Ron Coombe Email & Phone Number

Australia

Extensive research on new opportunities in particular  Clean Energy – Solar Market Aging Population Market Food Production and Security

Australia

Name Change to Multitec FBM, to better reflect the Commercial equipment we were importing and marketing. I employed sales reps and engineers to service our own customers. We sold sophisticated systems to large Mail Houses, Govt departments and Printers. We exhibited at the major Exhibitions.In 2000 the new Digital Print systems emerged and started to change the equipment mix, and we started importing from China.

Australia

Photobooks were emerging and customers were asking for Hard Cover Photobook production solutions. The current equipment was an old fashioned, expensive , large and complex. After much research I discovered there was no compact, simple solution available anywhere. So I decided to apply our energies to develop a simple and inexpensive hard cover book binding system, capable of producing short run high quality books. This proved to be a far greater technical challenge than originally envisaged. We applied for and was granted a Research and Development grant from the Australian Government which contributed $650,000 over 4 years for the project. We had many failures, but with persistence, combined with a skilful and determined team we ultimately developed the Photoslive Book Binding System and successfully patented it in the USA , Europe and most Asian countries.At the same time I was endeavouring to keep Multitec's sales going and was using funds generated to support the Photoslive project. With the development completed we needed approx $350,000 to bring the product to market. The Govt funding program did not provide any marketing support andwe could not interest any Aust Venture Capitalist in investing. The entire project was ultimately put on hold in 2014.

Australia

In the first month I sold the entire container load and ordered another. I then approached the Japanese manufacture and secured the distribution rights for Europe. With a Swiss partner I formed Felcom Switzerland and distributed the Polyfold through a European dealer network that we established .Meanwhile the Minitek product range increased to Mailing and Paper Handling equipment sourced primarily from Europe.

Australia

oined Xerox Australia working directly for the MD. First asigned task was to visit all Xerox offices in Australia and report back to the MD on the issues the company was experiencing, and recommended solutions on how to return the company to profit.Next I was appointed National Marketing Manager Supplies Division. It employed 30 staff with a revenue of $8 million and a $2million Nett Profit. My role was to develop the product range, add new products and introduce marketing plans. Essentially it was a Paper, Toner and Ribbon supplies business to support the Xerox machine sales, customer data base.First job was to redesign and rebrand all packaging to create a more upmarket image, then I increased the selling price. I then changed the Reps commission plans with greater incentives on higher end product sales, at full price and contract indent sales. This fired up the sales team and Sales and Gross profit immediately surged.I then researched the worlds premium Paper Manufacturers, purchased directly in bulk volumes from Finland, Germany, France, Japan etc, and substantially reduced our cost. I followed this with slick marketing plans aimed at our major customers, ran competitions, gave away cars and holidays to Fiji, all of which were extremely successful. The divisions Nett Profit grew to $18millionAUD. Then on a visit to the USA I found a new desktop paper folding machine and purchased a full container of 960 units for Xerox Supplies Division. On return to Australia, Xerox HO, outright refused to allow us to sell what was essentially a machine.I purchased the container of machines myself from Xerox, resigned, and started Minitek selling paper folders.