In a growing business such as ours, a steady stream of new employees helps to keep everything running smoothly. One of our more recent hires is Chris Brabb. Chris is currently our Fastback Specialist for the Eugene, Oregon, area, just a few hours south of our Hillsboro headquarters. We are thrilled to have him as part of our team.
One of the many fun and interesting things we get to do here at MyBinding is take a behind-the-scenes look at our vendors. Recently, Max Pupino from Formax visited our office. Max, a native Italian who migrated here in the 90s, has 20 years experience in sales and service. He was kind enough to sit down with a few of our marketing specialists to talk about the history of Formax as well as go over a few machines, including the all-new ColorMax.
Formax started in the 1980s as a direct sales company featuring paper processing products. These machines were constructed with all metal, making them heavier and longer lasting than others on the market. The company grew and today they are an international manufacturer. Formax machines are sold through dealers across the world, with MyBinding being one of these. With headquarters in New Hampshire and a manufacturing plant in California, Formax remains a solid leader in paper handling products.
In today’s busy, fast-paced world where people are always moving on to bigger and better things, home-grown Les Davis is a breath of fresh air. To hear this native Oregonian describe his journey in business and the evolution of his company, Lithtex Printing Solutions, his genuine passion and care for his company is evident. Soft-spoken with a gentle nature and welcoming smile, Les is a man able to look at what he’s accomplished with pride, be confident in his present surroundings, and move forward with a keen sense of direction, all supported by savvy business decisions and sound philosophy. Tarragon and I (Chelsea) thoroughly enjoyed our time learning about this local success story and the company he built from the ground up.
Les Davis is a self-motivated individual blessed with business savvy. Growing up on a farm in Tillamook, OR, he learned an exceptional work ethic at a young age. After his family moved to the big city of Hillsboro, Les spent his later high school years working for Noble Craft, a cabinet manufacturer, where he cleaned the saws. Here he was first introduced to print when being taught how to properly clean an old AB Dick press, sparking an interest in print that was never lost. Les graduated high school and took the Army up on their offer to pay for a recruit’s school of choice if he chose to stay enlisted for an additional year. During his time in the military, Les learned the ins and outs of running a press, including working both at the Pentagon processing orders and in Germany for Stars and Stripes, a military newspaper. After completing his military service, he returned to Oregon, eager to start a career in the print industry. A few years later, Lithtex Printing Solutions was founded.
If you’re a crafter of any sorts, you’ve probably heard the name Xyron and may even own a few of their products. Personally, I (Chelsea) loved Xyron products even before I came to work for MyBinding.com. So when Tarragon and I had the chance to chat with Corey Hoff, our company’s Xyron representative, needless to say I was a bit excited. Even better, he brought samples for us to play with: a miniature disposable “X”, Teresa Collins Mega Runner, unique glue stick, three new products that had my immediate attention.
Corey has been with Xyron for over six years. The company started in 1996 and was purchased by Esselte in 2003, joining other top brands such as Oxford, Pendaflex,and Ampad. Unlike many retailers, their reps are split by the type of product rather than region. For Corey, that means he mainly sells professional equipment. The result is a sales force better trained on the products they actually sell, allowing them to become the experts. Even so, Corey didn’t hesitate to answer our questions about a variety of items, as MyBinding sits somewhere in the middle of the professional/craft distinctions.
MyBinding.com, a division of Information Management Services, LLC, has appeared on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in the United States. The list details those businesses across the country that made at least $100,00 in 2007 and $2 million in 2010. The company has grown 141% over the past three years and appears on the list at position #1856.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be included on the Inc. 5000,” said Jeff McRitchie, Vice-President of Marketing for MyBinding.com. “It’s a real honor and we are extremely proud of our company.”
