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                MyBinding Blog > From Our Team

                Life at Lithtex: Built from the Ground Up

                January 17, 2013 by Jeff McRitchie Leave a Comment

                life-lithtex-bm-content-1In today’s busy, fast-paced world where people are always moving on to bigger and better things, home-grown Les Davis is a breath of fresh air. To hear this native Oregonian describe his journey in business and the evolution of his company, Lithtex Printing Solutions, his genuine passion and care for his company is evident. Soft-spoken with a gentle nature and welcoming smile, Les is a man able to look at what he’s accomplished with pride, be confident in his present surroundings, and move forward with a keen sense of direction, all supported by savvy business decisions and sound philosophy. Tarragon and I (Chelsea) thoroughly enjoyed our time learning about this local success story and the company he built from the ground up.

                life-lithtex-bm-content-2Les Davis is a self-motivated individual blessed with business savvy. Growing up on a farm in Tillamook, OR, he learned an exceptional work ethic at a young age. After his family moved to the big city of Hillsboro, Les spent his later high school years working for Noble Craft, a cabinet manufacturer, where he cleaned the saws. Here he was first introduced to print when being taught how to properly clean an old AB Dick press, sparking an interest in print that was never lost. Les graduated high school and took the Army up on their offer to pay for a recruit’s school of choice if he chose to stay enlisted for an additional year. During his time in the military, Les learned the ins and outs of running a press, including working both at the Pentagon processing orders and in Germany for Stars and Stripes, a military newspaper. After completing his military service, he returned to Oregon, eager to start a career in the print industry. A few years later, Lithtex Printing Solutions was founded.

                Lithtex originally started as the brainchild of Les and another local businessman. When it became apparent that the two operated under vastly different working philosophies, they parted ways. To make the split amicable, one retained the company’s name and phone number while the other retained the location. Les and his crew relocated, one of many moves they would make over the years. In the late 70s, Lithtex worked next door to a company that created film for printers. They decided the arrangement was a good fit for both and eventually merged the two companies. The mix was a success for many years until his partner retired and Les bought him out over a period of several years.

                life-lithtex-bm-content-3At a young age, Les was given an excellent piece of advice from his uncle: always purchase the building you use, never lease. As a result, Lithtex owned several buildings in various locations. Rather than continue to outgrow each one and search for new headquarters, Les made the business decision to purchase land and build his own custom facility. The previous investments of property and facilities paid off, literally, as they were sold to pay for this new project. In January of 2001, the Lithtex crew moved in and set up shop.

                Throughout the years, Lithtex has experienced many of the same ups and downs that all businesses face in this economy, including streamlining operations and working smarter instead of harder. Throughout it all, Les has made keen observations that have allowed him to better lead his company. Whether it’s partnering with a business that runs parallel to his or knowing when to step away, Les’ business sense and competent assertiveness has been a key component of the ongoing success of Lithtex.

                United business teamA glance at his employees shows a mix of both old and young. He’s seen a core group of people come up through the printing trade and his stories about Lithtex are all about the people, evidence of his care for them.

                “No matter what, it’s really all about the people. They keep you going,” said Les. “My company is never going to grow at the same rate as my employees. My job is to prepare them to move on.”

                life-lithtex-bm-content-5In fact, one of Les’ strengths is preparation. His business plan includes both short- and long-term customers as well as a strong vision for the future. Lithtex offers a very diverse number of solutions for any print need. A walk through the walls of their facility shows careful thought and planning as to how to best serve both customers and employees with features such as a window wall where clients can see their orders in process and a central office for management collaboration.

                life-lithtex-bm-content-6Step out into the warehouse and you can see this is where the magic happens. There’s a sense of urgency as the smells, sounds, and sights fill your senses. As Les shows us around explaining what each machine does, it becomes apparent that his business is built to offer solutions. Many of the machines and samples exist as the result of a problem presented. “How can we do this?” is a question Lithtex is ready to answer. Their warehouse holds twenty different machines, countless supplies and options for each, and competent operators ready to handle any job presented. Manning three crews, they are able to run their presses 20 hours a day, six days a week, leaving enough cushion to ensure timely delivery. They even offer graphic design if a client needs help putting materials together. Lithtex can walk the journey with you from concept to finished product.

