The Dukes of Digital: CGX is highlighted in August's Printing Impressions magazine

Consolidated Graphics made the cover of Printing Impressions magazine this month and was featured in the prestigious trade publication. It was a group effort, showcasing the work of the entire executive team and the significant progress that the company has made since its inception under the leadership of CEO Joe Davis.

Here are just a few of my favorite excerpts from the article, but be sure to check out the complete story, as it provides a solid snapshot of who CGX is and where the company is heading:

On emerge:

• It is at the intersection of people and technology that you will find the kingdom of Consolidated Graphics, and emerge was just one way in which the company is 
building on its empire.
• "One recurring theme I hear is that marketers and procurement people are starting to think more creatively about what they can do," Grohs says. "It's kind of a perfect storm, because we have all of this technology, digital equipment and the recession all hitting the industry at the same time. And, it seems that no one else is trying to take the lead and show people what can really be done. Our event was fresh, innovative and educational."

On sales and recruiting:

• Saying that people are the most important asset at a printing company reeks of trite indulgence. But not for a firm that invests in a Leadership Development Program, an initiative that seeks out the brightest and hardest-working young men and women from American campuses nationwide to mold them into future CGX executives.
• According to Michael Barton, executive vice president and chief administrative officer, "If anything, our expectations have increased because we realize that, as CGX grows, we'll need a large pool of talented people ready to assume the leadership roles that will become available.
• Its sales force is constantly raising the bar in terms of cross-selling opportunities, with more than $100 million per year in such sales. Being able to sell the full capabilities of CGX—like its legendary stout balance sheet—is a given for its sales force.

On technology:

• Davis points out that the 220 machines which grace the CGX network make it the largest fleet of digital presses in the United States.
• Jon Biro, executive vice president, chief financial and accounting officer, notes that investments over the past two years have enabled the company to nurture what he calls the "world's largest digital platform."

On acquisitions:

• "Our acquisition strategy isn't directly tied to geography or acquiring new capabilities," Cohen notes. "We look for the best companies, with the best leadership and the best customers, no matter where they happen to be. 
• CGX's M&A platform is as robust as any, buoyed by ready access to capital and ready to stretch into a 27th state, though geography is not a requisite.

On innovation and progress:

• For a major printing conglomerate, it boasts many of the traits shown by companies a mere fraction of CGX's size.
• "It doesn't matter how big we get," Davis remarks. "The day we start thinking like a big company is the day we're going to die. We've got to stay nimble, stay flexible. We can't get caught up in big company bureaucracy. If we do that, we're going to lose what makes us so 
special."

2010 Annual Shareholders' Meeting Recap

The 2010 Annual Shareholders' Meeting just came to a close, and was a huge success. In a less than ideal economic climate, CGX has managed to strengthen its key differentiators (a strong balance sheet, a thriving training program, and state-of-the-art technology platform) to once again come out ahead.

The event attracted over 300 people with an assortment of ties to the printing company, and featured presentations from CEO Joe Davis, CFO Jon Biro, and EVP of Sales and Marketing Aaron Grohs, all of whom touched on the importance of technology in printing and a continued focus on recruiting top talent.

Each guest received a copy of the annual report (complete with QR codes and a digital version), the new Emerge publication, and a Printing Impressions cover story scheduled to release next week. There is no doubt that CGX is continuing to invest in its future, and has solid growth prospects, both organic and acquisition-based.

Following are a few photos from the event, which was a solid kickoff to the National Associates' Meeting, which will be held tomorrow through Saturday. For more images, visit our Flickr page.

CGX Annual Shareholders' Meeting Tonight

Tonight is the Consolidated Graphics annual shareholders' meeting. To most companies, this might just mean a conference call and maybe a slide show via webinar. For CGX, the annual shareholders' meeting is an event of it's own, one that kicks off the National Associates Meeting (NAM) and brings in top investors, bankers, customers, and employees of all levels to discuss the past year's progress and plans for the year(s) to come.

This year, as in previous years, a ballroom full of interested parties will network and share insight on Consolidated Graphics and the printing industry as a whole. The shareholders' meeting will be held at the Hilton Americas from 5pm to 7pm, with networking to follow.

For the two days following the annual shareholders' meeting, an inspiring, ambitious group of recent college graduates who represent the future of Consolidated Graphics. CEO Joe Davis started the Leadership Development Program back in 1992, and the award winning program has received numerous accolades for its ability to attract and retain top talent to the seemingly unglamorous printing industry. Sitting in a room with this intelligent, young group, one might wonder why they turned down various opportunities to work at a printing facility. However, once you hear stories of associates becoming leading sales reps and company presidents, you realize that at a company like CGX opportunity is endless, and your future is whatever you make of it.

