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Specialty
Print and Design
2. Background
Operating
from small premises located in South Richmond Street, Dublin
2, Ireland, Specialty Print and Design (SPD) was incorporated
in 1985. With an employee count of five, the company provided
unique printing services to trade printing customers. Clients
within the printing industry would turn to SPD for specialised
foil stamping gold and silver embossing and thermo graphic printing.
SPD, as the main providers of these techniques, accumulated
a loyal base of customers, predominantly in the Dublin area.
As
the customer base grew, SPD decided to offer a broader range
of printing services. In 1988 SPD took a risk by relocating
to much larger premises in Donore Avenue, Dublin 8, taking two
units totalling 30,000 square feet.
Over
the next few years the company strived to invest wisely in new
equipment. A steady rise in the number of services they offered
ensured a market lead over their competition. Lithographic print
presses and plate making machinery accounted for the majority
of this capital expenditure. Investments were coupled with the
formulation of new supplier partnerships to provide support,
consumables (such as ink, chemicals and paper) and equipment.
SPD
now offers printing services for any paper printed media. Such
as:
- brochures
- stationery
-
annual reports
-
books
- newsletters
- promotional
material
- menus
- forms
-
posters
SPD
has carved out a niche for itself by offering a comprehensive
range of services as typically print houses specialise in only
one type of printing service.
Their
network of customers gradually increased to a list of over three
hundred. SPD's reach expanded outside Dublin with a nationwide
network consisting of three types of clients:
- trade
- other print houses which accounts for 40% of the business
-
agency - graphics designers or advertising agencies which
accounts for 20%
- corporate
- large corporate customers spending in excess of €20,000
per month which accounts for 40% of the business.
The
company's customer list comprises of leading Irish institutions
such as Dunnes Stores, ACC Bank, Aer Lingus and Kerry Food.
Some customers are long-standing and have been using the services
of SPD since 1985. The company has always operated with the
strong ethos that the customer comes first hence their high
retention rate of many of their clients.
The majority of SPD's customers operate on a 'supply on demand'
basis, with the notable exception of Dunnes Stores. For this
client, they are contractually obliged to 'print to stock'.
SPD has designated an area in the facility where they maintain
negotiated levels of supplies for all items. Each of the 82
Dunnes Stores branches place orders for coded items according
to their own requirements.
A network of some fifty suppliers provides all the materials
SPD require for their operations. Items such as paper, ink,
chemicals etc. are sourced from partners across Ireland
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