Gabriel Group Grows Print Volume 10 Percent with Xerox iGen3
ST. LOUIS—August 29, 2006—Gabriel Group, one of the largest direct-mail companies in the Midwest, is boosting its color print volume about 10 percent a month on the Xerox (NYSE: XRX) iGen3® 110 Digital Production Press that it installed one year ago.
The company is using the digital color press to develop more powerful Web-to-print services that automate how personalized documents are ordered and produced. Jobs running on the Xerox iGen3 110 digital press include print-on-demand documents outsourced by traditional offset printers, customized materials for a restaurant chain’s location rollouts, and personalized direct mail for an executive search firm.
“I’m convinced that the industry is evolving into digital and that one-to-one communications is where you need to be,” said Mike Peterson, president of fulfillment solutions, Gabriel Group. “The key to advancing in the marketplace is to bring new ideas to your customers and new ways for them to meet the needs of their clients.”
According to Peterson, the Xerox iGen3 digital press is driving growth in nearly every facet of the company’s business. “The iGen3 press and personalized digital print give us a product and value-added services that generate new revenue sources,” Peterson said.
Gabriel Group chose the Xerox iGen3 digital press, with a Creo Spire color server, over competitive offerings because the press can handle different paper weights, stocks and sizes. Peterson also said the company’s longstanding relationship with Xerox was a critical factor.
For example, Xerox helped Gabriel Group management identify Web-to-print software that they could integrate with their own Web-fulfillment system, so their customers could use the Internet to access document templates, customize those documents, and then order printed copies. “This service gives larger companies control of their brands, and at the same time makes materials available for customization at the local level in dealer networks and manufacturing groups,” said Peterson.
According to Peterson, the Xerox iGen3 110 digital press is accelerating the company’s use of storing customer files electronically rather than hardcopies in warehouses.
“Because of the range and sizes of paper the iGen3 digital press can handle, we’re continuing to find new pieces that are more feasible to print from electronic storage. We also do a closer analysis of job usage and obsolescence, so we’re printing more frequent short runs,” said Peterson. Currently, electronic storage accounts for 20 percent to 30 percent of the company’s customers’ fulfillment materials.
To help boost the sales and marketing of its new services, Gabriel Group has used Xerox’s ProfitAccelerator digital business resources programs for sales training and “lunch-and-learn” seminars on production and design topics.
The company has also joined the Xerox Graphic Arts Premier Partners program, a group of leading Xerox customers worldwide who share knowledge and business. The group has already helped Gabriel Group identify potential print partners in Europe for meeting the international printing needs of global customers.
In addition to the Xerox iGen3 110 digital press, Gabriel Group uses two Xerox monochrome production printers - a Xerox DocuTech® 6135 Production Publisher and a Xerox DocuPrint® 4635MX Laser Printing System - and Xerox FreeFlow® Makeready software to scan documents, prepare print jobs, and perform last-minute document editing.
About Gabriel Group
The Gabriel Group’s business is data-driven mailed and printed communications: direct mail production and consulting; fundraising programs; statements, notices and “live” checks for items such as dividends, refunds and payroll; on-demand printing; and short-run digital color printing. The company consists of agency, corporate and nonprofit services.
- Companies:
- Xerox Corp.