Cumming, GA –  PressAccess and the AccessGroup report that the first-ever Virtual Liquidation Sale held at Print 09 was a resounding success. Furthermore, the combined offerings of the Group's individual programs stirred substantial interest among attendees at the September trade show.
 
In all, 166 qualified bidders took advantage of the opportunity to bid on the combined equipment assets of multiple banks and printing companies offered for sale online from Sept. 2-14. Print 09 attendees were able to place their bids at special kiosks located in the PressAccess booth. Approximately 150 units were sold, with most sales to U.S. customers and about 10 percent to customers outside the U.S.
 
According to Tillman, the hottest sellers tended to be smaller and more easily financed items, although he points out that PressAccess also has sold a total of 27 presses since it launched the Extended Access Liquidation service earlier this year. In the future, Tillman says, PressAccess plans to implement a pre-approval process whereby customers will have access to a prequalified amount of funds for equipment purchases through the Extended Access Liquidation website.  
 
Key to the success of Extended Access Liquidation are the activities of ServiceAccess, another AccessGroup entity. "We offer every piece of equipment on a turnkey basis, including tear-down, removal, shipping, installation training and refurbishment, if desired," Tillman says. "The buyer has a smorgasbord of choices, including our standard 12-month warranty on all presses."
 
The overwhelmingly positive response to the first Virtual Liquidation concept gives PressAccess confidence that it is on the right track. "I believe we are experiencing a sea change in how printers buy equipment," Tillman says. "Customers tell us that it's fun and exciting to buy online. This could be the beginning of a whole new purchasing concept for used, and maybe even new equipment."
 
Spend Less, Save More
A number of other programs offered under the AccessGroup umbrella were also well-received by Print 09 attendees. These included a comprehensive service contract offered by ServiceAccess on all parts and labor for breakdowns. According to Tillman, the monthly cost of the contract: $1,773 for a 5-color, 40" press; $929 for a 4-color, 29" press; or $480 for a 4-color, 20"press, is much more affordable than the unexpected cost of a major breakdown. ServiceAccess estimates it will have 20-25 additional contracts in place as a direct result of activity at the show.  
 
GreenAccess was able to capitalize on the need for printers to earn as much as they can from every aspect of their business, including paper usage.  "Paper recycling is very hot right now," Tillman explains. "Our mill-direct paper recycling program is based on our belief that the printer who is not shipping baled paper directly to the mill is leaving money on the table. Mill-direct shipments are the only way to ensure printers receive the maximum revenue for their recyclable paper scrap."
 
GreenAccess also unveiled its Maratek Blanket Wash Recycling solution at the show. According to Tillman, customers who rent the Maratek 20 Solvent Recycling Solution (SRS) at a monthly cost of $850, or who purchase it outright with a ROI of less than 15 months, will realize a savings of approximately $950 per month, based on their purchase of as little as two drums of blanket wash solution per month. If a customer's usage is higher, both the monthly savings and ROI will be greater.  "This product fits our business model so well," Tillman says. "Given today's emphasis on carbon footprint reduction and the need for printers to add as much profit as possible to their bottom line, the Maratek SRS is a perfect addition to our GreenAccess offering."
 
By taking advantage of GreenAccess initiatives, an average-size printer potentially could increase its annual bottom line by as much as $30k-$40 per year, Tillman says.