TOP 50 SUPPLIERS: Leading by Example
In addition to the solutions already mentioned, we are developing a new solution called Liquid Press, a service that will change key components of the print-buying cycle and will delight our customers. This service is another one of many from 4over that will revolutionize the efficiency of a business and empower customers to grow.
P+P: What is the industry’s biggest struggle, and can it be fixed?
ZM: The No. 1 struggle for this industry, as we see it, is the investment cost, and the amount of time required to stay current with print technology and operational advances. Managing multiple employees, purchasing expensive print equipment, [doing] maintenance, [making] debt payments—all of these are daunting and can slow growth. Running a business is risky. Our answer to this dichotomy is an effective outsourcing solution. By leveraging the experience and assets of companies like 4over, customers can scale up their growth without assuming the risk of capital expenses. This gives them the freedom to either delay investment until the market materializes, or to continue outsourcing to 4over.
P+P: What is the key to becoming—and remaining—a top supplier?
ZM: The keys to becoming—and remaining—a top supplier lie in the efficiency and creativity of a company, in addition to the ability to anticipate customer needs. 4over demonstrates efficiency and creativity by introducing services like EDDM Full Service, Con4rm and MyMarketing into the market. These services enable customers to perfect their profits, and grow their businesses quickly and effectively with no additional investment. We are continuously evaluating our workflow solutions and strategies based on the customer feedback and market trends that we witness. We make sure that we’re continuously developing new products, an optimal user experience and breakthrough solutions that speak to these trends, so that we’re always two steps ahead of the curve.
3. OneTouchPoint
Principal: Chris Illman, President
Print+Promo (P+P): What was your company’s biggest accomplishment over the last year?
Chris Illman (CI): 2015 is a huge year for us. We believe there is a real market need for marketing execution providers who provide personalized, flexible, responsive service with national strength and scale. In response to the opportunity, we have strengthened our leadership team, expanded the depth of our marketing services offering and continued to invest in innovative equipment, like the Canon [Océ VarioPrint] i300 inkjet color device. All of these things allow us to deepen our strategic partnerships, while reducing time to market, lowering costs and expanding our single-source capabilities.
P+P: What is your company’s top priority for 2016?
CI: Our top priority is helping companies use our services to grow their business. We want to make communicating easier, more efficient and more effective. With so many channels, clients and prospects are being bombarded. Companies have to create meaningful interactions to stand apart. Print and promotional items do just that, and when the pieces are part of a comprehensive program and not just a one-off, it truly can transform relationships and behavior.
P+P: What makes this industry so special? What does it get right?
CI: Our services provide tangible products that employees, customers and prospects want to hold on [to] and keep, which is unique in a disposable culture.
P+P: What is the industry’s biggest struggle, and can it be fixed?
CI: Awareness—I think it is quality versus quantity. Although print and promo have higher costs than digital channels, they frequently have a higher return-on-marketing investment. The quality of leads, [and] the ability to retain customers and compel action are driven more often from print and promo. I think a lot of companies look at how many people they reach—not how many people they are converting—which causes them to miss sales opportunities.
P+P: What is the key to becoming—and remaining—a top supplier?
CI: Service and insight. We are committed to our clients’ happiness and success, and we work hard to offer our experience and suggestions. We aren’t just order takers; we truly see ourselves as being a client partner, invested in their success and actively working to make their business stronger.
P+P: Is there anything you would like to add?
CI: We are excited about how the industry continues to evolve. We feel like the increasing migration to personalization, the demand for single-source solutions and the increasing need to integrate the customer experience across touch point are right in our wheelhouse, and we are looking forward to continued growth.
4. Western States Envelope & Label
Principal: Mark Lemberger, CEO and President
Print+Promo (P+P): What was your company’s biggest accomplishment over the last year?
Mark Lemberger (ML): Last year, we successfully completed a number of major initiatives designed to improve our ability to service our customers’ needs and improve their ability to grow their own businesses. The most notable projects included the conversion of several of our envelope-manufacturing facilities over to focused factory environments to improve efficiencies and response times. We also added a new state-of-the-art, stock-order picking module at our Butler, Wisconsin-based envelope facility. This new picking module has significantly expanded the window in which we can fill and ship stock orders the same day as ordered by our customers.
P+P: What is your company’s top priority for 2016?
ML: Our top priority for 2016 is to continue to expand our production capacity to handle the increased volumes of business we have experienced with our successful, growing customers. Our continuous improvement efforts combined with additional equipment, people and improved processes will also help us to maintain and improve upon all of our performance metrics.
P+P: What makes this industry so special? What does it get right?
ML: Our industry is populated with many smart people who are willing to work hard to achieve success. Over the course of time, each of us develops a mutual respect for anyone who makes a living in this industry, and we learn to find and rely upon trusted partners who can help us to build our businesses to the next level of success.
P+P: What is the industry’s biggest struggle, and can it be fixed?
ML: Periods of declining volume and overcapacity within our industry sometimes contribute to a commodity mindset among sellers and buyers alike. We need to do a better job of stressing the value of what we do and we need to make full use of new technology to build higher value into the products we provide. More personalization, shorter time to market, and the addition of innovative features to improve the utility and desirability of our products are ways in which this can be accomplished.
P+P: What is the key to becoming—and remaining—a top supplier?
ML: Focus on your customers. Listen to them. Learn their business. Your value comes in providing products and ideas geared toward your customers’ success. Your own success will be a function of how well you are able to help them succeed.
P+P: Is there anything you would like to add?
ML: I would like to tell everyone that [we are] positioned better than ever to be the best possible envelope and label partner you could select to help you grow your business in 2016.