Printing Impressions 300 Fast-Track Firm: Imagine Leads with Innovation and Customer Dedication

The printing businesses recognized as Fast-Track Firms on the newly published, 2023 Printing Impressions 300 (click here to access the complete PI 300 list) of the largest printers in the U.S. and Canada, as ranked by annual sales, are not all the same. They serve different constituencies in different ways. What joins them is not necessarily what they do and how they do it, but instead their commitment to growth, to expansion, to customer service, and to exemplary sales performance.

Read below why Printing Impressions recognized Imagine as a Fast-Track Firm.

Imagine | Minneapolis, Minnesota

Most Recent Fiscal Year Sales: $400 Million
Previous Fiscal Year Sales: $351 Million
Percentage Growth: 14%

As both a printing company and marketing services provider, Imagine holds a strong and unique place in the industry, points out Don McKenzie, acting CEO and executive chairman. | Credit: Imagine

Don McKenzie, acting CEO and executive chairman of Imagine, describes the company as “the largest visual communications company in the world.” He says that, as a leader in that category, Imagine is unique because it possesses the size, scale, and sheer horsepower to meet the full-service needs of marketers. The company also possesses a very committed and loyal customer base. “Our top 50 customers have been with Imagine for 15 years or more,” he points out.

Asked if there have been any significant changes to the company, McKenzie notes Imagine has been investing heavily, and currently has 66 output devices within its production platform, half of which are digital printers. The company has the capacity to produce 1.5 billion sheets of printing annually.

Further, Imagine is going deeper to serve its customers. In November, it announced “Dotti,” its new, intelligent marketing platform, which is designed to increase control, visibility, and efficiency of marketing programs. Earlier this month, it announced the establishment of Imagine Studio, which works as an agency to assemble programs — from design to installation — for its clients.

Imagine’s approach to acquiring technologies stems from the fact the company has “a strong balance sheet and is organizationally stable,” according to McKenzie. That, he says, enables the company to invest in technology on a regular basis. Regarding the acquisition of other companies, he adds that the company “is always looking for opportunities on the ‘buy side,’” ready to make investments for the overall business.

One of the aspects that has contributed to Imagine’s strong performance is its ability to offer a full array of services from multiple locations. Elaborating on the company’s capabilities, he says Imagine regularly does store kitting for a client and is able to fulfill 17,000 kits per week with up to 2,000 items in each kit. “This helps clients personalize their stores,” he adds, “and [we] have that capacity and infrastructure. Very few companies have the ability to do what Imagine does.”

The path forward builds on the organization’s structure: “We believe strongly in full-service,” McKenzie says, listing creative, design, structural, print, digital display, and more among the services available. He says the launch of both Dotti and Imagine Studio are evidence Imagine is moving ahead in crafting a valuable, sticky relationship with customers.

The industry, McKenzie notes, is changing because customer needs are also changing — they’re looking at their businesses differently — to balance in-store, buy online pick up in store (BOPUS), and home delivery. They are trying to figure out how to communicate through multiple channels, whether print or digital display. “We need to have the skillset to meet their needs,” he clarifies.