Melbourne based Kwik Kopy Clayton has won the 2015 Kwik Kopy Franchise of the Year Award, after a grim start in 2001 when the owner took over the business. The award is presented to a business which outperforms all other participants in sales, sales growth and profitability. There were six finalists this year. Speaking with Australian Printer, owner of Kwik Kopy Clayton for 13 years, Mark Prosser, says the prize is not only an indication of the hard work he has put in developing the store but also a testament to his dedicated team.
Mark Prosser accepting the award
Prosser says, “I knew nothing about print. All I knew was that you ordered it and it got delivered, but when I wanted to buy the business, I looked around and the print business model suited me. “But the terrorist attack on the twin towers in New York’s World Trade Centre, just days after buying the business in September 2001, brought my business to its knees. “It took six months for us to get back on our feet. After two years we made profits and then doubled our sales in five years and then again doubled it in 10 years, and now we have a turnover of a $1m with a 25 per cent profit. He says there are several printers who talk the industry down saying there is no money and work, which is ‘not true’. “But I don’t believe it. My motto is that everybody needs to print and so all you have to do is go out there and get it. “I don’t believe in cutting prices, which many printers do to keep the money coming in, I think if you deliver great customer service, and provide high quality work then you don’t need to cut cost to keep the customer loyal.” He says the secret to increasing sales and broadening the business is ‘not to sell but to chat’ with the customer and develop partnerships, and also diversify the business. Prosser says, “I don’t go to see customers to sell them products, I go to ask them what they need and we developed a relationship. I deliver what they are looking for and even if I don’t have the equipment I find someone else, who can do the job for them. “It is all about the customer, and customer service. I have worked hard to ensure not to have a landmark client. This ensures that if one big client is going through a rough time and does not print, then my business will not be affected. “It is not rocket science, it is common sense to ensure that the business has a broad range of clients and serves different sectors.” He says it is important for any printers to keep most of its work in-house, which will ensure quality control and help the bottom line. He outsources 15 per cent of his work. Kwik Kopy Clayton runs a Konica Minolta Bizhub 8000 for fast turnaround digital, an Epson 9900 wide format printer, and a Heidelberg GTO 52 for envelope and NCR work accounting for 10 per cent of sales. The other winners are:
- Production Efficiency – Wing Khong, Kwik Kopy Market Street, Sydney
- Highest Overall Sales – Anthony & Shahna Nixon, Kwik Kopy Perth
- Highest Sales Growth Small Centre – Harm Hoen, Kwik Kopy Braeside
- Highest Sales Growth Mid Size Centre – Garth & Sarah Anesbury, Kwik Kopy Hilton, Adelaide
- Highest Sales Growth Large Centre – Emmanuel Constantinou, Kwik Kopy Bondi Junction
- Highest 121 Creative Design Sales – Paul Vajdic & Zoe Donaldson – Kwik Kopy Richmond, Vic
- Chairman’s Award – Gary Kiehne, Kwik Kopy Dandenong
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