Color Graphics is a leading printing and graphics company that provides a wide range of services including offset printing, digital printing, design services, mailing services, and more. The company has been in business for over 50 years and has built a reputation for high-quality printing, excellent customer service, and competitive pricing. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the history, services, facilities, and culture of Color Graphics to understand what kind of company it is.
History and Overview
Color Graphics was founded in 1972 by John Smith as a small print shop offering offset printing services. Over the decades, the company steadily expanded its capabilities and services to keep pace with technology and customer needs. Some key milestones include:
- 1982 – Added first digital color printer
- 1995 – Built large offset printing facility
- 2005 – Added wide format digital printing
- 2012 – Launched mailing and fulfillment services
- 2019 – Opened new design studio
Today, Color Graphics operates two production facilities totaling over 100,000 square feet. The company employs over 200 printing and graphics professionals and maintains a fleet of delivery vehicles. Core services include:
- Offset printing – books, catalogs, brochures
- Digital printing – business cards, posters, banners
- Large format printing – signs, vehicle wraps, trade show displays
- Direct mail and fulfillment services
- Graphic design services
Color Graphics serves small and large companies throughout the tri-state region. Major clients include retailers, restaurants, hospitals, schools, non-profits, advertising agencies, and more.
Production Capabilities
One of the things that sets Color Graphics apart is their wide range of printing capabilities and specialty services:
Offset Printing
The company houses several large offset printing presses capable of printing high volumes quickly and cost effectively. This includes options for multiple colors, coatings, die cutting, and more. Offset printing is ideal for runs of 500+ copies.
Digital Printing
Color Graphics offers the latest toner-based and inkjet digital printing equipment to cost effectively print shorter runs with fast turnarounds. Many customization options available including variable data printing.
Wide Format Printing
For oversized posters, banners, vehicle graphics, and more, Color Graphics provides UV and latex wide format printing up to 10 feet wide. They also offer mounting, lamination, and installation services for large format prints.
Direct Mail and Fulfillment
The company’s mailing division handles address data, mail preparation, commingling, labeling, sorting, and delivery to USPS. This allows customers to outsource complex direct mail campaigns. Fulfillment services include warehousing, pick/pack, and shipping.
Design Services
The in-house design team handles projects ranging from business cards and brochures to multi-page catalogs and product packaging. They work closely with customers to develop concepts, layouts, and finished artwork that meet the client’s branding and marketing goals.
Facilities
To support its comprehensive range of printing, mailing, fulfillment and design services, Color Graphics maintains two large production facilities:
Offset Printing Facility
This 60,000 sq ft facility houses the company’s offset printing presses along with prepress and bindery departments. The pressroom is climate controlled and kept extremely clean to maintain tight print registration. There is also onsite space for paper inventory.
Digital Printing and Mailing Facility
Located just a mile from the offset facility, this 50,000 sq ft building contains the digital printing, mailing, and fulfillment operations. It also houses the sales and administrative offices. There is additional warehouse space onsite.
Design Studio
The newly renovated 4,000 sq ft design studio provides an open, collaborative workspace for the in-house art team. There are private offices plus conference rooms for client meetings.
Technology and Automation
Color Graphics maintains an IT department tasked with researching the latest print technologies and implementing solutions to improve quality, efficiency and automation. Some examples include:
- Added CTP (computer-to-plate) system in prepress to automate and streamline offset plate processing
- Implemented workflow software to manage print jobs from start to finish
- Added digital storefront to allow customers to place and track orders online
- Set up shop floor data collection system to monitor productivity in real time
These technology investments allow Color Graphics to produce faster turnarounds while reducing labor and waste costs.
Sustainability
As a conscientious company, Color Graphics aims to reduce its environmental footprint. Initiatives include:
- siguificant percentage of electricity generated onsite by rooftop solar panels
- Added zero-VOC presses and soy-based inks to improve indoor air quality
- Paper waste is recycled through take-back programs
- Joined Sustainable Green Printing Partnership
The company is also Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain-of-custody certified to support responsible paper sourcing. These efforts have helped Color Graphics become a greener printer.
Company Culture
Color Graphics works hard to maintain a positive, employee-focused company culture centered around its core values of quality, service, integrity and community. How is this culture cultivated?
- Recruits the most talented people and invests heavily in employee training/development
- Regular company gatherings and events to foster teamwork
- Flexible work arrangements offered where possible
- Competitive pay and benefits including profit sharing
- Encourages workplace safety and health
- Supports employee volunteerism and charitable giving
The family-owned company still feels like a tight-knit organization, which helps retain talented employees.
Color Graphics Customers
With its breadth of services, Color Graphics serves businesses throughout the region in many industries including:
- Retail and restaurants – catalogs, brochures, signage
- Hospitals and healthcare – magazines, forms, banners
- Schools and universities – newsletters, branding, marketing collateral
- Non-profits – event graphics, mailers, promotional products
- Manufacturing – manuals, packaging, fleet graphics
- Finance and insurance – statements, flyers, office decor
- Hotels and entertainment – room keys, menus, display graphics
The company has built strong relationships with hundreds of agencies and enterprise organizations. But Color Graphics also maintains a division focused solely on working with small/medium sized businesses. Custom printing and mailing solutions are tailored to each client’s needs and budget.
Awards and Recognition
Over its 50+ years in business, Color Graphics has accumulated many awards and accolades including:
- Certified Minority Business Enterprise
- Best Workplace Awards (8 years running)
- Environmental Excellence Award from Local Green Council
- Printing Industry Midwest Excellence Awards for Print Quality (12 years)
- Benny Award for Unique Print Applications
The company has been featured in industry publications like Printing News and Graphic Arts Monthly. Clearly, Color Graphics is widely recognized for its outstanding capabilities and service.
Conclusion
When we analyze the history, services, facilities, technology, sustainability, culture and reputation of Color Graphics, it becomes clear what kind of company it is. Color Graphics can be characterized as:
- Full-service – Offers just about every printing, mailing and design solution imaginable.
- Quality-focused – Produces exceptional print quality as evidenced by its industry awards.
- Customer-centric – Tailors services to each client and invests in long-term relationships.
- Innovative – Continually improves processes and implements new technologies.
- Socially responsible – Reduces environmental impact and supports the community.
- Valued employer – Cultivates a supportive, engaging workplace.
- Industry leader – Has grown to become one of the region’s top printers.
For all these reasons, Color Graphics stands as an exemplary printing and graphics services company. It adds value to the marketplace by raising the standards for quality, service and ethics. Customers rely on Color Graphics to bring their visual communication needs to life. After 50+ years, the company maintains the passion, innovation and drive to carry on as a leader in the printing industry.
