You're the Best Around

From a proposed major postal overhaul to the country's anemic recovery, many continue to question whether the industry is headed anywhere but down. It's easy to get caught up in the disheartening headlines. However, if this year's top three suppliers have anything to say about it, the industry isn't sinking any time soon.

It's not terribly surprising to see Ennis Inc., Midlothian, Texas, 4over Inc., Glendale, Calif., and Western States Envelope & Label, Milwaukee, dominate once again. Successful companies are run by CEOs who flip the script in place of traditional business models. In the case of Ennis, 4over and Western States Envelope & Label, all three suppliers are using technology in different ways with the same result: profit. Whether it's for selling to a younger demographic, adding value to core products or streamlining workflows, technology continues to play an advisory role to these executives.

In the following section, we'll take a closer look at the makings of 2014's big three. See what some of the industry's brightest minds had to say about strategy, ongoing concerns and the year ahead.

1. Ennis Inc.
Principal: Keith Walters, Chairman, CEO and President
www.ennis.com

Print+Promo (P+P): What was your company's greatest success over the last year?
Keith Walters (KW): First would be another successful year in our industry, which continues to be challenging. A close second would be the acquisitions of Folder Express, Wisco Envelope, NIC (National Imprint), and the five locations that previously were under the Sovereign Business Forms brand [Curtis Business Forms, Falcon Business Forms, Forms Manufacturers, Mutual Graphics and Tri-C Business Forms]. These companies strengthened our folder and envelope product lines, while adding manufacturing capabilities to new regions. We will continue to integrate these organizations into Ennis and get them comfortable with our culture and systems. Also, continue the dialogue with additional printing companies that may want to join the industry footprint we are building.