What is your official title at Flexpress?
Front Desk Receptionist       

How would you describe your duties at Flexpress?
I would describe them as ACTIVE. Yes, active, as we are always moving, moving, moving and I don’t mind it one bit. This isn’t your regular receptionist job that requires you to just sit, enter data and answer calls. I like that I can move around from department to department helping wherever I am needed. My favorite part of the job is that we never have a dull moment.

If you could switch jobs at Flexpress for the day, what would it be and why?
That’s a tough question because every job is a challenge here. I would go with Pre-press. I want to know how the machines work. That would be beneficial to me so I can understand how long it takes to run jobs.

What do you like to do outside of work?
This one is easy. SHOPPING! That doesn’t mean I always buy things but I love the challenge of finding a great deal.

Are there any organizations that you belong to? If so, how did you get involved with them?
When I get the chance, I volunteer for Bea’s Kids. It’s an after school program for kids Pre-K to High School to get assistance with homework. I used to be a part of that program growing up myself so it is very near and dear to my heart.

Is there one secret talent that you keep hidden?
I am great at baking. I love to make cookies, brownies, cupcakes. I have 10 nieces and nephews that are willing to test those skills.

What is the one thing people would be most surprised to find out about you?
I used to dance Baile Folklorico growing up in high school. Learning each state’s dance was so interesting to me. Each one had a different costume and theme. The ones I performed the most in are Veracruz and Jalisco. I miss dancing, as it was such a big part of my life.

We love digital printing. We love thinking about. We love talking about it. We love doing it. And with Valentine’s Day fast approaching we’d love to share why:

1. Fast Turns. No offset plates = short set up time, and at 110 pages per minute our presses are fearless in the face of deadlines.

2. Ton of paper choices. When it comes to stock, digital printing is anything but plain white vanilla. Our digital presses can print on weights all the way up to 24 pt. and on a variety of colors and finishes – metallic, pearlized, textured and recycled stocks, even plastic!

3. Inline Collation. Electronically collate page images while mixing total black pages with color. Genius.

4. Auto duplexing. The ability to print both sides of the sheet with one pass through the press makes digital fast, efficient and cost effective. What’s not to love?

5. High quality. Vibrant colors and sharp details make our hearts flutter.

6. No shop smell. No alcohols, chlorinated solvents or acids means no stinky vapors. Ahhh… we really, really love that.

7. No messy inks. Digital presses use non-toxic dry inks in closed containers, making it safer for our employees and greener for everyone.

8. Short run pricing. To be honest, everyone loves this about digital printing.

9. Variable data printing. Personalized content can be incorporated into direct mail and other materials in one pass through the press, saving time and money.

10. Our customers. During the last 20 years as digital printers we have been fortunate to work with some really great, talented people who have trusted us to produce their printed materials. We love that most of all!

Recently we discussed the personalized targeting capabilities of variable data printing in direct marketing. But what about those times when you simply don’t have a database established yet? The United States Postal Service is offering a new service that allows you to reach every customer in a chosen area without having the street addresses or even names.

With Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM™) you can target areas by neighborhood, ZIP Code or city. USPS letter carriers will deliver your ad or promotion to every mailbox along the selected routes. Because they are already making those stops while delivering the daily mail the cost is extremely reasonable – as little as 14.5 cents per piece for postage.

EDDM Retail is a great way to deliver coupons, offers, sales, specials and event promotions to desired audiences in a specific area. It isn’t necessary to know the names or street addresses. Just use the approved EDDM format of “Local Postal Customer”. EDDM Retail is geared to smaller businesses with smaller mailings of 5,000 maximum mail pieces per mailer per day. There is no need for a postage permit and there is no annual fee. However, there are certain size and weight restrictions. To qualify the piece must weigh no more than 3.3 ounces and be a Standard Mail flat. Additional size information and step-by-step instructions can be found at www.uspseverydoor.com.

For larger businesses with larger mailings the USPS offers EDDM Business Mail Entry Unit (BMEU). You can achieve great saturation while targeting entire cities or regions. Tools are available online to help estimate postage by showing how many customers are nearby, or in the chosen mailing area. A Mailing Permit is needed for this option. Again, additional tools and instructions can be found at www.uspseverydoor.com.

