Every month, the staff at Imagination Graphics like to enjoy a beer and a barbecue on a Friday afternoon.
It's a fun tradition – but it's also one that has helped me build the business.
It all started in 1998 when I founded Imagination Graphics. The business started with a boom, and within a few months we knew we had something special going with the staff and clients. I always thought the best way to reward the staff was a get-together over a barbecue and a beer, on my time rather than theirs.
We did this every Friday afternoon for lunch. We soon began asking a few clients to join us. Our barbecue invitations became very popular. I could see the interaction between our staff and clients, which I thought was a really good thing. I think our clients liked the fact they could nick out for an hour, have a laugh, a good feed and a beer if they wanted, and talk to other printers and designers. We then began inviting suppliers as well.
[Photos: Imagination Graphics party]
I felt that having a barbecue every Friday showed how easy-going we were at Imagination Graphics. It gave us a casual setting in which to talk about some of the more difficult jobs we did during the week or the number of jobs we did. We were, and still are, a fun company to deal with and will bend over backwards to do the right thing by our clients.
Most of my clients got to know each other at Imagination Graphics barbecues, which have always provided good networking opportunities. At times, we would have more than 20 customers – and on many occasions we had to call taxis for those who had finished work early on a Friday!
The barbecues have always created an atmosphere of friendship and I'm convinced they've helped me build Imagination Graphics. We still have monthly barbecues and some clients have been coming along for 15 years. Attendees from the good old days included Concord Printing, McDonald & Masterton, Merritt Madden, John Fisher Printing, Booth Printing, Wilshire Printing, Agfa, Heidelberg and DES.
Every business is unique, so what works for me may not necessarily work for you. But I think it's an idea that could benefit other printers. The barbecues don't cost much money, they're a wonderful way to develop and nurture relationships, and they leave clients and suppliers with a positive impression.
[Related: More Industry Insider columns]
Emmanuel Buhagiar is the owner of Sydney firm Imagination Graphics
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