Tom recently got ahold of a label maker. A dangerous development.
It started with good intentions. He was visiting a small city office where the clerk asked if he could help her “make some sense of the chaos” in their storage area. Tom offered to take a quick look. That turned into a full-blown sorting session. And then someone handed him a label maker.
That’s when things spiraled.
He began organizing banker boxes: “Meeting Minutes 1997–2002” and “Payroll – Needs Review” were helpful. But 45 minutes later, the copier read “NOT A COFFEE MACHINE”, his briefcase was labeled “Tom’s Secrets”, and the office candy jar became “Emergency Filing Motivation.”
When the Label Maker Isn’t Enough
Everyone had a good laugh—but behind the humor was a very real problem. This office didn’t know what they were storing, why they were storing it, or what they were allowed to get rid of. There were boxes labeled “Old Stuff,” “Do Not Open,” and our personal favorite: “Probably Important?”
They’re not alone. It’s a scene Tom encounters almost every week across Iowa.
Records Chaos Is Real—But Fixable
At Advantage Document Scanning & Storage Solutions, we help local governments, clinics, utilities, and schools bring structure to the mess. Whether it’s a records closet, a storage facility, or a full building of paper, we help identify:
- What records you actually have
- What legally needs to be retained (and for how long)
- What can be securely shredded, stored off-site, or digitized
- And how to finally get ahead of the paper instead of falling behind it
Tom doesn’t show up with a pitch. He shows up with coffee, conversation, and a plan built for you. No jargon. No pressure. Just help that makes sense for your space, your budget, and your timeline.
It’s More Than Labels. It’s a Plan.
That clerk? Within two weeks, we were scanning years of outdated records, setting up a new digital structure, and helping her breathe easier. And yes—Tom is still banned from using the label maker unsupervised.
Need Help Organizing the Chaos?
If your storage room is a mystery, your boxes are unlabeled (or too creatively labeled), or you’re just tired of the paper pile growing year after year, Tom’s ready to help. He’ll stop by in person, walk through your situation, and give you straightforward, expert advice on how to take control of it.
Email him directly at tom@advantageds3.com, or stop by Booth 70 at the Iowa League of Cities conference to say hello.
He may have a label on his shirt. But don’t worry—it probably just says: “Tom – Here to Help.”
