Anyone familiar with this company?
yes
How's their quality?
yes - depends on what type of equipment they will be getting in and the focus of their business.
We obtain and retain business mostly because of our top quality designs and prints. We're not known for being the cheapest guy on the block.
yes - they can do that too.
I'd like to think we'll be able to retain most of our type of customers... the ones looking for quality.
yes - they can do that too.
Figure out why they're moving in and what they want to sell. Someone did some research to pick that location - with help from the corporate office.
Their core business is printing and copies - and more high quality color copies than printing nowadays. I would look first for schools and government buildings nearby. Then large companies that would need vast amounts of copies in a hurry.
Mail services is another area of expertise with variable data printing. Again, look at 10-15 mile radius for large to medium size businesses that would benefit from that.
As it's a franchise, the mentality is to get the volume and do it with a fast turn - to make the franchise payment.
An aggressive Alphagraphics is going to have outside sales and a delivery van(s) -you can wrap that for them- ...but that means the print
buyer isn't likely to be driving by your shop to pick-up an order to benefit you.
The small shop owner is going to go there because of convenience and the known brand. It's feasible that the customer could get business cards, brochures, and tradeshow graphics (banners/bannerstands/display presentation boards) inside of 24 hours - at a reasonable quality.
Unlike a "Kinko's," Alphagraphics allows for a regional approach on how to define it's marketing and product mix base on the sucess of other stores in the network. Why do they want to be near you? Sounds like you've got a good location.
As with any business, it's going to depend on the quality of the staff and management of the facility that dictates what type of threat it will be to your business.
In no way am I saying the sky is falling, but it seems to me that it'd be some work to figure out your niche to successfully compete and prosper with your new neighbor --- maybe partner even with them. But it does raise the bar.
If I were a shop owner, I'd be thinking about calling Jon Aston for some consultation.