                So where is Lithtex headed? Their beautiful facility has been intentionally designed to allow expansion over time. As the market evolves, so does Lithtex. Increasing their digital printing is definitely at the forefront of their plans as well as acquiring more online business. But for now, Les Davis is content keeping his staff at approximately 50 people, staying heavily involved in the community, and enjoying life as it comes.

                Filed Under: From Our Team Tagged With: Les Davis, Lithtex Printing, Printer Profile, printing solution

                Real Men Wear Pink – Laughing with John Kublank at Wes-Tex Printing

                October 24, 2012 by Jeff McRitchie Leave a Comment

                John-Kublank-bm-content-1Chelsea here. I’ve been conducting interviews and writing these Printer Profiles for a few months now but none have left me giggling quite this much. In fact, I had several coworkers convinced I was goofing off at work while  I was doubled over my computer,  laughing so I hard I could barely breathe and thinking “This marketing guy is brilliant.” (You really should watch the video that had me cracking up – The Dance of the Internal Newsletter.) If you’ve been around #printchat at all, you have probably caught some of the humor that emanates from John Kublank at Wes-Tex Printing. Even the names of his photos (to the left, “I Moustache You a Question”) had me chuckling.  Keep reading to learn a little bit more about John and the company that supports his antics.

                So, looking over your LinkedIn profile, it looks like you are more on the marketing side of things. Did something specifically draw you to the print industry?

                I never really thought I would work in printing, and I was not actively searching for printing. However, I am so happy I am in printing now. Over the past 6 months I feel like I have extended my family tremendously; from the people I work with, to the awesome people of #printchat. I have also learned so much about printing, and know I will never take for granted the work that goes into every printed piece.

                How have you had to change your strategy to market print over some of the other places you’ve worked? 

                In other companies, I have been working with the end user and even though some printers are B2C we at Wes-Tex are B2B. This makes marketing strategies very different and sometimes even harder. Individual consumers typically have different search patterns, tendencies, and likes. To tap into this B2B market I have tried to build community over sales, and trust over gimmicks. We want to reach the individual and form relationships, however breaking the corporate barriers to reach the person can be a challenge.

                What are you most excited about right now in print? Where do you see print headed?

                Right now I am excited about the new products we are getting ready to launch next year which will include formal invitations and announcements. Also as an industry I am excited that we seem to be growing and gaining a voice of our own. The Toshiba debacle was a clear sign that we are strong as a community, and though we are competitors we stick together.

                Print is a large piece of the business community, and to be successful in the future print will have to and already is moving away from trying and be “THE” dominant form of business communication, to being complimentary to technology such as social media, video, mobile, etc.

                 Are there any misconceptions about print that you’d like to clear up?

                One misconception, I even had coming into printing, was that it is not fun and it is for an older generation. This is not true, we have a blast at Wes-Tex, as you can see in  this fun video:

                [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDfWtCZefWE[/youtube]

                We try and think outside of the box, and have company collaboration for all aspects of our business (I think this is fun).

                As far as an age misconception, printing is in fact in desperate need for more of a functional mix of experienced printers and inexperienced printers, young and old. The industry would not be able to sustain itself without the experience that has been gained by some of the veterans of print, but I do feel strongly that the industry cannot survive without a fresh influx of young excited individuals willing to learn.

                What is your favorite part of print?

                I love the aspects of the all of the detail of print. From the processes, to the stock options, to custom ink colors, and finishes. There is no such thing as a simple or easy printed project, some may take fewer steps but there is always a level of complexity. I love that each project is new and the industry is always trying to innovate, the future of print is bright and getting brighter.

