Meet Tom G. Mainville, Owner of TGM Copiers

I remember the Mainville brothers growing up on Center Street and attending Verplanck School. They were the family that had nine boys. I first met Tom at a party held by a BNI business leads exchange group a few years ago. At the time, Tom was Chair of the group, and I could tell that he was very enthusiastic about his business. I met Tom again at the Greater Manchester Chamber Holiday party in January, and he agreed to talk about how he started TGM Copiers.

Tim Becker: I know that you grew up in Manchester. Where did you go after Verplanck?

Tom Mainville: Yes, I grew up with eight brothers. My father Edward, a Marine, always kept us motivated. He instilled a stong work ethic in us. I attended Bennett Middle School, and Howell Cheney Technical School, and attended Hartford State Technical College. I studied electrical theory and electro-mechanical engineering. I got a position as a copier technician in the 1980s and worked all over the East Coast.

Timothy Becker: Tell me about your business?

Tom Mainville: TGM Copiers is a copier, printer, and fax machine sales, service and supply company. We have 28 years in the business. Our customer service is the key component to our success.

Timothy Becker: How did you start your business?

Tom Mainville: I worked for a larger competitor and I saw a lot of unhappy customers. There was a void that needed to be filled. I learned as a paperboy that good customer service creates success. In my first year in business, I doubled the salary that I was making as a copier technician. I worked out of my home for 17 years. I then rented a space from Nutmeg Mechanical on Utopia Road for seven years.

Timothy Becker: How did you wind up moving your business to the old Marine Club at 717 Parker St.?

Tom Mainville: A customer and business neighbor, Bob Allenson, owner of Aerospace Alloys Inc. offered to sell me the building that he was using for storage. The building needed total renovation. My family, friends and some of my customers helped with the renovation.

Tim Becker: What new services are you offering this year?

Tom Mainville: We now offer two-sided high speed color copies while you wait. Our first color copy customer, Mike Polo of AdChem Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. brought us their new catalog to print. My daughter Samanta is now in charge of our walk-in color copy center.

Tim Becker: What new products are you promoting in 2012?

Tom Mainville: We are now selling and supporting the Konica Minolta Bizhub color copiers. They are noted for their high resolution and quality of color.

Tim Becker: How has your customer service made you successful?

Tom Mainville: We will always cater to the smallest needs of our customers. City Fish in Wethersfield was my first customer in 1983 and they are still our customer. We cater to small businesses because small businesses grow. TGM is about building business relationships.

Tim Becker: Tom, would you ever consider going back to work for a large copier company?

Tom Mainville: Not on your life. I love controlling my own destiny. Every new customer is a relationship for the future.

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