Wondering how you can do it? Here’s some advice from the pros at Beeler Impression, a Chattanooga-based office technology specialist that’s been going strong since 1954.

Start with a Plan
"You’ve got to have a plan," says Ray Beeler, founder and president of Beeler Impression. "If your plan isn’t working, then look at your present situation to determine what can be changed."

That’s exactly what Beeler did when he began Beeler Impression in 1954 after working for Addressograph-Multigraph, where he realized the community’s need for refurbished office equipment. The original plan of his home-based company was to refurbish and sell office equipment to both small and large businesses in the area. But as technology changed and the business grew, Beeler Impression began to evolve to better meet the needs of the customers, providing the latest in office innovations.

Stay Up to Date
"Relevancy is crucial to success," says Dodd Hartness, finance and marketing director at Beeler Impression and grandson of Ray Beeler. "We have thousands of customers to whom we provide relevant office solutions. If we’re not current in our ideas and selections, then they’re not getting the latest equipment that would make their businesses better.

"Being a small company, we’ve been able to quickly adapt to the many changes in technology over the years," Hartness adds, "and more recently to the extreme changes resulting from the migration to digital solutions and systems. But no matter your company’s size, it’s important to be flexible, to modify and adapt your approach, and to stay focused on ways you can grow."

By 1955 Beeler Impression became one of the first companies in the United States to offer customers Gestetner duplicators. In 1956, the business added Elliott addressing machines to its offerings and expanded from Beeler’s home to its present location on McCallie Avenue.

Build Strong Relationships

"If you want your company to grow, always put your customers first and be attentive to their needs," advises Beeler. "Look for opportunities to help them, whether it’s just a suggestion or a benefit you can share. It’s really all about the relationships you form with your customers that keep them coming back."

And relationships are exactly what Beeler Impression has built its 50-year success on.

"I hope to see another 50 years—that’s certainly at the top of my list," says Hartness. "I see us looking to find the next great high-quality solution or product to offer our customers so that they can focus on their businesses and not their office equipment. That has been and continues to be our goal."