we are denz

With so much of our daily communication taking place virtually through emails and text messages, face-to-face interaction is becoming increasingly scarce. And although technological progress has supposedly made us more efficient, it lacks the warmth of interpersonal communication, which can lead to misunderstandings.

As we become more emotionally detached in our daily encounters, we also risk losing touch with the world we live in. Remember the days when a handshake was all it took to secure trust and close the deal? When you could call up your bank manager for a chat? Nowadays one gets fobbed off to an automaton or alienating call centre where the only interaction is invariably to press an option on your keypad.

It's not all doom and gloom, however. There are still a few companies out there who do recognise the value of the personal touch and they're reaping the rewards. One example is the family-owned office supply company, Business2Exchange http://www.business2exchange.com.

Launched by Wiltshire entrepreneur Mark Holland in 2005, the company was created to address a gap in the market by providing a more personal, efficient and cost-effective service to small to medium businesses. It evolved from a business networking group which Holland had nurtured due to the positive spin-offs of word-of-mouth referrals and collaboration.

As a family business, Business2Exchange has the flexibility to adapt to changes quickly and respond competently to customer needs. The company has established a loyal clientele comprising organisations throughout the United Kingdom and offers next-day delivery on everything an office could possibly need - from stationery to machines, audio-visual equipment, furniture, catering, cleaning and Health and Safety products. Environmental protection is also high on their agenda and they stock a range of green products as well as providing a collection service for used ink cartridges and toners which are sent for recycling.

'We pride ourselves on providing a face-to-face, friendly and personalised service - a formula which has seen our business continue to flourish throughout the recession. We know all our customers by name and have never issued account numbers. Our success can be attributed to hard work and going the extra mile for our clients,' said Holland.

While customers do have the option of ordering products on-line, this has proved popular primarily with larger companies that need to monitor costs throughout different departments and schools, which find it easier to source products using the website. However, many businesses still prefer the personal approach and can benefit from tailored advice to optimise their budgets.

Holland believes one area where smaller businesses can benefit from web technologies is by networking on line to connect, share ideas with like-minded people and help each other win new business. 'You can't beat face-to-face interaction, but with everyone leading such busy lives, on-line communication offers an opportunity for businesses to network with each other and also for companies to interact with their customers and build their brands.

'Sites such as weareDenz offer value in providing a forum for people to team up virtually and benefit by forging links and creating symbiotic relationships,' he notes.

If you're interested in becoming part of the weareDenz business community network, contact us at info@wearedenz.com.