Interview with Dave Sandoe of Graphcom

What is Graphcom?
Graphcom is a graphic communications company located in Gettysburg, PA. We offer many services, including large format printing for trade show items such as banner stands, retractable banner stands, posters, mounting of posters, lamination, and pop-up trade show booths, to name a few. We also have in-house mailing services including insertion. The system we have uses cameras for matched mailings. Another service we provide is digital printing in black and full color, with variable data/variable image on a wide range of papers. Variable data/image printing, when used with a properly planned marketing campaign using PURLs (personalized URLs), can offer tremendous response rates. In addition, we offer storage/fulfillment and online storefront ordering capabilities, and can even convert your printed publication into an online version (we call them Digital Editions). Of course, we offer high quality traditional offset printing on our Heidelberg presses. “Quite a lot of things” would be the short answer to that question!

What is your job title and responsibilities?
I am in business development for Graphcom and I’m also a principal of the company. It’s my job to make sure we stay busy!

Who makes up your team?
I have two full-time customer service reps, Heidi Black and Lisa Kaltreider. They assist me with all aspects of customer service. The rest of our team is made up of seasoned graphic arts professionals with varying specialties.

Please explain the campaign/project creation process.
For a complicated project we involve all applicable managers in what we call a project “launch” meeting. This is where we lay out all of the specs for a project and make sure everyone involved is clear on the details and plan of action.

Where are most of your clients located?
We have many clients located in Frederick, Baltimore and the D.C. Metro area. We also have numerous national as well as several international clients.

What types of clients do you have?
Our client base is very diverse. Some of the industries we serve include: health care, senior living, higher education, manufacturing, insurance, design & advertising agencies, associations, publishers, and financial institutions.

What was the most unusual job you’ve ever done?
We are about to produce a very unusual project. It is a custom sleeve that contains a 28-page booklet and the booklet has a pocket folder on the inside back cover. The unusual part of the project is the fact the sleeve gets laser die-cut and the die-cut must match up to type on the front cover of the booklet. I love working on creative, out of the ordinary projects like this – it energizes all of us!

What is your ideal project?
I’d have to say one that fits our equipment well and ends up being a great success for the client. After all, we’re only here to support the marketing efforts of our clients. If they’re successful, so are we.

What software do you use?
We support all of the major desktop publishing software programs available to consumers. We also have some specialty software for mailing, variable data and wide format printing.

Where would you like to be in five years?
Our current majority shareholders have an exit date of June 2013, at which time I hope to expand my current ownership position. I’d like to build on the excellent foundation they’ve developed for us and keep growing!

Extracurricular activities?
I love to ride snowmobiles in the winter and cut the grass in the summer. I heat my house with wood, so stocking up on wood consumes a fair amount of my free time. I’m also a big fan of Penn State football and enjoy taking in a game now and then. Graphcom is where I spend the bulk of my time – live to print, print to live!

Other organizations?
We’re members of many different Chambers and professional organizations, but I’m most active in the GFAF. I also participate in various peer groups.

Little known facts?
Graphcom began in our president’s basement 26 years ago, and now we are an $8 million company.

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