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THERE HAS been some erroneous
reporting going on. Not by Printing Impressions, but by another industry
publication, which stated that 135 printers were gearing up to print
election materials for the 2008 Democratic National Convention being held in
Denver this month.
There might be 135 printers on the Vendor List of the Host Committee’s
Website, but only a select few made it through the “requirements process”
and got the work.
Touted as the “greenest presidential convention in history,” the Democratic
National Convention Committee (DNCC) was seeking a few environmentally
friendly printers. But, that’s only the half of it. The other major
requirement of the DNCC was that the printer be a union shop. Considering
that there are not many union shops these days, the DNCC’s order seemed
pretty tall. A green, union shop. How many of those could there be?
Enter a little-known printer that quickly made big-time news.
“Companies Gain Exposure from Dem Convention Work” reads the headline in the
Rocky Mountain News February 7, 2008, edition. The article continues: “BC
Printing doesn’t know how much revenue it will glean printing letterhead,
stationery and other materials for the Democratic National Convention
Committee. But one thing is certain: Working with the DNCC will provide a
significant boost for the Denver-based company in other ways. BC Printing
and a handful of other local companies are finding that prestige, exposure
and connections gained by working with the convention are almost as
beneficial as the additional revenue it provides.”
BC Printing
Who would think that a tiny union print shop (with only six employees)
could end up being the “preferred print provider” for the DNCC?
BC Printing, for one. Well, at least, it hoped so.
According to owner Dan Linn, “We bought the shop eight years ago, partly due
to its niche in elections work, which is a big business every other year.
There’s a significant increase in volume/revenues during election years.”
In 2007, Linn met with the DNCC, when it was looking for a Denver-based
printer to produce work for the 2008 presidential convention. The DNCC
required that the printer be green, as well as unionized.
“Green” being one of the main requirements, BC Printing had already made its
mark. It had recently completed the PIAMS Environmental Results Program (ERP)
which requires compliance with OSHA and all federal, state and local
environmental regulations. Through this process, PIAMS established a green
verification program that also includes requirements for recycling programs,
implementing pollution prevention strategies and creating sustainability
action plans, leading them to becoming PIAMS Green Members. Those companies
are also in the process of becoming “Colorado Environmental Leaders” through
a special state program.
“Only six or seven printers in the entire state of Colorado completed the
program and are considered to be verifiable PIAMS Green Members, initiated
by their participation in the ERP. We’re one of them,” Linn explains. “And,
we’re union, so we stood out as a main contender to get the DNCC work.”
BC Printing has been a green shop for several years, using soy-based inks
and, most recently, Superior Ink’s new no-VOC ink (which BC is currently
testing for Superior). The printer also runs alcohol-free, recycles all of
its paper (including office paper) and offers recycled paper with higher
post-consumer waste content.
Not that the DNCC required elections printing experience, but BC had plenty
of that, as well. So, between being green, a union shop and an elections
printer, Linn’s operation was ranked in the top spot, making it the DNCC’s
“preferred print provider.” As such, BC prints the organization’s
letterhead, stationery, envelopes, note cards, business cards, etc.
With its four presses, including a five-color Komori and a two-color
Heidelberg, BC Printing produces state/local campaign door hangers,
brochures, direct mail, signs, posters (two for Barack Obama), business
cards and so forth, usually in run lengths of 10,000 to 50,000 each.
“Elections materials are always very short turnaround,” Linn notes. “Rarely
do we get projects that have more than a two-day deadline, and those are
usually direct mail pieces with more complex messages or other requirements.
We get a lot of last-minute work, as well, like when a candidate wants to
respond to an allegation or smear tactic from his opponent, and needs to
create a quick direct mail piece or simple brochure/flyer.”
Much of the elections material Linn mentions is printed for local city,
county and state races. The printer does this type of work every election
season, and it’s a biannual mainstay of the operation.
“Getting to work with the candidates and their staffs can be eye-opening,”
Linn adds. “They’re usually very altruistic; they’re in this business
because they have strong beliefs about things and want to effect change.
It’s exciting to see them in action for their cause.”
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