Alphagraphics Gives Customers Top Honors at ACE Awards Event

Customers who know Andie and Wes Carpenter, owners of Alphagraphics in Winston-Salem, NC, are constantly reminded of the dedication and commitment these owners have each time they work on a project. To say thank you for their business, Alphagraphics decided to reward their customers with a special event called the ACE Awards (Alphagraphics Customers of Excellence). This event was not only to recognize their customers, but to highlight the expansion of their services with their new digital production press, the Xerox 800, first of it's kind in this area. The event also showcased some of the marketing services capabilities that Alphagraphics can use to help their customers create marketing campaigns that generate more business and targeted messages.

Customers were treated special from the initial Save the Date postcard for the event, to the personalized playing cards that featured key NC landmarks and a special thank you for being a valued customer. Alphagraphics wanted to make sure that each customer was treated as a VIP, so they created a personalized invitation campaign using their own marketing service resources including variable data printing, personalized URL's, and clear dry ink.

More than 52 participants attended the event, which was largely due to the relationships that Andie and Wes have created with their customers over the years. Adding the personalized touch on the invitations and postcards, they were thrilled with the 33 percent response rate for customers registering and attending the event. Andie Fishel-Carpenter, Co-owner of Alphagraphics Winston-Salem said, "As a previous sales executive and now owner of Alphagraphics for the past 13 years, I have had the priveledge of meeting some outstanding people over time. Part of my job is to make sure that our customers understand ways they can maximize their print communication budgets, provide quality customer service, and superior products, and in return they make it a joy to come to work everyday. This event was just to say thanks for helping make our company successful over the years."

This year Alphagraphics is on target to grow 10 percent. They have restructured their operation to be more streamlined, have added a new sales executive, and recently upgraded their capabilities with a Xerox Color 800 Digital press and variable information software from XMPie, a Xerox company. Also assisting Alphagraphics in their strategy for growth is their Xerox Business Development Consultant, Toni Deal.

The franchise has come a long way in five years since Andie and Wes took over the business. Initially, they worked on getting to know their customers and providing the basic printing services that their customers required on a day-to-day business. As they got to know the overall business, the marketing services approach was an important part of their day to day customer interactions. “We are focused on understanding our customers business, understanding what they are doing today, and how we can help them do it better.”

"Many of our clients are looking for unique ways to market their messages. The Xerox 800 amplifies color images and text, to deliver improved visual impact on the marketing and communication pieces they rely on us to produce for them," said Wes Carpenter. "The new clear toner will provide customers a way to visually draw attention to their message, highlight images for visual variety, and make sure their message gets through the overload of information customers see every day. We are also excited about the fact that we can now print 16pt cover, which only a few digital presses in the industry can do, so short-run packaging is now an option."

Long time customers Lynn Murphy and Lynette Matthews-Murphy were thrilled with the customer appreciation event. "Although we've worked with Alphagraphics for years, we had no idea that they had expanded their offerings and services to the extent that they have—we were so impressed, and very proud of the efforts to innovate and grow the company. Gateway Management Services was founded over 12 years ago, and Alphagraphics has been with us from the beginning as an integral partner and dear friend to our company."