                Filed Under: From Our Team Tagged With: John Kublank, printing, Wes-Tex Printing

                An Intro to Island Print Group

                October 3, 2012 by Jeff McRitchie Leave a Comment

                Island-Print-bm-content-1

                For this week’s Printer Profile, Chelsea had the opportunity to chat with Nikki Thibodeau from Island Print Group. Here is a closer look at this Canadian company.

                So, looking over your LinkedIn profile, it looks like Island Print Group is your first introduction to the print world. Did something specifically draw you to the print industry?

                You hit the nail on the head! At the time I had seen the job opening at Island Print Group I had been on a long time run of retail. Shoes, Clothes and Jewelry had been my world for 7 years and I was looking to get out of retail and into an office environment. The job at Island seemed very interesting with much to learn. I was very fortunate to have been given the opportunity at Island. Since then, my eyes have been opened to the world of print, promotional products, graphic design…etc. where I have found new passions I never could have dreamed of four years ago.

                What all is involved in your role at Island Print Group?

                We are a small company where I have the opportunity to serve many roles. My main responsibilities are in administration, but lately I have been able to put my graphics skills to use as well. I like to call my position the “If you need it done, I can do it” position.

                We have the privilege of working with start-ups, small and medium sized businesses, corporations, hotels, municipalities (Did you know there is a Municipality of Wood Buffalo?)…the list goes on! We do business mostly nationally; however, we are more than able to help anyone in North America.

                What are you most excited about right now in print? Where do you see print headed?

                Actually, there are quite a few things about print that excite me! I love how technology is changing the industry, bringing variety to print in ways that ten years ago were unimaginable. I love how the relationships between printers, designers and different technologies are closer than ever, maximizing the potential of all the printing equipment out there!

                Print is headed down a very exciting path. I mean, have you SEEN Augmented Reality?

                One specific thing I could mention is Full Colour Print. It has evolved SO MUCH! You can now do full colour on ANY material, ANY surface for any use. How cool is that!?!

                Are there any misconceptions about print that you’d like to clear up?

                “Print is on its way OUT.” I actually find this statement to be naïve. I really don’t think people realize how much print is all around them. Let’s take an example of one place we all need to go to: the grocery store. Before you walk in the door, you’ve received a flyer or perused a coupon book. You get into the store and there are shelf labels, signs, product packaging, paper bags, your receipt… Need I go on?

                Yes, the print industry is changing. However, I think things like mobile and social technologies will affect every industry in some way.

                What is your favorite part of print?

                Hands Down: Helping people. Coming up with something original, to help the customer fill a need or solve a problem. I love how it is tangible, and the smell of different paper and inks. Print is a very sustainable industry and I can’t wait to see how it evolves over the next few years!

                Filed Under: From Our Team Tagged With: Island Print Group, printing

                Increasing Productivity with Shortcut Keys

                September 27, 2012 by Jeff McRitchie

                Today’s post comes from MyBinding.com Marketing Associate Richard McNeal.

                Shortcut-Keys-bm-content-1Working in a fast-paced marketing environment, sometimes every minute literally does count. Whether you or your team are rushing to meet a deadline or you’re just trying to squeeze the most value out of a dollar, knowing how to work at maximum efficiency is imperative.

                Since a large majority of business is conducted via the PC, I thought I’d share some of my favorite shortcuts for navigating the in and outs of computer software. And while some of these tips may be old news to some, others will wonder how they’ve been missing out on these time-saving functions.

                Note: While the words below in [brackets] represent specific keyboard buttons, the “+” symbol is representative of pressing the referenced buttons at the same time. It does not mean to physically press the [+] key. 

                [Alt]+[Tab]
                A relatively new feature found only in the latest versions of Windows (Vista, 7), the ALT+TAB function allows you to toggle between the windows currently open on your screen. You can either hold the ALT key and use TAB to scroll through a list of open windows, or you can press TAB once and the last viewed window will open (particularly helpful if you’re going back and forth between two windows).

