
The following post was originally published by In-plant Impressions. To read more of their content, subscribe to their newsletter, IPI E-News.
As another fiscal year winds down for some printers, many are facing the same reality: rising costs, tighter budgets, and no new equipment on the horizon. You’re not alone.
Many shops are scraping by with what they have – and still producing award-winning, mission-critical work.
So how do you set meaningful goals for FY26 when there’s no money to spend? You aim where dollars don’t matter: your people, your processes, your purpose.
Here are five focus areas where printers can grow stronger in FY26 without buying a single thing.
Related story: Looking Ahead to PRINTING United Expo 2025
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Invest in Education - No Travel Required
Professional development doesn’t require a plane ticket or conference fee. Set a goal that every staff member attends one free webinar or online training per quarter. Better yet, rotate in-house lunch-and-learns where staff teach each other – from basic PDF file troubleshooting to how to cut down parent-sized paper. Make the most of your talented, dedicated team.
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Make Small Efficiency Gains Add Up
A formal “lean audit” might be out of reach, but a do-it-yourself “waste walk” isn’t. Look around: Where are materials wasted, or time lost? Look for simple improvement ideas: fewer redos, quicker turn times, fewer steps, improved organization. Small steps like these can be rewarded with three-day weekends or pizza.
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Listen to Your Clients – Again
When was the last time you asked your clients what’s changed for them? FY26 is a perfect time to reintroduce yourself. Provide some account history or introduce a new employee. A short meeting can yield insights that you may not have otherwise considered. It also sends a clear message: We’re still here, and we care.
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Showcase Your Value
Internal communication is free. Start a simple monthly bulletin or email that reports on your team’s turnaround time, number of jobs, or money saved compared to outsourcing. Include department highlights, awards, or accomplishments. Visibility leads to value.
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Define Who You Are as a Team
Your team is incredible! Start the fiscal year with a team identity – something printed and posted that affirms your mission, strengths, and goals. Recognize small successes regularly. When staff feel like owners, they act like owners. Here are two examples:
- The employees of our department are experienced professionals, winning innovators, and solution specialists. We are leaders in our industry, inspired by our mission, serving our community in accordance with organizational values.
- Our department endeavors to be recognized as an archetypal print and mail service provider. We are a quality-minded, detail-oriented, customer-focused, award-winning team of professionals who strive to help our clients find success.
This year, don’t let a tight budget be the reason you do nothing. Let it be the reason you double down on things that cost nothing but mean everything.
Let FY26 be the year your in-plant grows in knowledge, kindness, and know-how.
Editor's Note: This article has been adapted from its original version on In-plant Impressions.

Dwayne Magee is now in his 20th year as director of Messiah University Press and Postal Services. His department was recipient of the 2018 IPMA Organizational Impact Award, the 2015 IPMA Innovation Award, the 2017 ACUP Green Service Award, and the 2015 ACUP Collaborative Service Award. Prior to joining Messiah, he worked for 17 years at Alphagraphics as an assistant manager and ISO coordinator. He is president of the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He is currently an English major (part-time) with a concentration in writing at the college where he works. Outside of work, Dwayne enjoys exploring spiritual, environmental and social concerns through creative writing and the arts. He can often be found speaking on the topic of diversity in bookstores, public libraries and elementary schools, where he makes use of his award-winning children’s book “A Blue-Footed Booby Named Solly McBoo.” His travel writing and fictional essays have made appearances in various publications including the Northern Colorado Writers Anthology and the Goose River Anthology published by Goose River Press. Dwayne is the father of two boys and he resides in Mechanicsburg, Pa., with his wife Sue and their three dogs. Contact him at: DMagee@Messiah.edu