NPSOA Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Marketing, content, & technology to help printers sell more printing

Printers from across the nation gathered in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, this past weekend for the National Print and Sign Owners Association conference. What an incredible time of learning, connecting, and growing the future of the print industry! While events like these often leave you energized, all of your intentions can easily fall to the wayside when you find yourself back in the midst of the daily grind. That means there’s no time like the present to put your newly acquired knowledge into practice. Maximize your post-conference momentum with our top eight strategies! 1. Reflect on key takeaways Dedicate time to mentally process the information, insights, and experiences gathered at the conference. Make a list of the most important lessons learned, ideas that resonated with you, and trends that could impact your work or industry. Mapping out key takeaways will help you create a follow-up action plan. 2. Organize and review conference materials Sort through any pamphlets, business cards, and promotional materials collected during the conference. Review them carefully to ensure that no crucial information is overlooked and to refresh your memory on essential topics. 3. Restructure your personal notes Since notetaking during conferences can be somewhat scattered, it’s important to

Located in the “Valley of the Sun,” Cereus Graphics has called Phoenix, Arizona, home since 1973. If you do the math, you’ll quickly recognize that this one-of-a-kind printing firm is celebrating 50 years in the business this year! Five decades of service is quite a legacy, and it’s been made possible primarily because of the Cereus Graphics team, a group of stand-out industry experts and craftspeople who combine advanced digital technologies with traditional offset printing. Cereus Graphics has discovered the key to meeting a wide range of printing and packaging needs by accommodating even the most demanding schedules without sacrificing quality or precision. But who exactly is Cereus Graphics? To answer that question, you have to start at the beginning. Introducing Cereus Graphics Cereus Graphics began its journey as G&G Printers, founded in 1973 by Tom Ginter and his dad, George, and in 1995, Tom bought controlling interest of the company. From 2000 to 2003, G&G Printers underwent an interesting journey on its way to becoming Cereus Graphics. It started in 2000 when a company called PRINTSOURCE USA purchased both G&G Printers and Commercial Lithographers, Inc, which was also located in Phoenix. Six months later, Kelmscott Communications purchased PRINTSOURCE USA

Don’t miss the opportunity to join us at the 11th Annual NPSOA Owners Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Held from March 16-18th, this annual event is always one of the highlights of our year. We look forward to seeing and connecting with you there! It can be challenging to step away from the daily operations of your business, but it’s essential for your success. To get the most significant benefit from your time out of the office, you need to set goals and plan to make the most of this break. After all, if you’re investing money to attend a trade show, don’t you want to get something in return? Get the Most Out of Your Visit to NPSOA Conference with These 10 Tips! To ensure your hard-earned money and time are used efficiently, here are ten strategies to capitalize on this event and attain optimal returns. 1. Do Your Homework Before attending a trade show, you must do your homework to understand all available opportunities. To ensure you are adequately prepared for success, arm yourself with the necessary knowledge and resources to help you reach your goals. Here’s a list of items worth researching before getting started: The

Pioneer [payh-uh-neer] n., One who goes before to prepare or open the way for others to follow. Have you ever stopped to think how much courage it takes to be the first at something? Sure, it’s easy to spout off words like “pioneer” and “trailblazer,” but consider how challenging it is to go your own way and go there first. How do the pioneers, the trailblazers, know where to go and when? How do they find the strength within themselves to beat back the questions of self-doubt or the weariness and simply go for it? What’s more, some pioneers don’t even recognize that’s what they are. Cyndy Harkins of Pioneer Printing in Lincoln, Nebraska, is one such pioneer. Introducing Pioneer Printing Semi-retired, and having moved from Illinois, Cyndy’s parents, Bud and Genni Rettke, thought they needed something to do and wanted to give the world of printing a try. So, in 1980, they opened the very first Sir Speedy in all of Nebraska and Lincoln. Shortly thereafter, in 1981, Cyndy moved to Lincoln and began to help her parents in the print business as a press operator. “I wanted to help my parents out, so I moved to Lincoln and

“Coming together is a beginning; Keeping together is progress; Working together is success.” – Henry Ford Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, was a visionary on innovation whose love for learning and perseverance profoundly shaped the 20th century. Ford, and innovators like him, have the self-confidence, vision, and leadership abilities to see things differently, and the courage to change them. Innovators give themselves permission to think out-of-the-box, and they let their ideas percolate into fruition. So, ask yourself: Are printers innovators? Are you an innovator? Mike Jensen, President and Owner of Tri M Graphics in Owatonna, Minnesota, believes that innovation can not only help printers stand out, but it helps their print buyers as well. In fact, the foundational mission of Tri M Graphics is “Building Relationships through Innovation and Integrity.” But let’s back up a little. Introducing Tri M Graphics Centrally located in southern Minnesota, Tri M Graphics has a rich history. Like many family-owned printing companies, the beginnings of Tri M Graphics started as a garage hobby and quickly escalated into a future-changing family career. “My dad, Jon, was actually a sider before starting his printing company,” explains Mike. “In 1985, while hanging some siding on a