CGX Flex Mailer Saves Postage

Last week, the United States Postal Service (USPS) proposed an across-the-board rate increase for its services. Consolidated Graphics is countering that effort with support from the government agency through its patent-pending CGX Flex Mailer.

The CGX Flex Mailer is a unique, eco-friendly packaging solution that saves money by taking items that are non-machinable and allows them to be mailed as automated flats. “The Flex Mailer has enabled our clients to save millions of dollars in shipping costs, shifting mailings to automated mail through the U.S. Postal Service,” said Craig Reynolds, President of Tucker Printers, a Consolidated Graphics company. “We’ve received an overwhelming response from companies that were contemplating giving up promotional mail items due to the cost limitations, that are now able to continue that aspect of their marketing strategy.”

The CGX Flex Mailer was developed as a custom solution for a premiums and fulfillment customer that needed a cost-effective mailing solution. After hours of brainstorming and testing of various design concepts, Consolidated Graphics arrived at the perfect solution: a highly flexible outer “skin” coupled with a unique inner tray design. The outer skin is tight enough to allow flexibility on both vertical and horizontal axes, while maintaining sufficient surface tension variations less than ¼ of an inch. All of this means that anything mailed within the Flex Mailer is classified as an automated machinable flat, which equals major cost savings to distributors.

The USPS has given the Flex Mailer its blessing, and one Consolidated Graphics client is already anticipated to save over two million dollars annually. The packages can be tracked by the USPS through the Intelligent Mail Barcode that can be printed directly on the piece.

Couple the cost savings with the fact that the packages are produced using wind energy and soy-based inks, making it an environmentally-friendly packaging solution that is green in more ways than one.

CGX acquires Hickory Printing assets

CONOVER, N.C. and HIGH POINT, N.C., June 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Consolidated Graphics, Inc. (NYSE: CGX) announced that Hickory Printing Solutions, a Consolidated Graphics company, has acquired certain assets of The Hickory Printing Group headquartered in Conover, North Carolina.  Hickory Printing was founded in 1917 and grew to be one of the largest commercial printers in the southeastern United States. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Hickory Printing Solutions offers web and sheetfed printing, mailing and fulfillment, variable printing, interactive services and packaging and operates out of two facilities located in Conover and High Point, NC.

Commenting on the acquisition, Joe R. Davis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Consolidated Graphics, Inc., stated, "Hickory Printing Solutions offers first class quality and service to its customers.  With the additional resources of Consolidated Graphics, including the world's largest and most sophisticated digital printing network, behind it and its dedicated employees, Hickory Printing Solutions will continue to exceed every customer expectation."

Stephen Patton, former President of Electric City Printing, a Consolidated Graphics company in Williamston, SC, is the President of Hickory Printing Solutions. Mr. Patton commented, "I am looking forward to applying all that I have learned at Consolidated Graphics to help Hickory Printing Solutions continue its world class printing reputation."  

George B. Glisan and Jeffrey A. Hale, formerly CEO and CFO, respectively, of The Hickory Printing Group have been hired to serve as CEO and CFO of Hickory Printing Solutions.  Mr. Glisan said, "I have always admired the Consolidated Graphics business model and am looking forward to having the financial strength and resources of Consolidated Graphics behind us."

Consolidated Graphics, Inc. (CGX), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is one of North America's leading general commercial printing companies. With 70 printing businesses strategically located across 27 states, Toronto, and Prague, we offer an unmatched geographic footprint, unsurpassed capabilities, and unparalleled levels of convenience, efficiency and service. With locations in or near virtually every major U.S. market, CGX provides the service and responsiveness of a local printer enhanced by the economic, geographic and technological advantages of a large national organization.

Consolidated Graphics' vast and technologically advanced sheetfed and web printing capabilities are complemented by the world's largest integrated digital footprint. By coupling North America's most comprehensive printing capabilities with strategically located fulfillment centers and industry-leading technology, CGX delivers end-to-end print production and management solutions that are based on the needs of our customers to improve their results. For more information, visit www.cgx.com.

Emerge 2010 is a success!

Consolidated Graphics recently wrapped up its second annual emerge event in San Antonio, Texas, where customers, suppliers and employees came together to collaborate, learn and propel the industry to new heights. Guests learned about developments being made by industry technology leaders Hewlett-Packard, Xerox, Kodak and more. They discussed the newest features of Adobe's CS5, which the company officially launched at emerge. They collaborated on best practices and discussed what works and what doesn't, in an effort to "do more with less", which became a recurring theme of the event. We'll be compiling numbers, statistics and multimedia content gathered at the event in the days to come, so stay tuned!

Plans Are Coming Along for Emerge

CGX has over 30 sponsors on board to take part in emerge, a conference focused on print and technology innovation. The event will have an interactive business expo where sponsors showcase their latest developments, and guests have an opportunity to see new technologies first-hand. Comment below if you're interested in finding out more, or visit our site at www.cgxemerge.com!