| A Tradition of Service |
| When Ron and Mary Forbes started their office equipment company in 1960, neither envisioned that the office of the 1960s with its row upon row of desks, clattering typewriters and adding machines, would give way to the high-tech, soft-textured, personalized office of the 21st Century where the computer, network connectivity and color copier have revolutionized office work. They started the business in a small storefront, in Newton, with only a card table to display merchandise. At that time, Forbes’ mainstays were early models of electric typewriters and adding machines. For copies, people depended upon carbons or the thermofax machine. No one had heard of Microsoft® or Computer Networks. But the emphasis then, as it is now, was that Forbes would offer only topnotch service and sell only quality, name-brand merchandise. Adherence to this philosophy has helped the Newton-based company grow from a single-store location with just two employees to three store locations, nearly 50 employees and more than 2,000 commercial customers scattered throughout a market area that reaches as far North as Cedar Falls, West to Des Moines, South to Ottumwa and East to Cedar Rapids. |
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| People Make The Difference |
| Having friendly, qualified people available to assist customers is an essential ingredient at Forbes Office Solutions. The firm’s employees collectively have hundreds of years of experience in sales, retail, service and support operations. At Forbes, there is a strong emphasis on education in all areas — with service engineers on a rotating program to attend manufacture sponsored schools where they learn more about new products and technology. Similarly, sales personnel meet on a regular basis with each other and with equipment representatives to learn how new products and services can help Forbes’ customers to be more successful. As new equipment becomes available, Forbes often first integrates the technology into its own operations before introducing it to business clients. |
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| Service That Counts |
| One out of every four employees is a trained service technician, a statistic that reflects the Forbes commitment to support each sale with a qualified and timely service program. Today’s high-tech office machinery is designed to do more work, more efficiently, much more quickly. People depend upon it. As a result, when equipment breaks down, it can have a costly and disruptive effect on a business. Forbes operates a state of the art service center at its Technology Center in Newton. The Technology center is equipped with sophisticated diagnostic tools and an extensive stock of repair parts. Service technicians travel the firm’s service area five days a week. They are in constant communication with the office via Cellular connections. In the more than 43 years that Forbes has been in business, the company has seen its service operation grow to become an important part of its overall operation. |
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| Three Locations |
| Forbes has 3 retail locations in Downtown Newton that house our Main Office and Retail Store, along with our Quick Print and Service Locations. In the community, Forbes hires local people and supports local activities, including the Chamber of Commerce. The downtown locations allow customers to shop for office supplies, or simply to seek advice, at their convenience. Qualified sales personnel are available to help customers decide which products will best do the job for them. Sometimes the decisions are as simple as selecting the correct size file folder. Other times, a customer may need assistance on how to update and modernize an entire office. Whatever the degree of need, Forbes has local, highly-qualified people in each community to be of service. |
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| Education – Shaping Success |
| Product and service knowledge are what separates professionals from people who simply sell things. Forbes is dedicated to making certain that its customers are on the leading edge of all new technology. To this end, Forbes personnel are continuously educating and reeducating themselves on new products and new systems. In today’s competitive environment, office productivity is as important as factory productivity. Helping office people work more efficiently is a goal that Forbes never loses sight of in counseling customers about new and improved products. |
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| Quality Products |
| To be responsive to customers’ needs, Forbes carries an extensive inventory of office supplies at each of its locations. Products are displayed in attractive well-lit retail areas that make it convenient for customers to shop. Products that are out of stock, or not normally carried often can be obtained the next day and delivered without charge to the buyer’s door. Forbes offers the “basics” of office supplies, but also carries an array of specialty items, including accessories such as brief cases, calendar planners, desk sets and a variety of other merchandise. Forbes learned early that customers would rather spend more for quality merchandise than struggle with equipment that does not perform well. That’s why the company’s major equipment and furniture lines are name-brand offerings, field-tested for durability and dependability. Brands such as KonicaMinolta, Brother, Nobilis, Steelcase and Hon are prominent in the company’s showrooms. |
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