Irvine-based Main Graphic Imaging has expanded its services after buying two companies last year.
The graphics shop acquired Orange Ink Printing in Irvine and Pace Publications of Anaheim. Both took on the Main Graphic name and moved into the company’s new, bigger digs in Irvine, said George Haggarty, Main Graphic president.
“You’re seeing some consolidation in our industry,” Haggarty said. “You’ll continue to see this.”
Main Graphic more than doubled its size with the acquisitions and move. Terms of the deals weren’t disclosed.
The company now has 31 workers and yearly sales of more than $5 million, Haggarty said. About four workers shifted from Pace and 17 came from Orange Ink.
Main Graphic also is looking to hire, Haggarty said.
The shop gained a larger printer from Orange Ink, Haggarty said. It also expanded services, which now include data transfer and management services, pre-press preparation and press calibrated proofing, direct-to-plate offset printing and in-house bindery.
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Y & R; commercial for Next Level Fitness: won Best of Show |
Main Graphic is offering an online ordering system to Pace and Orange Ink clients, Haggarty said.
“Printing is almost always perceived as a commodity-base business,” he said. “But once the order is taken, it morphs into a service-based business.”
Price still is king. But customers want a “seamless” experience, Haggarty said.
“That’s why we’ve worked hard and invested in refining a support and delivery system geared entirely to the customer’s needs and expectations,” he said.
Ad Snipe
Irvine-based More Yellow raised some eyebrows recently when it took a stab at big ad shops.
A brochure features some little people wearing More Yellow T-shirts ganging up on a tall guy wearing a shirt that says “Big Ad Agency.”
The cover reads: “Is our smaller ad agency as strong as the big agencies?”
Flip the page and the little fellows are beating up on the big guy. Copy reads: “No. We’re stronger.”
“Since we sent out the ‘small person’ brochure our business has gone through the roof,” said Jordan Mauriello, president and creative director. “I’m really excited.”
Mauriello said he wanted to play up the fact that his shop is small and young. It launched two years ago and has three full-time workers.
“We’re a small agency with big ad agency experience,” Mauriello said. “I’ve worked at Y & R; and FCB. The guys that work with me have worked at those places.”
Mauriello, former art director at Young & Rubicam Brands in Irvine, is one of a handful of OC ad executives that traded in big agency life to go it alone.
There’s “less levels and less bureaucracy,” Mauriello said. “It’s been a big selling point for us.”
The shop is finishing up a few TV spots for T-Mobile USA Inc.
Mauriello said he taps contractors to help on various projects.
“It helps us hit the target,” he said.
Ad Awards
The results are in for the Orange County Ad Club awards, held recently at the Hilton Waterfront Resort in Huntington Beach.
Hundreds of creative types attended the show and watched Young & Rubicam Brands walk away with the top honor, Best of Show, for its TV work titled “Escalator” for Next Level Fitness.
DGWB Advertising in Santa Ana and O’Leary & Partners in Irvine each took home three gold awards.
Judges from here and across the nation made the picks from among 500 entries in 60 different categories.
“Orange County advertisers continue to make a significant impression on their local, national and international peers,” said Dominic Symes, Ad Club president.
DGWB was the biggest winner of the night, taking home 28 awards.
Other gold winners include LatinoLandia USA of Irvine, Mendoza, Dillon & Asociados Inc. of Irvine, Tustin-based al Punto Advertising and Santa Ana’s Brainsaw.
Gold winners get sponsorship to advance and compete nationally in the American Advertising Federation ADDY Awards. Silver winners are eligible to enter but aren’t sponsored.
