As told by Rod Joanisse.
My father Brian Joanisse started the business in 1976 from his house. At this time I was a travelling musician and travelling out west in a Country Rock band, playing from city to city. In 1979 Christmas I arrived home. In need of work, my father took me in. Early into 1980 my father could see that I was hungry to get the business jump started.
At the time we doing about $65,000 in sales and were in receivership. We were small and things were pretty tight. There was only my father, one press person and myself. My father took a back seat and let me run the business. By the end of the 1980 sales were starting to climb. By the end of 1980 by wife to be joined me in building the business and father stepped out of the business. By the end of 1981, sales reached $380,000.00, by the end of 1982 sales reached $800,000.00. Sales are presently just under $1,500,000.00. Our sales are broken down as follows: 75% Quick and Commercial Printing, 20% Digital Printing and Copying and 5% Signs and Promotional Products. This mix has changed very much in recent years. With Digital Printing growing at a very fast rate. We are now closer to 65% Digital.
We have been in our present location since 1979. Started with approx. 800 square feet. We presently have 15,000 square feet including a Sign and Promotional Products division.
We have all the standard equipment and a little more. We are one of the only complete in-house facilities with almost all services. Some of our equipment includes:
In our PRESSROOM — (1) Ryobi 3302, (3) Toko 2-colour presses, (1) 9810 AB Dick 2-colour with Swing A-way Head, (1) 9810 AB Dick, (1) 360 AB Dick 2-colour, (1) 360 AB Dick 1-colour, (1) Heidelberg 10 x15 Letterpress Windmill, 1) Heidelberg 10 x15 Foil/Embosser Letterpress Windmill,(1) Virko-Thermal Unit for Raise Lettering,
In our BINDERY DEPARTMENT — Perfect Binder, Stitcher, Folder and Trimmer, (2) 8 Station Duplo Collator Folder Stapler, (1) Roseback Slitter, Perforater, Scoring, Various Padding Presses, (1) 3-Hole Challenge Drill, (1) 2-Head Stitcher, (1) 36” Computerized Cutter, (1) 32″ Computerized Cutter, (1) 17 x 22 Air Feed Baun Folder with Right Angle, and various electric cerlux machines, coil binding and shrink wrap etc.
In our PRE-PRESS DEPARTMENT — “UNDER CONSTRUCTION”
At our Front Counter — Presently we have 11 terminals running PrintSmith Estimating. With job tracking and a whole list of other features.
In our CopyCentre — UNDER CONSTRUCTION plus all the little stuff for T-Shirt making, hats, candles etc.
We have roughly14 full time associates.
I attended my first NAQP convention in 1980 with my father in Orlando Florida. For the first ten years in business, my wife and I would go to these conventions and use this as our vacation time. With my background being a full time musician and completing only grade 9 education. We survived in business by attending these conferences and expos and networking with fellow printers and business people. When looking back to the early 80’s, I didn’t have a clue of what I was doing in business. With industry people like John Stewart, Larry Hunt, Tom Carns, Jack Caffrey and of course Kenny the Printer. These people and many others inspired myself to forge ahead and succeed.
We have visited all of these people and many many more at their shops during our many years in business. One friend that is very dear to me and my wife is Willie Cahill from Willie’s Quick Print in Mississauga about one hour away from us. We met at the 1984 NAQP convention in Anaheim and have been best friends ever since. We have met a lot of great people and made many great friends because of NAQP and our industry. Also at that 1984 conference, the year of the Olympics Econoprint won an award under Radio Advertising for Best Radio Jingle titled “Gonna Do It Right” This jingle of course was performed fully by myself including, vocals, keyboards, base, drums, and guitar. That’s what I did for the longest time. It was alot of fun.
At the 1984 confernce in Los Angles, California I won my first international award for radio advertising. My background being a musician helped since I wrote the jingle, produced and performed all parts in the jingle which included, singing of three parts, piano, guitar, bass and drums. I have not been active in professional music since then other than just for my own entertainment.
PrintImage International (PI) and The Ontario Association of Quick Printers join forces.
Being a member of NAQP is what got this whole thing started. NAQP after forming Chapters had requirements that each chapter had to meet. As the Canadian Chapter we did not meet those requirements at all, not even close. Our Chapter left and started our own association being The Ontario National Association of Quick Printers. I personally stayed a member of NAQP (now PI.) Wanting to bring our associations closer, I approached the previous Executive Director George Rounds to get his insight on this matter and how we could accomplish this. Right from the start there was a bond of common element. We were to start working together in that NAQP would send information to our association for distribution to our members. In return we would start conversation on forming some type of partnership. Although Mr. Rounds was interested in this bond, Mr. Rounds left the association. Nothing happened for some time. Then Jeff Wilson of PI appeared on the scene with David Steinhardt. PI wanted to get things moving. In return I said I would submit a proposal for partnership. In a short time David and Jeff had the finished proposal in hand. Both David Steinhardt Jeff Wilson have been incredible to work with. They work very well as a team and work to make things happen. They are very impressive.
Challenges Ahead:
Education, education and more education. This includes owners as well as their employees. Something that happened while I was walking thru the July PI convention expo. I met a printer who was admiring the PrintSmith booth as I was. I went onto ask him a few questions! How long he was in business, to which he replied 15 years, I replied that was good, but he replied no, as he put it, I have survived for the last 15 years. I don’t make any money, I can’t afford this and on and on. I then asked him if he was a member of PI or any other association again to which he replied no, I can’t afford that luxury. It always gets me when people won’t take the time to invest in themselves and their business. I feel so fortunate to have been involved with NAQP – PI and the OAQP. It’s a cliche but its true, “Membership Has It’s Benefits”.
I have spent the last 6 years as president of OAQP. We recognize the need for education in our industry. OAQP’s mission and foundation is education thought seminars and workshops. Partnership with PI makes this commitment even more so. PrintImage’s Summer and Mid-Winter Conference are a real plus for our membership and opens the door to new educational opportunities.
Characteristics of a Successful Quick Printer:
High on the list I think is association involvement, rather it be on a local level or national. It seems the more involved you are and I mean involved, your viewed as successful and are generally successful. These people are successful because of their education that they have learned from being involved with their association. Obviously there are personal traits that help you to be successful. A desire to be successful. You don’t learn about such people as John Stewart and Larry Hunt by not being involved or in your own little world. There are many other traits that I believe that lead to being successful. Being a quick decision maker, organizational skills, family values, time off to regenerate, reading and listening to tapes.
Industry Direction:
Customer service will always be the highest. Customer relationships are invaluable. Digital for sure. Printing in general is becoming more and more of a commodity. The more that quick printers can learn about and get involved with digital the more opportunity will present itself. I believe with the Xerox’s of the world that the time is closer than ever for digital. Digital technology is changing industry views and behaviors. Econoprint is on the leading edge.
Advise or Admonitions:
I’m proud of my accomplishments. With only a grade 9 education and music as a background. I had no place to go but up. If it wasn’t for NAQP (PI) and the OAQP, I probably be playing music. As I said “Membership has it’s Benefits” with that in mind we are also members of “The Professional Sales Association” “The Advertising and Promotional Products Association” we are a Xerox® Authorized Digital Print Shop, an “Adobe Approved” as well as “OAQP Quality Certified Since 1999”. Membership has it’s benefits
Tibits:
- Econoprint in past years has spend much on advertising. Direct mail advertising, radio advertising image marketing we lead the industry in advertising in our area.
- We are now very concerated on oue outside sales efforts with our full time sales team. We are at “Your Service”
Sales in general are my single biggest challenge to running this business.
