The locally owned, independently-operated firm, whose customers are located throughout southeast Michigan, is offering
hands-on sessions that provide "all the tips and tricks needed
to make the best impression with your social media." Over
the last three years, First Impression has provided training and
informational sessions for national organizations, businesses,
corporations, chambers of commerce, and libraries.
"The print industry, along with many other industries,
recognizes the need to be agile and flexible in what they
offer and how they communicate with their customers," says
Cortez. "Over the years we've changed from a small printing
firm to offering digital copies and a broad array of marketing
services. By becoming social media-savvy we are meeting our
customers where they are doing business."
Measurable Results
A number of First Impression's own customers have asked
the company to provide guidance and training on the best
practices for social media. "All companies are dealing with
smaller staff and more work," Cortez says. "We see these trainings as a way to support one another in today's challenging
business climate."
The key to success going forward, Cortez is convinced, is agility. "I just had this big, long conversation with our staff about
being agile, especially in today's environment. Our print numbers, just like everybody's, are changing. I mean, it goes from
ink on paper to digital copies—and those percentages within
Digital
Finishing
Solutions.
Owner Sandie Cortez, CSR Lindsey Slavik, and production manager Mike Abel hold
one of the free banners that First Impression made to welcome home a National
Guard unit that was returning home to Howell, MI, in December 2012.
the bigger number are changing." And gracefully adapting to
that change will make all the difference.
"If you were to ask me three years ago if we would be doing
a trade show out in Vegas for a Fortune 100 company I would
have laughed at you," Cortez admits.
"That's what I mean about being agile: making sure that you
are solidified in what you are doing with your base and paying attention to that, but also looking for opportunities and
being aggressive about it." ◗◗
Print is always on the move. In dynamic markets, printers need to
adapt to new conditions. This is manroland web systems' focus:
Visit us at
You, your business, and your future. Our finishing and workflow
PRINT 13
solutions for digital printing enable you to develop profitable
business models for digital newspaper and book production.
in Chicago
Booth 3143
manroland web systems Inc., Lisle/IL.
www.manroland-web.com
For more information, visit MyPRINTResource.com/10006536
w w w. M y P R I N T R e s o u r c e . c o m
Septembner 2013 / QUICK PRINTING
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