Direct mail is still the preferred way of receiving marketing materials and it is great to know that there are options available for every business’s needs, whether they have a database of existing customers in place or are just starting out. If you have any questions about direct mail printing that you would like to discuss please contact us at sales@flexpress.com.

What is your official title at Flexpress?
I believe my official title would be Printer Operator/Bindery

How would you describe your duties at Flexpress?
My job at Flexpress varies due to being a printer and working in bindery. At times I am collating books, padding, inserting, tabs and binding, and other times I’m working the printers, running jobs and monitoring the machines.

What is your favorite part of your job?
The favorite part of my job would be the spontaneous goods and big potlucks we have about every month. I can never resist free food and desserts.

What one thing would people be most surprised to find out about you?
One thing I think people would be most surprised to find out is that I was in All District Choir.

What do you like to do outside of work?
When I’m not working, I love to relax and just hang out with friends. I also love dancing, filming, going to the gym and playing sports such as football and basketball.

I understand you are in a dance group. How did you get interested in that?
The dance group I’m involved in is a group called the Filipino Student Association (FSA) at The University of Texas at Dallas. I’ve always wanted to dance, especially modern hip-hop. Friends that were in FSA introduced me to the group and I started to attend all the events and meetings. The group generally represents Filipino heritage and also its culture. We perform cultural dances, have Filipino styled meals and dinners, and have several events.

You mentioned you enjoy competitive sports? Any in particular?
Yes! I really enjoy playing football. I played football during my freshman and junior year and I just love the thrill of it and the adrenaline when playing.

Tell us a little about your interest in photography. What is your favorite subject matter?
I first got involved in photography when I took a photography class during high school. And from then on, taking photos and the artistic creativity of it is pretty interesting. I’d have to say that abstract/nature and clouds/skies would be my favorite subject matters.

What else do you like to do with your free time? Are there any organizations that you belong to?
Other than just relaxing with friends and going out, I enjoy watching movies, playing games and playing flag football during my free time. As of now, the organization I’m active in would be UTD’s Filipino Student Association.

It sounds like you have a lot of talents. Is there one that you keep hidden, or only show off for party tricks time?
I think the dancing comes out of me when it comes to partying and blaring music.

Thanks for sharing with us, Ralph. We love the energy you bring to Flexpress!

As marketing options continue to increase, the number of messages consumers receive each day is reaching critical mass. How can you stand out in this crowded field? Surprisingly, the best answer might be direct mail. This “old school” approach is actually favored by U.S. consumers, according to a recent survey by Epsilon Targeting. Not only does direct mail get high marks for the preferred method of receiving information, but also for the trustworthiness of the info received. A resounding 60% of those polled said they enjoying checking their mailboxes for postal mail.*

It isn’t considered especially sexy or new by marketers, but the numbers indicate consumers do have an emotional bond to direct mail. Adding personalized messages via Variable Data Printing is a great way to further increase that connection. VDP is a process whereby copy and even graphics can be customized inline on digital presses while the job is being printed. This means a marketing piece can be adapted any number of ways to suit the individual recipient, creating a more one-to-one experience. It creates brand recognition and a memorable message because, honestly, who doesn’t like to be recognized and catered to? By targeting their interests and providing relevant content you can save the recipient’s time and earn their appreciation while increasing response rates.

Personalize catalogs, direct mail postcards, letters, mailers, and offers to match the current and potential customers you are targeting. Try incorporating Variable Data into your Cross Media Marketing by adding PURLs (Personalized URLs) on the direct mail piece and drive the customer to a customized web page. Not only will the extra layer of personalization create a “wow” connection, but the responding clicks can be studied for even further customization on follow up pieces. Reward them for sharing their information with a specific offer based on what you already know about their demographics and purchasing history. Think of it as a courtship. It takes time to build a database, but keep it, groom it, and reap the benefits of better customer relationships.

*For more details on the Epsilon Report visit http://www.epsilon.com/channelpreference2011.

For more information on Variable Data Printing contact us at sales@flexpress.com and we will be glad to discuss how it works on press and, more importantly, how it can work for you.

One of the more noticeable changes we experienced was the update of our website (www.flexpress.com) to better reflect our team philosophy. Each and every member of Flexpress is here to work for our customers and the new design is our way of acknowledging all the people who make us successful. We also put together a couple of videos of our crew and have posted them on our YouTube Channel (FlexpressDigital). Those videos were really fun to make and we think a terrific way to let you know more about our great group of people. We intend to add more in 2012. We hope you check them out.

