A “pioneer” is a trailblazer, a developer of something new and disruptive. Well, you can fit Print Panther, Konica Minolta and MGI Digital Technology comfortably into that category. This is a follow-up on the first-ever installation in Canada of MGI’s JETVarnish 3DS at Print Panther by Konica Minolta Canada. The groundbreaking technology is changing the face of digital print finishing worldwide. And in just one year, it’s boosted Print Panther’s business by 25%.
In February of 2016, Konica Minolta Canada inked an exclusive agreement with MGI (Fresnes, France) to co-market and service the entire line of MGI digital printing and finishing solutions in Canada. One month later, Konica Minolta Canada installed the latest version of MGI’s JETVarnish 3DS Digital Spot UV and Inline iFoil System at Print Panther – a high-end digital printing boutique in Oakville, Ontario. One of the newest digital finishing breakthroughs in the world, the installation was the first in Canada. Spectacular value-added digital finishing effects are now being done in-house at Print Panther – including 100% spot UV coating, 3D embossing and multi-coloured hot foil stamping – all in one pass! The technology can also accommodate variable-data printing.
I caught up with Christine Yardley, V.P. of Sales and Marketing at Print Panther, and asked how her business has changed since the installation. “We’ve opened doors that we wouldn’t have been able to open previously, and we’ve also increased our existing clients’ spend by being able to offer different and exciting new products,” she said. “To be honest, we found that word-of-mouth was our greatest source of new business. However, we’re trying to be selective in growing the business. We want to build a client base that we can work with on an ongoing basis. We always seem to be fighting with commodity printers’ pricing models. Having a clear advantage like our foil and varnish, allows us to step away from the pack. And by doing so, we’re able to bring back customer service and an artisan quality not recently seen in the printing industry. I think we’ve really ignited a creative spark in many of our customers.”
The initial impact of the installation has been a sales boost of 25% that’s expected to increase. The 25% also takes into account the initial start-up phase when the press wasn’t running at full capacity.
“This is a highly complex press,” she said. “The quality is far superior than conventional presses in many instances. And being the first to have this technology, we’ve had a few learning curves to navigate. However, the operators have had ongoing training and tech support from Konica Minolta Canada, who’s gone above and beyond with training, support and service. In fact, the team that I’ve worked with is different from any other vendor we’ve had. They’ve played a proactive role in helping our MGI business grow by providing exposure at events and through their marketing efforts. They’ve also connected us to people looking for our services and demonstrated a genuine commitment to our success. Moving forward, I firmly believe that print is a valuable, tangible and sustainable resource that’s constantly evolving. I also believe that everything that can go digital will go digital. The true difference is that we keep the artisan quality in our print – and this technology allows us to do just that.”
“Breaking ground with disruptive technologies like the MGI JetVarnish 3DS and iFoil can be difficult in the beginning,” said Rebekah Fougere, Director of Marketing at Konica Minolta Canada. “That’s why we focus on supporting the early adopters as much as possible. Having a visionary and collaborative client like Print Panther helps us learn as well. We’re thrilled by their progress and the wide range of exciting new applications they’re bringing to the marketplace.”
For more information please visit: www.printpanther.ca and follow Print Panther on LinkedIn and Twitter. Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYcfEnVTTwk. For more information about Konica Minolta Canada and its product portfolio please visit www.konicaminolta.ca.
Print Panther’s pioneering progress – one year after its landmark installation
