A world of possibilities

Office World News, Nov 2000 by Ellis, Alicia

The SHOPA Show is the theme of the month, and Office World News enthusiastically looks forward to meeting new faces and seeing old friends at this year's School, Home, and Office Products Association's loth anniversary celebration.

Our exclusive feature article, presented by SHOPA, focuses on internet trends and clearly encourages the use of the internet to grow your business.

If you missed our reader survey in the September issue, please see page 45. We are repeating the survey and extending the response date so that we may hear from more of you. Please take a few minutes to answer the survey so that we may plan to better serve your needs and requests next year. Your views are important to us.

Early results from our survey curiously indicate that many dealers are not yet maximizing the opportunities offered by internet use. The time is now.

As we near a close to this year, with just one issue of Office World News remaining before indeed the new century and millennium are upon us, one thing remains certain-E-commerce!

It's here to stay.

It's here togrow.

It's easy for you to grow with it.

For those of you with cold feet, it is recommended that you get engaged with the internet. The marriage will be a profitable one.

A good place to start familiarizing yourself with internet basics and trends is right here in Office World News. You needn't approach the internet with a fear of the vast unknown. Through our pages-- monthly, you will find helpful news, articles, updates, association contacts, information and advertising offers designed to show you the way.

You can quickly and efficiently get your company, product, and services up and running via the internet, despite the vast unknown. You can limit your span or widen your scope. A website does not necessarily cater to the world. Whether you choose to do business with the world, the nation, a region or a small town, you can accommodate your audience, and your audience can visit you 24 hours a day.

If you haven't explored the internet for your company's best purchasing deals, it is time to start. You can benefit by visiting sites offering you variety and choice, as well as by receiving guests to your site. Internet purchasing increases minute by minute. Get in on the values.

As the dealer market drastically changes once again, this is quite a different kind of change unlike the previous invasion a decade ago. This change is an opportunity for all involved throughout the industry. This change, you must realize fast, is a change benefiting momand-pops as well as conglomerates. It is a new frontier we all can own a piece of.

Although Office World News has never and will never advocate "putting all your eggs in one basket," we do, however, strongly recommend and encourage your participation with e-commerce. If you still question the potential involved for your individual business, please ask yourself this question: If you could have an exhibitor booth, 24 hours per day, continually, for a minimal charge per month, would you consider the option? Well, that's what having an active web site exactly is: a perpetual exhibit for your company, 24-7, and you will soon enough have `round the clock visitors to your "exhibit".

One final question: Is it something you can afford to not have? Again, acquaint yourself, engage yourself, marry the internet. As "the voice of the office products industry", we predict the divorce rate will be nill.