We ventured into other social media outlets, as well: Facebook (www.facebook.com/FlexpressDigital), Twitter (@FlexpressUSA) and Google+ (FlexPress). It has been a fun learning experience and has allowed us to connect with friends and customers, both old and new. This added interaction definitely rates as one of the highlights of 2011.

Speaking of customers, we want to give a heartfelt “Thank you!” to all of you. It is a joy to work with such good companies. When we work together as partners everyone benefits and we can weather the trying times together. We look forward to an improved business climate in 2012, for all of us. Bring on the new year!

We are so fortunate to have some great people here at Flexpress and one of the best is Philip, our GM. If you have ever called or come in, there is a very good chance you’ve had the pleasure of talking with him. While Philip is an incredibly strong source of knowledge about all things print related, we’ve decided to put him to the test and find out a few things about a different subject – him. We think you will be as impressed as we are.

You are such a presence at Flexpress. How long have you been with the company?
Eleven years.

What was your first job at Flexpress?
We really didn’t have positions/titles when I started in 2000. We had a much smaller staff. You were expected to be able to handle everything that came in, or find a way to make it happen. It was really important to be able to multitask and handle multiple jobs/positions: help customers, scan jobs, run the machines, do bindery, and work nights and weekends. Luckily over the last decade we have been able to grow at a pace that has allowed us to expand to where employees can be focused on one or two positions in the company, instead of having 6-10 areas of focus.

How would you describe your current duties at Flexpress?
I still have many of the same job duties I did when I started 11 years ago.  But with the addition of overseeing the17 full time and part time employees in the production department a lot of my job involves the logistics of making sure the right people are at the shop at the right time, making sure they have what they need, and making sure the client gets their job on time and it is correct.

Can you run every machine at Flexpress?
I used to be able to run every machine with no problem, out of necessity. From 2000-2006 I was going to school while working at Flexpress. I would return to the office in the evening to print and bind the jobs I promised during the day. Now, it is more like I know how to keep them running, or know just enough to get me in trouble at night or on the weekend.

How does that knowledge of all departments help you help your customers?
The knowledge helps in communicating with my clients on what we need to do to get the results they are expecting.  Or telling them what they might need to fix/adjust to get the best product. And in a few circumstances even telling the client we just can’t do it, but I know someone who can help them with a particular job. I would rather turn away a job than give a client something I know they won’t be happy with.

I know you are a bit of a workaholic with a great deal of dedication to your job, but what do you like to do outside of work?
The thing I enjoy the most now is being at home with my dog, Carson.  And I still enjoy going to the gym several times a week.

Are there any organizations that you belong to?
Yes, the coolest one ever: Flexpress.

Now, down to the real scoop. Do you have any hidden talents?
Yes. I can still bench press more than my body weight, I can cut paper down from parent sheets, and I know and can figure out grain direction!

What one thing would people be most surprised to find out about you?
I went to school to be a CPA. But I never took the test.

Thanks, Philip! I know there are a lot of very grateful customers and people at Flexpress who are extremely glad you chose to stay with Flexpress rather than go the CPA route.

On the technology front, Microsoft released MS-DOS 5.0 and Apple rolled out the PowerBook 100 as well as the Macintosh Classic II desktop computer that came with a 9-inch black and white screen and a choice of either a 40 or 80 MB hard drive. In August of 1991, Tim Berners-Lee introduced us to his “World Wide Web” web browser concept and the National Science Foundation made the Internet available for commercial use. One million forward thinking computer users jumped on the net that year and, odds are, they’ve never signed off.

Things have certainly changed in the printing industry in the past 20 years as well. In 1991 most print jobs were still provided as paste up to traditional printers and set up by strippers in pre-press using film and metal plates. According to highbeam.com, commercial printing was the 5th largest manufacturing industry in the U.S. in 1991, with revenues of $55.7 billion. At Flexpress we knew even then that print-on-demand agility and flexibility would change the future of printing. It comes as no surprise to us that while the printing industry grew by only 1.7% per year between 1991 and 2000, the segments of quick printing, digital, screen and flexography were responsible for 21.7% of the revenue. (Thanks to print.rit.edu for those facts.)

