• Before my arrival, Z Company's "computer system" consisted of a 1985 Macintosh and an early '90s, DOS-based PC, both of which were quite outdated by today's standards. After assessing the company's business needs, I selected, ordered, and set up for them a brand new computer system consisting of the following elements:

  • three budget-priced Dell desktop PCs
  • one mid-level Dell laptop PC
  • Microsoft Office XP Small Business Edition for each PC
  • one mid-level scanner
  • two budget-priced personal laser printers
  • wireless networking equipment to connect everything together
    
    
  What's important to note is that I selected for Z Company computing equipment only for which they had a legitimate business need. Nothing more, and nothing less.
  
  

• Since Z Company had yet to harness the power of the Internet, I procured and set up for them a low-cost, business-class DSL service to give them basic e-mailing and Web-surfing capabilities.
  

• When I first met with Z Company, they were leasing a $20,000 color copier to print the labels for the bottles and drums of cleaning products they produce. After thoroughly researching the available alternatives, I signed my client up in Xerox's free color printers program for small businesses, obtained for them a free Xerox Phaser 860/DP color laser printer, and effectively reduced their color printing costs per month from $650 to $130, or more than $6,200 annually — a savings of 80%!
  

• As part of the process of reducing Z Company's color printing costs, I redesigned their labels to make their use of color more effective. As a result, Z Company's labels now look much more professional, they establish a better brand and product line identity, and they elevate the aesthetics of their products above that of their competitors. (See the before-and-after comparison below!)
  

• I'm currently in the process of helping Z Company migrate its accounting system from an early '90s, proprietary, DOS-based application to the multi-user QuickBooks Pro 2002 package. We conservatively estimate that the transition will save Z Company 500 to 1000 man-hours of administrative work annually, equivalent to $5,000 to $10,000 in salary costs.
  

• I'm currently in the process of designing a basic web presence for Z Company. The site is still in its infancy, but it will soon blossom into a powerful means for further enhancing the company's image and attracting new business.

desktop publishing

One of the easiest ways to see the value I provided to Z Company is to compare a sample original product label to the new one I designed for them.

Click on the thumbnail images below to open their full-size versions in a new window.

(view side-by-side)

"When I first met Scott, I had a good gut feeling about him. He seemed very knowledgeable and confident, but he was also honest and didn't make any promises he couldn't fulfill. Hiring Scott was the right thing for us to do, and he couldn't have come along at a better time. He's already saved us tons of money, and he's helping us revamp the way we do business."

Alan Zagurski
President
Z-Specialty Products, Inc. (aka "Z Company")

"Over the years, I've spent a lot of my time doing grunt-work that Scott is now helping us to eliminate through automation, making my job much more creative and enjoyable. The new technology we've been adding to our office has been a little overwhelming at first, but Scott's personalized tutoring-with-a-smile and bright optimism have helped me pick things up very quickly. He's fun to work with. :-)"

Jennifer Zagurski
The one who's really in charge
Z-Specialty Products, Inc.

"Scott is a great guy. He pets my tum-tum, gives me water when I'm thirsty, and tells me I look handsome in the bandanas my Mom makes me wear."

Jack Zagurski
Dog
Z-Specialty Products, Inc.