Media Release for Pride In Print
Small Achieves Big When it Comes to Print Awards
Smaller niche printers are shaking the world when it comes to Pride In Print success, proving that size is no obstacle
to reaching even the very top of the tree when coming into direct competition with the “big guns” of the industry.
Some of the major awards in 2012 Pride In Print went to either niche companies working in cities, or to the
regions. All of these major winners say that they feel confident taking on bigger companies and are encouraging other
“small guys” to do the same next year.
Dave Gick of Auckland’s Logick Print , which took out this year’s Supreme Award as well as the Promotional Print
category with its Jacob’s Creek Logo sheet, said he has never regarded Pride In Print as being “small business against
big business”. Instead, it is about quality in all aspects of the job.
“For Logick Print it has been about how well we produce a job that we can be proud of, so the competition starts
with us first. How have we interpreted the job from the client, how well have we produced the job, is it the perfect
job? With no excuses.”
He says Pride In Print has become part of the company culture.
“The competition has always been part of our everyday business. We have styled our training with our team, each
process, the quality checks and the end value of the job for our client, around the result from Pride In Print.
“As we have built our reputation our clients have bought into the Pride In Print Awards as well. Where budgets
have allowed they have contacted me about a job that they think might be a Pride In Print winner, or a job that we might
have to develop to have that X factor.”
That shared satisfaction continues through to the ultimate reward of receiving Award Night recognition. “When we
feel we have produced a beautiful job, and the client is ecstatic with it, and then we win a gold medal at Pride In
Print there is a huge sense of satisfaction and achievement, both individually and collectively with everyone involved.”
As far as the judging process is concerned, Dave says the judges have no knowledge of who entered the piece they
are examining, so there is no advantage shown to a bigger business.
“Any business looking to enter Pride In Print must understand that the competition starts internally first at
their workplace. Master perfection in your workplace, then when the job is entered in Pride In Print it is judged on its
own merit.
“Quality can come from any Print Shop. The best situation would be from one that has good training programmes,
continual improvement programmes, clear procedures and checks. Plus good leadership that motivates the team.
“If you are not motivated when you walk through the door to produce the job to the highest level, then
everything the greater team have aspired to won’t be achieved. To us the word ‘tradesman’ means perfection.”
Chris Smith, Managing Director of Sentra Print in Auckland, which won the Specialty Products Category and also
the “best in process” award for finishing for the Matins Vespers CD, says that for a small-to-medium printer, Pride In
Print is the one avenue to have your work assessed by experts within the industry.
“Success gives you a meaningful and tangible reason to celebrate with your staff, suppliers and customers who
recognise that the work has been independently judged and is worthy of celebration.”
He too feels the door is open for smaller entrants to win big.
“We have never felt up against it with regard to the larger print companies as we are able to take on smaller
complex work and have the skills and time to ensure we achieve the best results. We are very particular with the
selection process of our entries and out of 20 items, we entered four that we felt were up to the standard required to
achieve awards. In fact we received awards for all four!”
Chris says Sentra’s staff are very proud of their work and go that bit extra to ensure they achieve the best
results they can.
“Our customers whose work received awards were very excited and have added their successes to their web sites
and have framed and hung their awards in their businesses.
“Other customers who have been made aware of our success at the Awards Night have been genuinely eager to
congratulate us by phone calls and email. Our suppliers are also an important part of the awards and they too are
excited to be part of the whole process.”
The “feel good” factor has extended to winning more work — “We received a phone call a few weeks back from an
Australian company looking for a printer in Auckland. One of the comments made was that they were impressed at the
number of awards we had received as detailed on our website. So if that is the reason we were selected by them, Pride In
Print works for us!”
Chris’s message to other small-to-medium businesses is that anyone can achieve success at Pride In Print
provided they make the effort to oversee the projects properly and make sure each process is completed correctly.
His message is shared by Peter Halstead, Print Manager for APN Print Hastings, which won the Web Process Award.
“We never even gave a thought to bigger plants. We have a strong believe in what we do and what we produce so we
realise that we can foot it with anyone. Also it is a lot easier to motivate a small crew to achieve than it is to
motivate several crews over many shifts.”
Like Logick and Sentra, APN Print Hastings says the flow on effect with staff is huge.
“All the press crew now want to be the one that is in charge of the job that wins Pride In Print. It has brought
good healthy competition amongst them all. With this attitude it should be a lot easier for us to produce winners in the
future. Winning the awards has brought all staff a lot closer together which has enabled us to have a real sense of team
work throughout the plant.”
And as for the effect on customers?
“Our customers know we can achieve a really high standard of quality. This means they can have a confidence in
what we do and what we can produce on a web offset press. Customers now expect top quality all the time and it is our
challenge to consistently deliver this to them.”
Peter gives one final word of encouragement to other niche printers — that outstanding quality can be achieved
by anyone with commitment and skill.
“Eight years ago I wouldn't have agreed, but since then I have seen the training put in place for staff to lift
their skill levels, which in turn has led to a real commitment and pride in what they do.
“With the right skill level and a commitment to a regular maintenance schedule, any printer can achieve what we
have,” he says.