Wisconsin Printers — Serious ’Bout Their Printing
James Sandstrom, president of HM Graphics in Milwaukee, believes the Wisconsin worker also tends to take his/her job very seriously, a trickle down effect of the German ancestry.
“You can’t compare the Midwestern work ethic to anywhere in the country,” Sandstrom says. “These people have a sense of urgency. Across the board, I think people in the Midwest have a little more of a can-do attitude. It’s a little higher pace than you get in other regions.” PI
Differentiate. . .and Compete
Minnesota touts itself as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” but Wisconsin is home to more than 1,000 printers. With several neighboring states also boasting some of the country’s top printing firms, competition is über-competitive for a market share that is being compromised by electronic and alternative media. How do Wisconsin’s leading printers keep from getting caught under the Midwestern crunch? Read on:
Eric Delzer, Delzer Lithograph: “Success comes from a vibrant competitive landscape. Most printers in Wisconsin have to offer the latest in technology, services, quality, etc., just to keep up with the printer down the street. We work hard on expanding the depth of our service offerings: conventional offset, digital printing, and literature storage and fulfillment. Also a couple of new services planned for roll-out later this summer.”
Gregg Davies, Action Printing: “We have ‘stuck to our knitting’ and will continue to specialize as much as possible in our niche. To remain viable in today’s competitive arena, printers cannot print everything for everybody. We have stuck to our core products, while expanding our capabilities and value-added services. Today, most printers make more money the further they get from their presses. Every printer is pretty darn good at putting ink on paper, and the pricing is ultra-competitive.
“Our sales approach is very investigative and consultative. Our goal is to be the easiest printer to do business with in the country...and we will expand our services according to our customers’ and prospects’ needs. As their businesses and markets change, our business will change.”
