SPC Stays Current in the Marketplace

Specialty Print Communications (SPC), located in Niles, Ill., is a third generation, family-owned printing company founded in 1995-1996 as a commercial sheetfed printer. The privately held company is currently owned by CEO Paul LeFebvre and his three sons: Adam, president; Dustin, executive vice president of strategic initiatives; and Ryan in sales. Because of tremendous growth over the years, SPC is also a direct mail production specialist.

SPC’s “DNA is direct mail. Staying abreast of new approaches, new regulations and the dynamics of reaching the targeted consumer is all in a day’s work at Specialty,” according to a company statement. Their goal for the future is to continue to build direct mail programs that get results and client relationships that get stronger over time. SPC now has more than 300 employees.

“About seven years ago, we decided for our clients to enter the full web market. During the last three to four years, we also added inline capabilities by modifying our equipment to expand inline production. The technology increases our formats to include open- and closed-end mailers, scratch-offs, scratch-and-sniffs, clean-release cards and more. The inline technology enables us to produce personalized, complex direct mail that’s highly impactful and engaging while delivering maximum value and time efficiencies. We added UV coating,” explained Dustin LeFebvre.

SPC’s inline capabilities offers several benefits to direct marketers. “The technology compresses the production schedule dramatically. There are efficiencies on virtually every level, so now you don’t have to be in the Fortune 500 to generate high-impact direct mail and achieve lift in your retention, loyalty and acquisition programs,” Dustin LeFebvre said. “This technology allows us to offer the formats at an affordable price,” he pointed out.

Adding New Facilities

“Most recently, we acquired Michigan-based Batson Printing earlier this year. It is our third facility dedicated to lettershop services,” Dustin LeFebvre continued. The new location is one block west of its corporate headquarters. Truman Pope, an industry veteran, was recently hired to manage the lettershop division as vice president of mail operations.

Pope comes to SPC from World Marketing Chicago, where he was COO since October 2004. He has been in the industry for more than 20 years and ran his own lettershop business in the past.

“I think it’s great to work for a family business again. It brings new changes from working in the corporate world. The LeFebvres understand the business, and we work well together. Before I was selected to head the lettershop, they approached me and started talking about it, saying it would be a good fit and beneficial to the end users,” said Pope.

He also emphasized the importance of digital technology in the marketplace: “Digital technology is a little more costly, but in the long run it saves the end user money. With the shorter runs, you don’t have extra stock, plus it is more personalized. The quality has really improved in the past year. As the technology keeps growing, costs will drop.”

The new 73,000-sq-ft facility is ideal for data security, featuring a restricted access, physically protected data room; a server room with interior facing walls; a 24/7 digital security camera system with rewrite and backup; keyless entry; and fiber optics. A dedicated generator for emergency backup was installed so all data is secure from disasters and fire.

The lettershop facility includes sheetfed and roll to roll laser imaging, inkjet personalization, multiple format inserting, matching capabilities, CD tipping and card affixing. Additional services include wafer sealing, label-aire, hand work, and fulfillment. SPC also moved its four-color variable digital department, including Kodak NexPress machines, to the lettershop facility.