduce print-related costs by up to 30 percent and reduces capital expenditures by optimizing your fleet — maximizing your ROI and your immediate savings. 

Is your current print environment adequately handling your office’s needs? 

Many offices are cluttered with wasteful and inefficient devices that aren't ideal for handling your workload and document needs. An MPS program maximizes the efficiency and productivity of each imaging device.

Is your current print strategy flexible enough to adapt to inevitable changes in technology? 

MPS provides the flexibility for your business to keep up with your competitors and evolve as technology advances.

Is the security of your data and documents critical to your business’ survival, and are you confident that this information is adequately protected? 

Nothing is more important than data security. That's why MPS includes security safeguards to protect your printed and digital documents.

Is your team wasting valuable time managing imaging devices, or are they constantly hamstrung by toner outages and out-of-service machines? 

MPS uses proactive monitoring and automatic ordering of consumables to keep your printer fleet operating at peak performance as often as possible, so your staff has more time to work on critical projects.

Contact MOM today at info@momnet.com and take the first step toward implementing an MPS solution that's right for your business needs.

Do You Know How Much Your Company Is Spending on Printing?

Most business owners are shocked when they learn exactly how much they spend on printing each year! It comes as quite a surprise that mismanaged print fleets can cost your company up to 3 percent of their total revenue. This means that a company with annual revenue of $5 million will spend about $150,000 on document output each year.

According to research from PricewaterhouseCoopers, the average employee: 
• Makes 10,000 copies or prints each year 
• Costs your company up to $1,200 in printing annually 
• Wastes 17 percent of all printed documents 

End users rarely have knowledge of the true cost of their printing activities, and employers rarely monitor or control employee printing output. But, without controls and measures, waste can be substantial. FleetCare Managed Print Services from Modern Office Methods can help your business achieve immediate and long-term cost savings. MPS essentially takes over the management of a company's printers to increase efficiency and consolidate printing costs. 

MPS clients enjoy the benefits of working with one trusted provider like MOM for all their printing needs. Clients receive remote monitoring of printers, supplies, and service on-demand, as well as tailored management reports regarding the company's printers. Service costs are summarized in convenient invoices that include all print-related costs for a given period of time (usually quarterly). 

Clients experience a second wave of cost savings when account managers provide expert recommendations based on reports of the printer fleet. Suggestions are made for printer placement based on utilization and strategic hardware purchases, especially when the technology in multifunction printers can improve workflow, increase productivity, save costs, and replace expensive copiers and legacy printers. This is all part of the customer-centric objective of MPS. 

All these measures can add up to as much as 30 percent savings in printer-related costs, often amounting to thousands of dollars in savings for a single client. 

Contact MOM today at info@momnet.com and take the first step toward implementing an MPS solution that saves your company money.

CLICK HERE to test out our PRINT SAVINGS ESTIMATOR and see how much you can save with our FleetCare MPS program.

Protect privacy starting with email

Encrypted Email Signups Skyrocketed After Trump Victory.

Donald Trump said US has to get better when it comes to “the cyber,” and it’s clear that many Americans are taking that advice to heart. They’re signing up for secure, encrypted email accounts like never before. ProtonMail is one of the providers of free and low-cost tools that anyone can use to boost their digital privacy.

ProtonMail's scientists, engineers, and developers drawn together by a shared vision of protecting civil liberties online. This is why they created ProtonMail, an easy to use secure email service with built-in end-to-end encryption and state of the art security features. The goal is to build an internet that respects privacy and is secure against cyberattacks.

They are committed to developing and widely distributing the tools necessary to protect your data online. The team combines deep mathematical and technical knowledge from the world's top research institutions with expertise in building easy to use user interfaces. Together, they are building the encrypted communication technologies of the future.

End-to-End Encryption

Messages are encrypted at all times

Messages are stored on ProtonMail (PM) servers in encrypted format. They are also transmitted in encrypted format between PM servers and user devices. Messages between PM users are also transmitted in encrypted form within PM secure server network. Because data is encrypted at all steps, the risk of message interception is largely eliminated.

Zero Access to User Data

Your encrypted data is not accessible to ProtonMail

ProtonMail’s segregated authentication and decryption system means logging into a ProtonMail private email account requires two passwords. The first password is used to verify the identity of the user. After that, encrypted data can be retrieved. The second password is a decryption password which is never sent to ProtonMail. It is used to decrypt data on your device so PM do not have access to the decrypted data, or the decryption password. This means PM cannot hand over your data to third parties. For this reason, PM are also unable to do decryption password recovery. If you forget your decryption password, PM cannot recover your data.

