Background

The Paper Place was founded in 1972 by Kerry Johnson, who transitioned from operating gift shops to establishing a small family business. Over five decades later, the company continues to thrive, now led by Alex Johnson since 2004. While initially rooted in gift items, The Paper Place has evolved into a family-owned promotional products business, specializing in printing custom cups and napkins. Known for their dedication to customer service, client relationships, and innovation, they help clients celebrate life’s special moments with customized products.

Challenges

As customer demands grew, The Paper Place encountered significant challenges in providing multicolor printing on cups. Despite their screen printing capabilities, customers were increasingly asking for vibrant, multi-hued designs. Alex Johnson, determined not to overpromise or underdeliver, began exploring solutions that would allow them to meet these requests and remain competitive.

“My customers were looking for more color ink options than what we could offer.” – Alex Johnson

Solutions: Transitioning to Digital Printing

1. Exploring Alternatives: Faced with the limitations of screen printing, Alex Johnson began researching alternative methods for multicolor printing. Digital printing emerged as a promising technology, offering the precision and versatility they required.
2. Choosing PeriOne and Marabu: After thorough research, The Paper Place identified the PeriOne printer as the ideal solution, praised for its capabilities in industry reviews. They first leased the printer from LSINC, testing its performance with Marabu’s DLE-A digital ink. The testing phase validated its potential, prompting a major investment in both the PeriOne printer and Marabu inks.

Results

1. Enhanced Production: The PeriOne printer resolved the challenge of multicolor printing, enabling The Paper Place to take on more complex customer orders. While production time remains a consideration, their capacity has significantly expanded.
2. Printing Quality and Consistency: Using Marabu’s Ultra Jet DLE-A ink, The Paper Place achieved consistent, high-quality prints across batches of 100 or more cups. Despite some minor performance issues with orange ink, regular cleaning ensures reliability.
3. Ease of Use: Operators appreciate the PeriOne’s user-friendly interface, streamlining the production process.
4. Ink and Substrate Expansion: The company specializes in printing on flame-treated polypropylene frosted cups but aims to extend the technology to all cup substrates in their catalog. Utilizing a CMYK configuration with a white undercoat and varnish, they ensure vibrant, durable designs.

Highlights

• Record production: 1,050 cups in 8 hours.
• Family competition: The Johnson brothers foster healthy sibling rivalry to push productivity.

Conclusion

The Paper Place’s investment in digital printing represents a pivotal evolution in its operations. By adopting the PeriOne printer and Marabu’s advanced inks, the company overcame technical challenges, enhanced customer satisfaction, and reinforced its reputation for quality and service. From a single gift shop to a leader in customized promotional products, The Paper Place’s journey exemplifies the power of innovation and dedication to customer needs.

“Now we can say ‘yes’ to our customers more frequently and provide results with ease” – Alex Johnson

As they continue to expand their digital printing capabilities, The Paper Place stands ready to celebrate customers’ special moments with cutting-edge, personalized products.