                [Ctrl]+[F]
                Looking for a specific piece of information a midst a sea of data? The CTRL+F sequence is hands-down the function I utilize the most in my day-to-day assignments. In this case, “F” stands for “Find.” Simply type in the sequence, and a small search bar will appear in the upper right-hand corner of your screen. Type in all or part of the word, phrase, number that you’re looking for, and every instance of the searched term will appear highlighted in the current open window. If there’s more than one, use the arrows to jump to the next result. The beautiful thing about this particular function is that it is system-wide, so whether you’re in a document, spreadsheet, or web browser, CTRL+F will work.

                Additionally, in most word processors the CTRL+F operation has increased functionality. Not only can it find every instance of a searched term, it can alter every instance as well. This is also known as the “Find and Replace” function. So if you’re proofing the final draft of an excel spreadsheet and find one column with a repeated mistake in it, use the Find and Replace function to fix the errors all at once instead of correcting each instance manually.

                [Shift]+[F7]
                This key combination is simply a short cut to the spellcheck function. It is only operable in word processors and may vary slightly among different software.

                [Shift]+[←, ↑, →, ↓]
                On essentially any page with text, you can employ the use of this function. When holding down the SHIFT key, you can use the arrow keys (←, ↑, →, ↓) to highlight portions of text character by character. The HOME, END, PAGE UP, and PAGE DOWN keys also work with this function. I prefer using this function when editing to keep my hands on the keyboard and avoid reaching for my mouse to highlight text. I often employ it in tandem with this next function.

                [Ctrl]+[X], [Ctrl]+[C], [Ctrl]+[V]
                This series of shortcut combinations is known as “Cut, Copy, and Paste.” Simply highlight the content you want to edit (possibly using the aforementioned SHIFT function) and use one of these sequences to manipulate it. The Cut function removes the highlighted content and places it on an invisible Clipboard. The Copy function puts the highlighted content on the Clipboard but leaves the original where it is. Finally, the Paste function puts whatever was last moved to the Clipboard where ever you’ve currently selected. Generally, these functions cross software programs (i.e. you can “Copy” content from a web page and “Paste” it into a document or spreadsheet).

                In closing, most of the functions I’ve referenced above can be accessed with your mouse under various toolbars and tabs. As I mentioned before though, I find it more efficient to keep my hands on the keyboard, especially when writing or performing repetitive tasks. Some of these shortcut keys have really revolutionized my productivity over the years, and I highly encourage you to give them a try. And always be on the lookout for more!

                Any other favorites out there?

                Filed Under: From Our Team Tagged With: shortkut keys, work productivity

                A Chat with Graphics Systems, Inc

                September 26, 2012 by Jeff McRitchie Leave a Comment

                graphic-system-bm-content-1Recently Tarragon and Chelsea had a chance to chat with the President and CEO of YESGSI,Denny Kopcial. With a sweet southern drawl and the voice of a seasoned professional, Denny answered our many questions about his small, 12-person company in Memphis, Tennessee. He started this print brokerage over 30 years ago, incorporating in 1979. Here’s an inside look at Graphics Systems, Inc.

                How did Graphics Systems get started?

                I was working for a national appliance company running their distribution center. The company moved locations, but I liked the Memphis area and wanted to stay. I went to work for a friend and learned the printing industry. When it became apparent that there were plenty of family heirs moving up in the business, I left to start my own and thus Graphics Systems was born.

                GSI has been in business for a long time. How has your business changed over the last 30+ years?

                We started this company focusing on business forms, more on the printing side. The industry has changed over the years, not as many people using dot matrix or line-fed printing. We’ve moved into more commercial and digital printing. Forms are still sold, just not as many.

                What advantages do you enjoy by operating a brokerage versus print shop?

                As a print broker, we’re primarily a sales force, we operate a distribution. We have more flexibility than we would if everything was done in house. No matter what the job is, we are able to find a printer to match the need and capacity to get it done. Often the key factor on a job is who can do it the best and keep the customer happy.

                Do you focus primarily in Memphis or do you have a nation-wide customer base?

