With over forty-five years of skin in the game, Bruce Peterson has experienced much success in the industry. As president & CEO of Colter & Peterson and an APTech board member, growing business for North America’s largest independent distributor of industrial paper and paper handling equipment requires tackling new challenges. His latest endeavor is Dealermart, a bold online experiment for shop owners and dealers looking to purchase or sell finishing equipment with minimal conditions.
Dealermart follows on the heels of another new service Peterson introduced last month. CutterMart provides reconditioned or certified used paper cutters and offers customers protection with user-friendly warranties. Dealermart is different, whereas it offers a wide selection of used machines at reasonable prices, but all will be sold without warranties.
“Dealermart is without a doubt our version of eBay,” he said. “Everyone has a price they are willing to pay and Dealermart gives them an opportunity to buy a machine inexpensively, with no frills or warranties.”
A Niche Situation for Specific Buyers
Peterson explained the concept is being tried due to market demand. Dealermart lists paper cutters and equipment that is intended for dealer resale and/or bulk dealer purchases at discounted prices.
Having his pulse on the industry has served Peterson well in the past. When interest in wide format printing exploded, he increased the width size of C&P’s paper cutters, They currently range from as small as 19-inches to 149-inches. In the last decade, he also began offering precision sheeting machines for customers who wanted to have better control over paper costs and inventory.
“With Dealermart, we are offering machines that were working when they were removed,” cites Peterson. “Some may even have been taken apart and stored in a warehouse. There is a paper cutter for everyone at almost any price if they have a limited budget. Everyone has their own price threshold level. There are people in the market who don’t worry about not having a warranty if they believe they are a getting a great deal.”
Peterson’s goal with Dealermart is simple.
“We are adjusting to the market. It is our hope that we can help assist dealers and other customers who may be having a difficult time finding the best machine for their application, or are having a difficult time selling their surplus machines,” he sums up. “Not long ago, I received a phone call from a customer of ours who was downsizing and had three paper cutters to sell. With over 150 machines in our warehouse and a few just like his, we did not have a place for them right now in our inventory. I’m sure there are others like him who have a similar situation and need an avenue to sell some equipment. We hope Dealermart is a solution.”
Peterson said the company’s track record makes a concept like Dealermart viable.
“Colter & Peterson has sold and installed over 10,000 machines in the last eighty-plus years,” he says. “I believe our reputation for taking care of customers and providing outstanding service has everything to do with our success today. Dealermart is the next step in continuing to give customers what they need to succeed.”
