Allegra Reno — Little Puppy, Big Kennel

Allegra Reno posted a relatively modest $2.3 million in sales during 2006, but the tally represented a 20 percent growth rate. That’s a significant burst for a company with just 15 employees and 9,300 square feet of operating space—a shop that only 10 years ago installed its first two-color press.

Allegra Reno turned the corner in 2001 when it obtained a four-color Heidelberg Speedmaster 52-4. Previously, the printer had used a two-color Ryobi 522 for four-color jobs, but reached the limits as to what it could accomplish. According to J.C. Weir, owner of Allegra Reno, the path to increasing sales volume was pretty clear.