story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
South Mississippi Living Magazine www.smliving.net
photos by Katherine Sowers and courtesy of South Mississippi Business Machines
As technology advances so does the way we do business, and South Mississippi Business Machines has been leading the way for more than three decades. Located in Gulfport, the locally-owned business machine supplier offers Gulf Coast businesses the latest and greatest in office technology, including copiers, networking capabilities and document management.
“We are a one stop shop type of office equipment company,” General Manager Travis Cuevas said. “We sell, supply and service multi-function copiers, printers, fax machines, paper shredders and interactive display boards, as well as computers and related IT services. We also locally warehouse a large inventory of parts, supplies and hardware, which allows us to be very responsive to our client’s needs.” South Mississippi Business Machines came from humble beginnings, originating in a small flower shop across the street from its current location. “We started with only five employees and now employ more than 25 people, including trained IT services and networking departments” said Cuevas. According to Cuevas, South Mississippi Business Machines is the largest and only locally-owned copier business of this
size and kind left on the Coast. “There is really a big difference between a local business and a locally-owned business,” he says. “There are some satellite sales offices for companies on the Coast, but their administration and inventory are out of state or town. We are owned and operated by people right here in the area.” Cuevas said there are many benefits
to doing business with a locally owned business, but the quality of customer service is what sets South Mississippi Business Machines apart from its competitors. “The way technology has changed, it’s really put the emphasis on service,” Cuevas said. “You need someone who is going to have parts and supplies right at their fingertips, because if your machine is down, your business is down. We have a warehouse in Gulfport full of the supplies, parts and machines that local businesses need to carry out their daily activities. If you call me today and need a
machine, I can get it to you the same day. It works the same for parts and supplies.” The average tenure of employees at South Mississippi Business Machines is 15 years, which has allowed the staff to develop the many long-term relationships they share with their clients. For them, it’s all about getting to know the customers and understanding the needs of each individual business. While supporting a locally owned business has benefits for the customer, Cuevas said it also has a strong impact on the local economy. “Feed the roots,” he said. “Always think local first. A large percentage of the money spent with local businesses goes right back into our community. These businesses are owned by people who live here, work here, and have a vested interest in this place. They are the roots that feed the tree of a prosperous community.”
