July 1, 2003 -- CHICAGO, IL – After improving customer relations and service through initiatives put in place last September and further upgraded earlier this year, A.B.Dick Company once again is employing new methods that are win-win situations for them and certain dealers within their network. A new strategic alliance, with four key dealerships and use of the www.shop.abdick.com web site, is paying off with increased market share. A.B.Dick Products of Roanoke, Virginia, Southeastern Printers Supply in Alabama, Printing and Business Solutions in Milwaukee, and A.B.Dick Products of Northern New England in Portland, Maine, have combined their sales process with A.B.Dick. The company maintains inventory control and dealers work hand-in-hand with A.B.Dick’s inside sales force. The end result is closer contact with satisfied customers who are impacting sales with these dealers. "We view this as an opportunity to give customers better service while at the same time growing our business,” said Larry Baughman, A.B.Dick Director of Sales for major accounts. “We eliminated the duplication of responsibilities and discovered ways to do things better. We now have more inventory closer to our customers with lower operating costs for both the dealer and A.B.Dick." Dealer network members place consumable supplies orders through the increasingly popular www.shop.abdick.com web site. A 24/7 online service, recent site enhancements include an improved supplies catalog with real-time inventory updated every 30 minutes. Orders can be completed in less than five minutes. Registration is free and takes only a few minutes to set-up an account. In January, A.B.Dick changed to direct sales and service in three markets: West Palm Beach/Fort Lauderdale in Florida, Chico, California, and Everett, Washington. Last September, A.B.Dick altered the distribution channel for sales, service and support in 10 other markets in the Eastern, Southern and Midwest regions. Company officials increased the direct sales force by 20 percent at the time to accommodate the changes.