Of course, Flexpress has seen its share of changes during the past two decades in Dallas. We have grown with digital printing’s emergence. And we will continue to adopt new technology and hone our skills as a team to stay in the game. What hasn’t changed? Our business philosophy. We’ve said it before but believe it bears repeating:

1. Give the customer what they ask for and stand by the product.
2. Continue to stay on the forefront of technology and share our knowledge and expertise.
3. Be a part of the community.
4. Treat every employee like family.

We can’t wait to see what the next 20 years will hold. Share your thoughts with us here or drop us a line at sales@flexpress.com.

The holidays are upon us and, if you are anything like us, so is the challenge to find just the right way to show clients and business associates how much we appreciate them. Personalizing your cards and gifts is the perfect way to stand out from the many offerings of the season. Whenever a card or gift is sent, adding a personal touch reinforces the message that it is not merely an obligation met, but a true token of appreciation.

There are a number of ways to send a unique message to your friends and clients. Custom designed and printed cards, custom printed gift boxes, private labeled gifts and even bottle neck hang tags are but a few. The beauty of digital printing is that any quantity can be printed, large or small. All can be printed with your logo and message, of course. But you can also take it a step further and customize the messages for each recipient by utilizing variable data printing to include their names on the item. While time may be too short to have the gifts monogrammed or engraved, variable data can customize the packaging inline as it is printed, with no delay in the process.

Custom holiday cards
A simple way to send a personal message is in a custom printed card. Does your company support a special charity with donations rather than giving gifts? Perhaps you have a special theme that can be tied into your product or service. Whether playful, service-oriented, or reverent, this is an ideal way to express your company’s personality while connecting with your business contacts.

Custom gift boxes
We have custom box templates available in a variety of shapes and sizes. If you have a specific size that isn’t in our library we can quickly make a custom die. Smaller gift boxes are perfect for individual presents within a corporate setting and can hold candy, cookies, promotional items, packaged coffee, you name it. We even have boxes specifically made for golf balls. The “wow” factor of any gift is magnified when it is presented in a specially designed package.

Private labeled bottles, jars and cans
Choose your own supplier or work with one of our providers of great tasting sauces, salsas, seasoning rubs, and snacks. Private labeling with your logo and message is a great way to stand out and send a unique gift. It can even go one step further and be customized with the individual names of your friends and customers, or a special note thanking their company.

Bottle hang tags
Giving a special bottle of wine and want to add a message? Our bottle tags are the perfect solution. The tag has a die cut opening which slips over the neck of the bottle, and the personal message is printed on the body of the card. They are also great for bottles of vinegars and oils, if you want to put a gourmet gift basket together.

So there you have it, a few ways to make the holidays even more personal. So kick back, have another slice of pumpkin pie, and consider the possibilities. There is still time and we are here to help you.

For more information contact us at sales@flexpress.com.

Perhaps it is because of our love for paper and the printed page, but there is something very reassuring about an actual calendar that can be touched. With them our days are presented in an instantly recognizable measurement with pages to turn as appointments are noted and days marked off.

It should come as no surprise that at Flexpress we print many kinds of calendars. The shapes, sizes and formats are as varied as the uses for them. We have templates for most and can help with the design and production of others as needed. Among the more popular:

Wall calendars – both saddle-stitched and spiral bound
Posters – either a single year at a glance or individual tear-off months available in large format sizes
Table tents – ideal for monthly events and special promotions
Business card – terrific for appointment reminders
Magnetic – can be square cut or custom die cut shapes
Notepads – really handy when the calendar is printed quarterly along the margin
Bookmarks – these are great reminders of holidays, sporting events and special test dates for students
Rolodex® cards – a surprisingly effective and desired format even in these days of electronic contact lists
Window clings – perfect for posting seasonal hours and days
Weekly and monthly planners – top organizational tools for both business and educational use

Of all the calendars, though, we think those that are personalized are the best. Whether they are designed with photos, logos, or messages these are the ones that give us daily reminders of our connections to others: businesses, schools, sports teams, and personal organizations. These relationships are what fill our days with purpose and anticipation and give us a reason to look forward to the next day. As these calendars work their way through our printing and bindery departments we can’t help but imagine what the upcoming year holds for us all.

Good news! It’s not too late to put your mark on 2012 with a customized calendar. Contact us at sales@flexpress.com and let’s discuss making your presence known year-round. It would make our day.