                We find it to be easier to maintain our business locally, so we are able to physically see them and sit down to discuss their needs. We also have quite a few customers outside of our geographical area, mainly from clients who moved or referrals.

                What type of business do you typically draw?

                Our business varies greatly. We have clients that order four foot diameter forms for high speed printers, which looks like two jumbo rolls of paper that weigh three tons each. On the other side, we have orders of 100 business cards or envelopes. We sell large quantities of warehouse forms, packing slip materials, and forms. One especially large client in hardware distribution consistently orders pricing tickets and labels. We also work with several schools and universities doing marketing materials for recruiting.

                Have you ever done any printing, binding, laminating in-house?

                At one time we had a digital print shop and did a lot of binding. We used perfect binding, spiral binding, GBC binding, all depending on the need and requirement of the job. They all have their place and there is a cost associated with each different kind of binding. We bound training manuals, classroom textbooks. We eventually sold the digital business to another digital printer, which is now our primary outsource for digital. When the digital shop went away, it didn’t make sense to do binding anymore.

                How have you seen the print industry change over the years?

                There has been a shift from business forms into more commercial printing, getting away from technical mundane invoices and packing lists. Usually there are proofs involved now. Jobs are smaller, dollar wise, but we see more of the glamorous side of printing. There’s a larger number of smaller jobs processed, rather than fewer high quantity orders.

                What has made you stay with print all these years versus going into something else?

                We’ve maintained a nice book of business with sales volume close to four million. There are plenty of printing jobs; not the same business but plenty of it. We’ve embraced technology and value the ability to see what’s next. It’s great when you can present new solutions to your customers without them needing to ask.

                What do you love about print?

                It’s a technical industry, every time you do a job it has to be 100% right. The resulting product has an application. Everybody needs printing, it’s really amazing. Some of the best opportunities are in the biggest pains. For example, business cards can be a hassle. But if you can find an efficient way to produce them, it’s a nice money maker and they’re constantly being used, everyone wants one. The commercial printing side offers more glamor and glitz. You work with agency or marketing department to put their best foot forward. It’s really rewarding to see your work out in public.

                What’s coming on the horizon that’s exciting?

                I see in the future more and more the use of beyond bar codes – QR codes on almost everything, smart chips implanted in printing pieces, invoices, and packaging to follow shipment for tracking. Printing is getting smarter and carries more info with it. Currently a smart phone can tell you about the specials in a store you just walked by, print can do the same and we will see more of that.

                What do you say to the idea that print is dead?

                Absolutely not true across the board. Magazines are a prime example. Subscriptions use to cost a fortune, now they’re almost all free or at least very cheap. It goes through cycles just like anything else. We may lose newspapers but there will still be plenty of print out there. In the printing industry, we never thought of ourselves as providing information but that is what we do. We need to look at different ways of how to provide that information. Print will always be out there, maybe not as big. There is always more information from different methods. Change your focus on new ways get information. It’s amazing the info you can get from twitter. Younger generations looking for different things than people in their 60s.

                How does youth play a part?

                Our sales people have gotten younger as purchasers have gotten younger. They can relate to current things relevant in each others lives. Matching sales efforts to your audiences helps build confidence in your client.

                What is your favorite part of working in the print industry?

                Getting a big job and pulling in a lot of pieces to it – the technology side, bar codes, getting everyone together. I love when printers and designers come up with a piece that works for everybody and the satisfaction that comes from putting all the pieces together. For example, we had a customer recently who wanted a label on their packages with an advertisement shown once the label was peeled off. We were able to accomplish it. It gives you a good feeling to be able to accomplish something that hadn’t been done before.

                What advice would you give to someone looking to get into the printing industry?

                Print has a lot of opportunities, every business is a potential customer. It’s probably more of a blue collar industry as opposed to a glamor industry. Not as fancy as the advertising agency, but can be more lucrative. If one is willing to learn the business and how to provide solutions, they can be extremely successful.

                Filed Under: From Our Team Tagged With: Denny Kopcial, Graphics Systems, printing

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