TOSHIBA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS ACQUIRES KANSAS CITY-BASED ALLIED OFFICE SOLUTIONS
Allied Joins Forces with Toshiba-Owned Hotz Business Solutions To Offer Toshiba Copier, Printer and Facsimile Products
IRVINE , California ( Aug 31, 2004 ) :
Toshiba Business Solutions today announced it has acquired Allied Office Solutions, a leading independent office equipment dealer based in Kansas City, Mo. In addition to joining forces with Toshiba, Allied Office Solutions has merged with Hotz Business Solutions, also a Toshiba-owned dealer headquartered in Kansas City, Mo. to distribute copiers, network printers, facsimiles and multifunction products from Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc. (TABS) throughout the Kansas City and surrounding metropolitan area.
The newly combined dealership will be known as Toshiba Business Solutions-Missouri/Kansas (TBS-M/K) and will consolidate office locations in the coming months. Already recognized by its customers for providing excellent customer service, Allied’s new business relationships were part of a strategic move to offer better products and programs to its customers, made possible with corporate backing from Toshiba.
"Allied Office Solutions has a long-standing reputation of providing excellent service and support to our customers, and now we have the muscle of a $53 billion corporation backing us for even greater strength," said Steve Gordon, owner and president, Allied Office Solutions. "Toshiba is dedicated to offering products that improve how people do business, and the breadth and depth of programs we can now offer our customers is really exciting."
Allied Office Solutions, which at the time of the acquisition did not sell Toshiba products and services, will become part of Toshiba’s TBS division, a network of acquired Toshiba equipment dealers. In business for 32 years, Gordon will remain with the company overseeing operations as vice president and general manager. Former president of Hotz Business Solutions, R.D. Kerley will serve as president of the new TBS dealership.
The acquisition of Allied Office Solutions marks Toshiba Business Solutions’ 29th acquisition since creating its business expansion plan, as part of its overall objective to bolster the TBS operation by targeting large independent dealers in the top U.S. markets. TBS also recently acquired Stringer Business Systems and Wagers Business Systems, both in St. Paul, Minn., Business Methods in Rochester, N.Y., and Systems + Solutions in South Florida.
"We’re really proud to have Allied Office Solutions on board at Toshiba," said Rick Taylor, senior vice president, Sales, Marketing, Business Operations, TABS. "By merging Allied into Hotz, which already is firmly grounded in Toshiba technology and services, they’re going to be a solid force right out of the gate - a real benefit to both their customers and employees, as well as Toshiba."
About Allied Office Solutions
Allied Office Solutions, Inc. was purchased by Steve Gordon and Sam Badalucco in 1986. When asked about their success, Steve Gordon replied, "It’s all about our people. We have always been blessed to have and retain the finest workers in the metro area. What this means is we have been able to give our customers the very best service in the industry. We will carry that philosophy forward in our new combined effort and expect it will serve us as well as it has in the past."
About Toshiba America Business Solutions
Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc. (TABS) manages product planning, marketing, sales, service support and distribution of copiers, facsimiles, multifunction printing products, network controllers and toner products throughout the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TABS comprises four divisions: the Electronic Imaging Division, Toner Products Division, Document Solutions Engineering Division and a subsidiary corporation: Toshiba Business Solutions (TBS), which operates a network of acquired office equipment dealers.
Named the most favored manufacturer in seven of the past eight years by the Business Technology Association (BTA), Toshiba's entire product line, customer support and marketing distribution policies are a marker for the industry. Among the many other awards garnered in recent years, Toshiba was named the "Copier Manufacturer of the Year" by the Marketing Research Consultants (MRC) in 2004, 2002, 2001, 1998 and 1997 and received the CIO Web Business award for its leading edge intranet site in 2000, 1999 and 1998.
TABS is an independent operating company of Toshiba Corporation, the seventh largest electronics/electrical equipment company and the world's 62nd largest company in terms of sales. Ranked by Fortune magazine as the 8th Most Admired Electronics Company in America and 9th Most Admired Electronics Company in the World, Toshiba Corporation is a world leader in high technology products with more than 300 major subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. Fiscal year revenue in 2003 was approximately $53 billion.
For more information on Toshiba copier, facsimile, multifunction printing products, network controllers or toner products, or for a dealer in your area, call 1-800-GO-TOSHIBA or visit the TABS Web site at www.copiers.toshiba.com.