By Olivia Cahoon
Part two of two
Affinity groups offer an educational and networking resource for professionals and businesses looking to improve their organization. In part one of this two-part series, we look at several affinity groups targeting the print industry and graphic arts.
In the second installment, we illustrate how one print provider experiences these benefits first hand with a Digital Solutions Cooperative (Dscoop) membership.
Lawton Connect
Lawton Connect is a print marketing company established in 1900 and based out of Orlando, FL. The majority of the company’s market is in the Southeast U.S., serving several national clients as well.
Kimberly Lawton Koon, president/CEO, Lawton Connect, continues the family legacy as a fifth generation family-owned print marketing firm. The company is committed to providing customizable communications solutions that go beyond traditional printing and address modern difficulties of print marketing.
Rebranded from Lawton Printers in 2015, Lawton Connect has 45 employees and offers an array of core services and market supports including offset, digital print, digital large format, “green” printing, Web to print, novelty printing, direct mail, and fulfillment.
The company’s production platform consists of HP Indigo 7600s, offset presses, an HP Latex printer, and an HP Scitex FB700. Lawton Connect has been a member of the user group, Dscoop since 2006.
Dscoop is an independent community of HP Graphic Solutions business owners and technical professionals who use HP Indigo, Scitex, Latex, and PageWide inkjet equipment. Dscoop was founded in 2005 and supports HP Graphic Solutions users in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Japan. The user group has more than 8,000 global active members today, including Lawton Connect.
Connecting with Dscoop
Tyler Koon, chief experience officer, Lawton Connect, is a certified member of the Experience Economy and has been an active member of Dscoop for ten years.
“It is a one-stop shop for cool stuff! I love the collaboration that comes from Dscoop, especially the yearly conference. Everything from the best practices to resources on new and innovative products and services from the channel partners,” shares Koon.
For several years Koon has attended the annual Dscoop conference. During the event, members have the opportunity to listen to keynote speakers, observe offerings from HP and partners, partake in the discussion of best practices, and breakout into educational sessions. “The information we gain in these sessions and implement has a positive impact on topline growth and creates more money on the bottom line as well,” comments Koon.
Koon and his team take advantage of the member opportunities and draw inspiration from the conference sessions. He credits Dscoop’s resources for some of the business decisions made for Lawton Connect.
Mutual Benefits
User groups such as Dscoop benefit the print industry and provide the opportunity for peer networking and expanded business. User groups not only help print providers form partnerships with their consumers, but they also facilitate industry knowledge and inspiration. dps
Aug2016, DPS Magazine
