Apple Graphics -- Little Fish, Big Pond
"When I was selling Precision Litho (in 1996), like Kevin, I didn't have the capital to push the company to the next level. I stopped having fun because I was an administrator by force and really wanted to be an entrepreneur. After selling to CGX, I was able to offload those responsibilities to the resources at corporate—worrying about purchasing and human resource issues. It allowed me to get back to what I wanted to do, which was to build my own business. That made it more fun."
The fun for Polley came in the form of $750,000 worth of prepress equipment, including a CreoScitex Dolev platesetter and IRIS digital proofers for computer-to-plate production. The bindery area was next, the recipient of a new, high-speed Stahl folder, Muller Martini stitcher/trimmer, Heidelberg diecutting press and other assorted equipment. Soon, a 4,000-square-foot expansion will be added for the introduction of fulfillment capabilities.
According to Chris Colville, executive vice president and un-official transactions maven for CGX, his company's blueprint is finding those independent candidates which boast outstanding managerial skills, business acumen and honesty. Polley, like Rampe, merited the investment.
"We want our presidents to run the companies and be successful, and we'll help them however we can," Colville says. "And, in Kevin's case, it's been a series of investments as he deepens his sales relationships and as he creates opportunities. His Fortune 500 clients are all large, national companies that can benefit from the other capabilities we have in our other companies. Our job at Consolidated Graphics. . . is to make sure we facilitate Kevin Polley being able to do whatever he needs to do to be successful."
Winning Combination
CGX and Apple Graphics have proven to be mutual catalysts. Polley was contacted by an entertainment customer recently with a request for one million four-over-four 81⁄2x11˝ flyers that needed to be delivered to 460 locations on a Friday. One catch: the disk with the needed files would not be available to Polley until Wednesday at noon.
