By DPS Staff
Founded in 2012, Pacful, Inc. is a full-service marketing service provider (MSP) offering printing, bindery, fulfillment, mailing, online services, embroidery, and trade show design.
Core Offerings
Pacful’s printing services are comprised of digital, offset, and large format printing. Under the digital print umbrella, the MSP provides an integrated digital print solution that offers advanced online ordering and fulfillment systems. Users easily select items to print from an online interface that ties into the company’s ecommerce set up. Additionally, the company offers variable data print services and personalized printing to enable the mass customization of a single document.
Its offset services are equipped to handle large product runs, including a full-service prepress department, secure file transmission, and archiving. The company also maintains its bindery service in house, enabling them to maintain tighter control over scheduling and reducing waste. Its large format capabilities produce output up to 6×50 feet.
The MSP places a strong emphasis on its online print services, which include sophisticated Web to print (W2P) storefronts, order tracking, and quick response code generation.
The Perfect Fit
The company began offering digital services in early 2011. “Our clients want quality, quick turnaround times, and competitive pricing,” comments Jennifer Hudek, president, Pacful. “That’s why our first purchase to help us in this area was a Ricoh Pro C901 Graphic Arts + Edition Color Production System.”
Over the past three years, Pacful has transitioned from print provider to MSP by combining its marketing skills with powerful technologies.
The C901 Graphic Arts + Color prints at speeds of up to 90 pages per minute at true 1,200×1,200 dpi. The system employs Ricoh PxP chemical toners and oil-less fusing technology to produce smaller, more uniform toner particles that deliver sharper images with a matte finish for commercial quality output. The device also supports full-bleed printing for media sizes up to 13×19.2 inches. The welded steel frame is designed to handle up to 350,000 impressions per month.
Hudek says that when deciding to invest in digital, the company wanted to ensure they had the functionally to offer the products that their clients wanted the most. “We knew that Ricoh, who has long been an industry leader and has partnerships with companies such as Heidelberg and Marcom, would be a key tool to our continued growth,” she says.
In 2013, Hudek says Pacful’s digital print on demand offerings generated close to 37 percent of its business, a number it expects to increase another ten to 15 percent over the next three years.
Prior to implementing the Ricoh Pro C901, Pacful took the time to research every print on demand option over a three to four month period. Key components of the evaluation included selecting a vendor whose products would maximize the MSP’s return on investment, providing best-in-class vendor support, and offering advanced technology and reliability.
“It was important to us that we selected a company who would become a true partner in the years to come,” says Hudek.
Embracing the Web
Pacful understands the importance of evolving with technology to remain competitive. Hudek explains that the company’s goal is to always stay ahead of the curve. “We knew that W2P services were the future for keeping our customers happy. We wanted them to have the tools to make printing easy for them,” she continues. “Click, print, and ship was our goal and to this day it is a large part of our continued success.”
The company deploys Web storefronts using PTI Technologies’ MarcomCentral software, a strategic partner of Ricoh. “By utilizing Marcom’s templates and infrastructure, we can offer our clients access to all of the bells and whistles at a competitive price while building a program/model that our clients are involved with as well,” says Hudek.
With this set up, each client is allowed a custom solution, providing the experience that Pacful is an extension of their own company rather than just another vendor. In fact, the company hosts more than 40 customized Web-based storefronts for its clients. With this capability, clients access store-branded content, including high-resolution logos, document templates, collateral designs, contact information, and other digital assets, within their own branded Web site. Central storage enables clients to maintain critical brand consistency as they order a variety of materials, including print jobs, promotional items, and event-branded garments. Orders are seamlessly directed into Pacful’s print/inventory management system and then produced.
“This is a crucial difference that sets us apart and allows us to both grow existing relationships and add new customers regularly,” says Hudek.
Case of Variability
Recently, Pacful printed three pieces of customer materials for a nationwide promotional event. “It involved winners of first, second, and third place in each state. “We had to produce three items for 1,200 locations, including variable data printing, fulfillment, email notice, tracking, and certification of winners.”
The company worked with the customer’s in-house design team and advertising agency for the creative.
The project needed to be completed within a ten-day turnaround period. Pacful completed it within seven.
“Projects of this nature are standard for our experienced team. Our employees believe that the company is an extension of our clients, thus we take a great deal of pride in our work,” reflects Hudek.
Continued Growth
Pacful continues to focus on the print on demand space as well as fulfillment and storage areas. In fact, the company recently signed a new lease for a 130,000 square foot facility in Northern, CA, where it will expand and offer additional services such as temperature controlled storage and increased W2P capabilities.
It is also interested in getting further involved in event support for its customers’ needs at trade shows and conferences. dps
Jul2014, DPS Magazine