Pricing could be considered one of the great debates. Small business owners are often riddled with questions like these: “Should I lower my prices to beat out the competition?” “Or should I increase my prices to show I have more value to offer?” “Should I show my pricing on my website?” While these types of questions may continue to come as part of entrepreneurship, the last one can be tackled by looking at a few myths regarding online pricing. Take a look below. 3 Myths About Putting Pricing on Your Print Website Myth No. 1: Not Having Pricing on My Website Doesn’t Reflect My Print Business Famous American poet Emily Dickinson once wrote, “Saying nothing sometimes says the most.” Are you “saying nothing” when it comes to your website pricing? Listing pricing on your website lets your clients and prospects know exactly what they will get and for how much. You could even go so far as to say that pricing helps to build trust with your audience because it allows you as the printer the opportunity to both offer and delivery on a promise. Another way pricing reflects your print business is it gives your print buyers an idea

There’s a quote by Zimbabwean-born and Canadian-based philosopher Matshona Dhilwayo that goes like this: “The ordinary think inside of the box, the extraordinary think outside of the box, but the genius thinks inside, outside, below and above the box.” Dick Olenych, owner of Spectrum Printing (Home of the Happy Printers) in Virginia Beach, Virginia, uses this genius-described way of thinking to position his print (and other) businesses differently from anyone else’s. Dick’s interesting perspective and approach to the world of business are worth exploring for yourself and your print business. Introducing Spectrum Printing: A Marketing Foundation While many small- to mid-size printers found their start in the world of print through the family or production side of entrepreneurship, Dick had a different beginning. Dick spent 25 years in the unique dynamics of corporate America running national programs. In 2005, Dick decided to go into print, seeing the print industry as a customer-focused industry that suited his mentality and an ever-changing space due to technology. “Little did I know that owning a small business could be so difficult,” says Dick. “I came into print through a sales and marketing background, which I believe makes it easier for me to position for success.

There are two words synonymous with Brandywine Printing: community and family. But those aren’t the only words you could use to describe this family-owned, all-digital printing firm nestled south of the Chattahoochee National Forest and northeast of Atlanta, Georgia. Words such as growth, innovation, and networking could also easily roll off your tongue to highlight the legacy of this unique small business. Introducing Brandywine Printing: All in the Family Derek Brooks, the owner of Brandywine Printing, grew up in the printing industry helping his dad fulfill print orders out of their basement. “My dad was a service tech for ABDick,” says Derek. “One day, he brought an old ABDick printing press home and refurbished it. He restored that press like a classic car taking out each and every piece. When he finished it and the person who was supposed to buy the press didn’t, Dad decided to try his hand at printing something. He started printing overflow jobs from his ABDick customers, then started working with brokers. Before we knew it, we had three presses in our basement, and I was 10 years old helping my dad.” As it turns out, Derek’s dad, Derrell, excelled at printing, and the family business

For the past few months, we’ve been featuring printing companies that are stand-out marketers as part of our Marketing Ideas For Printers’ Print Marketing Expert of the Month series. But have you ever stopped to think what exactly it takes to be called a stand-out marketer? A lot of companies make the mistake of thinking that stand-out marketers are those that have the greatest success, are all-wise in the ways of marketing, and have never failed. But the truth is, there are several things that can earn you the badge of “Stand-Out Marketer.” Here are a few to consider. Stand-Out Marketers Do These 5 Things 1. They put the print buyer first. To be exceptional at marketing, stand-out marketers take a backseat to the needs of their customers and prospects. Instead of their sales and marketing materials being filled with stories about themselves, the marketing experts cast their customers or prospects in the starring role of hero. In fact, the only time these kings of marketing describe their company is in the context of how a client used them, or could use them, to win. The best marketers are the guides, the coaches that focus on setting up their customers for success and cheering

Innovation isn’t easy. In fact, it’s typically accompanied by some pretty heavy fear. That’s why innovation tends to be put off until “the busy season is over,” “we’re back on our feet,” or “things return to normal after COVID.” Sound a little too familiar? Sure, your knees might wobble when you think about stepping out of your comfort zone, but that idea you have floating around in your head… the world needs to hear it! It doesn’t benefit anyone (including you) if it remains stuck inside your head. “As part of being innovative, you have to be willing to fail. It’s not always easy. The last year has been challenging. But all I have is today. Sure, I have to plan for tomorrow, but I also have to trust that the Lord has it figured it out, and that’s enough for me.” Those are the words of Joe Gass, president and co-owner of Heritage Signs & Displays, where innovation began by merely following a set-forth purpose, a purpose of striving “to be a valued resource that honors God by serving others.” But let’s back up a little. Introducing Heritage Signs & Displays: Pursuing Excellence. Continuing Success. Brothers Joe and Steve Gass purchased Gass Printing Service in 1988 from their parents, following Joe’s six years of service in the

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