The company has continued on its fast-paced expansion path with the purchase of two more companies, Technocom Business Systems and Mercury Document Imaging.
The acquisition of North Carolina’s Technocom has been described by Visual Edge as “a move that expands Visual Edge’s footprint in the Southeast and enhances Technocom’s already well-established passion for delivering best-in-class solutions and support.”
Technocom Founder and President Jim Riggins will continue at the helm of the company, with Visual Edge providing “executive guidance.” Riggins will continue to be assisted by his two “four-legged, top-performing sales reps,” Starsky and Hutch, who regularly accompany him on sales call. The black Labradors feature on the sides of the company’s vehicles, and provide “a constant reminder about the importance of loyalty.”
“Visual Edge has a very strong technology team, and I am excited about them taking us to the next level, especially in the managed network services side of our business,” says Riggins. “There’s a great advantage to partnering with such a large company: Better value for our customers, greater job opportunities; that kind of leverage will only enhance the success we have already had.”
Michael Cozzens, Visual Edge’s Vice President of Business Development, added: “Jim has always placed his customers and employees first, and with a business climate that is continually evolving, it just made sense to join the Visual Edge strategy of building a regional and national network of top-notch solutions and support providers.”
Technocom has already acquired twice itself this year, purchasing North Carolina counterparts Document Imaging Solutions and Marathon Business Center.
Visual Edge’s second acquisition is Mercury Document Imaging Co. Inc, which has three premises in Southern California and one in Chicago, Illinois. The company is described as “a total office automation provider of multifunctional equipment, document management software, managed print, and shredding solutions.”
Similar to the Technocom acquisition, Mercury President Joel Volk will continue to lead the company, as President and General Manager, receiving advisory support from its new parent company. The sales and service operations for Mercury’s customers and employees will also remain the same.
“My goal is for all of us to grow together as we learn new and better ways to make it easy for our clients,” explained Volk. “We may not be selling the most sexy items on earth, but it’s the way that we do it that makes buying from us an easy decision for our customers. By gaining the support of a larger organisation, our good work will be augmented with greater resources, including a brain trust of seasoned and talented industry executives who will help forge a bright future for my staff and my clients.”
Whereas Jim Riggins has the visual metaphor for loyalty of his black Labradors, Volk instead has birds, with a bird feeder and bird bath outside of his office window.
“I don’t care about the feeder, the bath, or the seeds. I just want the birds,” he reveals. “The same goes for our customers. They don’t want machines. They don’t want software. They just want their operations to work effortlessly, and they want to grow without having to add resources.”
Visual Edge’s year of expansion shows no sign of slowing, the company having now made over 30 separate acquisitions in 2018. Last month alone, it purchased Michigan-based Dunn’s Business Solutions, N2N Technologies, of Indianapolis, Vermont’s Office Systems, and Florida’s Business Technology Partners.
