Tri-Copy was founded by Derek Mills and Sherrie Mills on September 1, 1999 in Fayetteville, GA. Since then, they’ve gone from having a sole employee to a team of 16. From having zero contacts on that first day of business to now having over 2,400 satisfied clients as of September 2024, this month marks 25 years since the sale of their first black and white copier.
The Beginnings of Tri-Copy
Sherrie was a teacher and Derek was a salesperson when they decided to take that leap of faith in 1999. It was just three months before Y2K and the arrival of their third child. Who would ever think of starting a new business with so many uncertainties in the picture?
Had they known then the challenges that awaited them over the past 25 years, they might never have stepped away from the comfort of their previous careers, but sometimes, you just have to jump into the unknown. With hard work and daily trust in God, they overcame. Worry was replaced with faith, and then, failure became simply not an option.
Tri-Copy’s First Sale
Mr. Charles Ballard of Ballard and Ballard Law was their first client. Though he has since passed, they have the machine on display in their office with his picture. Derek and Sherrie also hold a heart full of gratitude for his decision to trust them. That first sale back in 1999 proved to them that if they could sell one, they could sell one thousand.
This copier was their starting point, and that’s also all it did—no scanning, no faxing, no color, and no printing—just black and white copies. Shortly after, the digital copier was introduced domestically and now the name of the game was to EVOLVE or die. As a connected device, the world now had technology that could print and copy. Scanning was slow to develop and was one of the last advancements to the digital copier.
The First Wave of Evolution
What could change in 25 years regarding technology? How could anyone be ready for what was happening in society, business, or tech?
Over the past 25 years, Tri-Copy has adapted to new technologies and innovations in the printing industry. They have expanded their services from solely selling copiers to offering managed print solutions, document management systems, and IT services. This evolution has allowed them to continue to provide the best of the best solutions for their clients, but it didn’t always begin this way.
For Tri-Copy to succeed, it required enduring intense challenges to learn and grow. It demanded grit and determination to persist the brick and mortar streets of the South Atlanta business community.
In 1999, smartphones had yet to be invented and dial-up internet was it. Everything was poorly capitalized, everyone used printed phone books, and there was no such thing as YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter. That first copier sale was nothing more than a copier but eventually, print became their next lean into the industry.
The Next Success Story
In 2007, Tri-Copy performed an analysis for the largest credit union in Georgia, Delta Community Credit Union. This identified savings of $1,000 per month in hard dollar costs and replacing obsolete equipment with the latest technology.
They have since maintained and expanded their relationship with DCCU over the past 17 years to include the corporate office and all branch locations in Georgia and the lower 48 states. Additionally, Tri-Copy came up with a print software solution that provides 100% uptime for employees’ print and copy needs.
Each employee has controlled access to every connected device and can retrieve their jobs from a copier by swiping their badge. If one unit is being maintained, they can go to the next available unit to retrieve their prints. This solution, known as follow-me printing, has been well-received. They love it.
The Convergence With IT
The next evolution for Tri-Copy was tandem print technology, which provided affordable business color solutions, leading to the large-scale introduction of color digital copiers for businesses. As experience grew over the years in working with various tech providers, CONVERGENCE became the next natural step in Tri-Copy’s growth.
Derek and Sherrie soon became familiar with IT companies through their working relationships, which led to strategic partnerships and the establishment of a Managed IT division within their company. As infrastructure continued to improve globally with Internet Service Providers, the next addition to their Lines of Business became a reality in 2019.
This year marked their entry into Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Communications.
Now, Tri-Copy’s clients can work directly with their technical staff to implement and support unified communications as a service (UCaaS) without the headaches of dealing with the nation’s largest telephone giants and their ineffective customer service departments.
In 2023, they introduced another essential for every workplace and employee: healthy hydration solutions. Pure Water Solutions for the workplace include ice, hot, cold, and ambient water. Providing healthy water and encouraging proper hydration during the business day increases labor productivity, decreases health issues, and is a primary need for all to optimize metabolic health.
Continued Growth and Innovation
One thing is certain, technology will never stop evolving. With each new advancement, there is an opportunity for businesses to grow and innovate, and that is what Tri-Copy is here to help you do. They have come a long way from that first sale in 1999 and will continue to push the boundaries of innovation in the future to support their clients in business success.
Tri-Copy is now a full-service technology company that provides solutions for businesses of all sizes. Now offering flexible lease offerings for customers to fit all budgets and scopes, this is the next wave of advancement. Thank you for joining us for the journey.
A Word From One of The Founders
My wife, Sherrie, and I decided for the good of our family to share this vision and journey. We are partners in life and in business: 50/50. Truth also be told, it’s more 70/30 with her being the largest component. She is the inner workings and I engage the marketplace. It has proven to be a very wonderful situation and we both are thankful to God for His blessings.
As we look towards the next 25 years, it’s exciting to think about what new technologies will emerge and how Tri-Copy will continue to shape the landscape of the printing and IT industries. Thank you for your support of Tri-Copy, and we look forward to supporting you in your success.
— Derek Mills
