YP Signal Corp began selling emergency vehicle equipment in July 2014, and it’s been a high-speed adventure ever since.
Flashing lights. Wailing sirens. For many, they’re a cause for alarm—or at the very least, concern. For Yiddi Paplanos, owner and CEO of YP Signal in Middletown, New York, they’re a reassuring sign that his business is making a difference.
From vehicle consoles and LED grille & body mount lights, to dash cameras, YP Signal’s products cover the gamut of emergency equipment that allow fire fighters, police officers, paramedics, EMTs, and yes, tow truck drivers, to quickly and bravely respond to cries for help.
The distributor’s ability to provide what its customers need and want is only matched by the customer service it provides.
Over 90% of YP Signal’s customers are B2B wholesale customers, upfitters, and city fleets/agencies. The other 10% are those who buy their products via eBay, Amazon FBM (which means YP Signal manages the fulfillment process), and YP Signal’s Shopify site.
But YP Signal’s success wasn’t immediate. It was, in fact, being restrained by its need for a more advanced inventory and accounting solution.
According to Yiddi, Quickbooks’ limitations was creating an emergency of epic proportions.
“We had no idea what we had in stock, what we sold, what we had on order. We didn’t know who’s paying, who didn’t pay. And I’m not exaggerating.”
Yiddi and his then team of two needed to get their operation on track, so Yiddi made his own 911 call—to friend and Streamline Business Solutions owner Simon Bondo.
Simon was up for the task. Together, he and Yiddi created a solid list of technological needs and wants, and with said list in hand, they explored several different options, including both Cin7 and Fishbowl. However, they quickly discovered that Cin7 was the inventory management software (IMS).
With Simon’s help, Yiddi implemented Cin7 on June 29, 2022, a day he vows he will never forget. According toYiddi, they were able to smooth everything out and learn the system within an astoundingly short two months.
Two and a half years later, Yiddi has taken this deep knowledge and grown his business by:
Most importantly, Yiddi shares that Cin7 enables him to have all operational information on a single screen. This includes his online sites, wholesale customer data, shipping information, and more, empowering him to make data (not gut) driven decisions.
"Everything is on one screen, and that’s why I chose Cin7.”
As a distributor, Yiddi has experienced the ups and downs of buying from other businesses that have, at times, been unable to supply the products he needed when he needed them—a disaster to avoid at all costs. His experience in the industry has also given him insight into product gaps, so he decided to try his hand at manufacturing.
Yiddi estimates that manufacturing and selling his own products will double or triple the number of sales that YP Signal is making currently with distribution alone.
After doing his research, Yiddi determined that his customers had a need for specialized Vehicle Command Cabinets and set about making it happen.
“I never dreamed I would ever be there, but because we had Cin7, Simon was able to literally turn on the manufacturing modules,” Yiddi says. “With Cin7, we can assemble, disassemble, and still have inventory available.”
YP Signal is moving full speed ahead as a distributor and manufacturer, and Yiddi gives Cin7 much of the credit for its success.
As a first responder himself, Yiddi understands the selfless actions taken every day to protect, comfort, and safeguard a community. With the help of Simon and Cin7, YP Signal will continue to supply and build the quality equipment needed to keep first responders safe as they ensure the safety of those around them.