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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/838
MacDirectory 151 MacDirectory 151
PROFILE
PRINTING FOR LESS > A UNIQUE SERVICE IN A UNIQUE LOCATION
Printingforless.com (PFL) is located in the
heart of Big Sky country, setting up shop
in tiny Livingston, Mont.
Why Livingston? Jessica Cooper, PFL's
marketing manager, explained, "We do 99
percent of our business online…so we are
able to work from just about anywhere.
Being…in Livingston gives PFL employees
the ability to work for a high-tech,
progressive printing company, while still
living amidst some of the most natural
beauty this country has to offer."
Yet it isn't just PFL's location that makes them
so unusual. It is their ongoing commitment
to helping small businesses get the most out
of their marketing materials.
PFL advertises
brochures, postcards, business cards,
stationary and everything else a business
would need in the way of printing.
Pretty typical, right? What isn't so typical
is that when you call in an order to PFL,
you are automatically assigned to a
specific set of customer service
representatives who will walk you through
every phase of your printing job. These
individuals are your dedicated team,
offering advice and suggestions and
answering all your questions.Best of all,
when that customer calls in later, they will
automatically be routed to the same group
of people. This means that from the
moment you begin your journey with PFL,
you are always dealing with someone who
is familiar with your account.
This commitment to customer service
coupled with quality products at a
reasonable price has made PFL a leader in
return business. In fact, 40 percent of PFL's
business comes from referrals.
Cooper on the future for PFL: "I think that
our core business is going to stay the
same – which is to help small businesses
be successful. We are looking at
expanding our product and service
offerings, but our main focus is
continuing to grow by providing the
expertise that enables small business
people who aren't print experts to get
professional-grade marketing materials
and stationery."
WORDS BY JONE DEVLIN
VIDEOGUYS > GETTING AHEAD OF THE CURVE
Videoguys advertises as the world leader
in affordable Digital Video Editing sofware
and hardware, and it only takes one quick
look at their Web site to see why.
There is a huge inventory of products to
choose from, complete with capability
listings. There's a research section, special
areas for HD and DTV, free software,
discounts, trades and rebates. But most
important of all, there are multiple ways
to reach Videoguys' customer service
department – which promises something
you won't always get in your local
computer store – educated, helpful, and
detailed customer support.
MacDirectory talked to Gary Bettan, who
bills himself at "The Videoguy" and he
explained Videoguys' emphasis on
customer service. "We're all videographers
ourselves. We deal with this equipment
every day, and I don't mean watching
demos, we actually edit video ourselves."
This expertise means that users, from the
novice to the expert, can get real-time
advice on everything from the best
equipment to buy, to how to enhance or
improve what they already have.
Videoguys is so secure in the knowledge
of its customer service experts, that they
offer a 30-day, no questions asked money
back guarantee if customers are not
happy with their recommendations.
So is this self-assurance warranted? Bettan
says it is. "We work hard to stay ahead of
the curve," he explained. One way is by
constantly doing research, both via the
net and by, of course, working with the
different types of equipment. As new
information is discovered, Videoguys posts
it to its database, making it easily available
to staff and customers.
This model began in 1985, when
Videoguys was known as the Electronic
Mailbox. As the technology evolved, so
too did Videoguys, which launched its
Web page in 1995. Back then, Bettan
remarked, no one could have predicted
the revolution the Internet was going to
cause in video – at least not until Final
Cut came along.
"Apple democratized video editing,"
Bettan said. "Final Cut made people
realize that anyone could do this."
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