Open Source Cryptography

Time-tested and trusted encryption algorithms

PM use only secure implementations of AES, RSA, along with OpenPGP. Furthermore, all of the cryptographic libraries PM use are open source. By using open source libraries, PM can guarantee that the encryption algorithms PM are using do not have clandestinely built in back doors. ProtonMail's open source software has been thoroughly vetted by security experts from around the world to ensure the highest levels of protection.

Why Switzerland?

A question often get asked is, Why is ProtonMail based in Switzerland and are there any real advantages?
PM believes there are. The first thing that comes to mind is that Switzerland is outside of US and EU jurisdiction. Unless you host your servers on a boat in international waters, you will need to be under some legal jurisdiction and in the post-Lavabit environment, this choice is particularly important. A common misconception is that the EU offers more legal protection than the US, but many of the same surveillance directives that exist in US law also have EU counterparts, in particular, German law may actually offer less legal protection than American law.

Switzerland however, is NOT part of the EU, and Switzerland applies a very different set of privacy laws. In the US and EU, gag orders can be issued to prevent an individual from knowing they are being investigated or under surveillance. While these type of orders also exist in Switzerland, the prosecutors have an obligation to notify the target of surveillance as soon as possible, and the target has an opportunity to appeal in court. There are no such things as National Security Letters and all surveillance requests MUST go through the courts (this is not the case in Germany). Furthermore, while Switzerland is party to international assistance treaties, such requests for information must hold up under Swiss law which has much stricter privacy provisions.

Nearly every country in the world has laws governing lawful interception of electronic communications. In Switzerland, these regulations are set out in the Swiss Federal Act on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic (SPTT) last revised in 2012. In the SPTT, the obligation to provide the technical means for lawful interception is imposed only on Internet access providers, so ProtonMail, as a mere Internet application provider, is completely exempt from the SPTT’s scope of application. This means that under Swiss law, ProtonMail cannot be compelled to backdoor PM secure email system. As a Swiss company, ProtonMail also cannot be compelled to engage in bulk surveillance on behalf of US intelligence agencies.

This combination of factors means that a Lavabit like situation cannot occur with ProtonMail. However, ProtonMail has taken the Lavabit concept one step further and actually does not even possess the keys required to decrypt user data. As a result, even if ProtonMail was forced to turn over all PM computer systems, email contents will continue to be encrypted.

PM believe that comprehensive security can only be achieved through a combination of technology and legal protections and Switzerland provides the optimal combination of both. By coupling Switzerland advanced IT infrastructure with its unique legal environment, ProtonMail can deliver a service that is both reliable and secure.

For more information about internet surveillance in Switzerland and requests for information made to ProtonMail, please view PM Transparency Report.

Modern Office Methods has been recognized as a Ricoh Circle of Excellence Award Winner

Modern Office Methods (MOM) is the recipient of the 2017 RFG Circle of Excellence award from Ricoh for our commitment to customer service. The MOM service team, under the direction of Ken Staubitz, Vice President of Service, has worked hard to perfect their skills and we are thrilled that this extra effort has paid off. 

Ricoh recognizes that it has partnered with the best Dealer Network in the industry and they reward the “Best of the Best”. MOM has been recognized as a 2017 RFG Circle of Excellence authorized service dealership. This program is designed to recognize dealers who provide outstanding service and support in accordance with Ricoh's guidelines.

MOM has met or exceeded the requirements of the RFG Circle of Excellence Program in the following areas:

Phase 1 - Service Engineer Skills Assessment (Prestige)
Phase 2 - Service Operations Assessment which includes the following:
   • Use of Genuine Ricoh Parts and Supplies
   • Hardware & Solutions Training
   • Relevant Industry Certifications
   • Service Organization Structure
   • Field Staff & Help Desk Productivity & Efficiency Measures
   • Customer Satisfaction Measurement Process & System
   • Effective Utilization of Ricoh Resources
   • Business Plan Management & Process Improvement

Outstanding Service: Award-Winning Legacy
Excellent client support has always been a tradition at MOM and our efforts have been rewarded many times in the past. We are a 2-Time imageSource Magazine's Perfect Image Award Winner for Outstanding Service Program. Out of 3,743 independent dealers across the nation, MOM has been recognized multiple times for our commitment to service excellence.

| About Ricoh | 

Ricoh is a global technology company that has been transforming the way people work for more than 80 years. Under its corporate tagline – imagine. change. – Ricoh continues to empower companies and individuals with services and technologies that inspire innovation, enhance sustainability and boost business growth. These include document management systems, IT services, production print solutions, visual communications systems, digital cameras, and industrial systems. 

Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in approximately 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ending March 2016, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,209 billion yen (approx. 19.6 billion USD). 

For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com.

Congratulations to our 2016 Jump START Your Nonprofit WINNERS!

We'd like to thank everyone that voted for these 3 wonderful organizations. St. Vincent de Paul edged out the competition in Cincinnati. Neighborhood Design Center tallied the most votes in Columbus. Senior Resource Connection came out on top in Dayton. Each of these nonprofits will receive a $10,000 office technology makeover from MOM.

Ken Staubitz, our Vice President of Service, and Julie Italiano, Marketing Manager, presented each of these winners with their big checks on stage at The Rusty Ball on Saturday, October 15. MOM has been a proud sponsor of this event for the past 4 years and we look forward to many more years of presenting local nonprofits with big checks on stage! Congratulations again to our winners!

5 reasons you will be successful

Yes, I know that you are preparing to swap gifts, travel way too far to see family, and eat enough to put you into a sugar coma, however, a brand new year is right around the corner.

Below are 5 reasons you will be successful in 2017:

1. You will find a qualified CPA who can assist you and your decision making year-round, set a fixed amount that you will pay them, and use their advice.  They will save you more money than they cost.
2. You are going to perform a cash flow projection for 2017 and identify potential shortfalls today, not tomorrow!
3. You are going to raise your prices, because you offer a premium product/service!  You will have a better profit, better customers, and sleep well at night.
4. You are going to delegate some of the roles that you currently perform in your business, so you can grow the business, i.e., bookkeeping, digital marketing, payroll, and anything that someone else can do as well as you, for less money than you!
5. You are going to schedule an appointment with your local TSBDC counselor to get a jump start on your 2017 goals!

Go ahead and visit Aunt Edna, attend Christmas Eve services, and hang on to those gift receipts and we will see you next year!

Klarna - Making shopping simple and safe for your customers

Founded in Stockholm in 2005, Klarna is one of Europe's fastest growing companies, and offers safe and easy-to-use payment solutions to e-stores.
At the core of Klarna's services is the concept of after delivery payment, which lets buyers receive ordered goods before any payment is due. At the same time, Klarna assumes the credit and fraud risk so that retailers can rest assured they will receive their money.

Klarna Group has more than 1,400 employees and is active on 18 markets. Klarna serve 45 million consumers and work with 65,000 merchants, attracting major international clients such as Spotify, Disney, Samsung, Wish and ASOS. Klarna's goal is to become the world’s favorite way to buy.

Klarna Group statistics:
Total end-customers:  45,000,000,
Total number of merchants:  65,000,
Number of transactions per day:   400,000

Optimize your entire checkout

Reduce cart abandonment on all devices with a simple checkout experience. Accept all popular payment types with one contract. Plus, give your customers the option to pay after delivery and Klarna takes on all of the risk. Klarna Checkout helps with:

    Increasing average order value

    Improving checkout rates

    Improve return customer rates

Most items added to carts don't actually get purchased — in today's world of mobile commerce, there is up to 82% checkout abandonment. That's why it pays to have the easiest checkout possible

Maximize conversion by removing friction

Karna removes friction at checkout by letting customers pay with just their emails and addresses – done. Details will be remembered for next time, so checkout is just one click away.

One integration – all major payment methods

Not only do Karna offer all major popular payment methods. You as a merchant get them in a single, integrated solution. This means that you only have one supplier, one integration, one agreement, one payout, one settlement and one customer support. Plus Klarna assumes the customer risk, meaning you get paid even if the customer doesn't pay Klarna.

Pay after delivery 

Klarna's technology driven platform allows customers to try before they buy - giving them more confidence to complete the purchase. How it works is simple: Klarna pay you and later they pay us.

Complement your checkout with financing

Traditional financing solutions aren't adapting to the new world of e-commerce. Instead of asking consumers about their marital status and employer information, Klarna use data to enhance the shopping experience for your customer. Klarna don't just increase your customer purchase power, Klarna also improve loyalty, conversion and AOV.

Just plug it in

Integration and maintenance are easy. One-time integration for all markets and products. Automatic updates to ensure global and local compliance, performance and tailored credit offerings.

eCommerce platform plugins

Klarnas platform works with most common eCommerce systems and can be integrated in no time.