The Council wishes to extend its deepest thanks to Louis Companies for always making us look good, while helping us to meet the bottom line. Read on to hear more about Louis Companies and their capabilities to meet your company’s needs.

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Can a corporate brochure really be printed to “museum quality?”

It can at Arlington-based Louis Companies, which has duplicated the success of major manufacturers by gaining ISO 9001:2000 certification. The result has been a better-quality product for customers, as well as significant cost-savings for the company and its clients alike.

While ISO certification may not be on most companies’ checklists as they search for a printing vendor, Carol Louis, president of Louis Companies, says that maybe it should be. While rare in the industry, this certification shows a dedication to quality that results in a better end-product and on-time delivery, Louis said.

“Many times, the first impression a potential customer gets of your company is created by your printed marketing materials,” she said. “We all know how important a nice design is. But what most people don’t realize is the impact that can be made by your printer. You simply cannot afford to have less-than-gorgeous printing.”

In business for nearly three decades, Louis Companies started up its commercial printing services division in 1995. The firm invested millions in high-quality presses and finishing equipment. But with more than 75 employees working on thousands of jobs a year, it became nearly impossible to create consistently excellent results every time.

“When we sat down and analyzed the decision, we realized that our employees were not following the same processes as they worked with the presses,” Louis said. “And as a result, we had a lot of spoilage and waste.”

So the firm embarked on the ISO 9001 certification process, mapping its processes and determining the most effective and efficient methods of work. The company even produced instructions for workers in two languages, since many employees speak Spanish as their first language.

The immediate impact was astonishing, Louis said.

“We saved money on waste and scrap, plus we immediately saw an improvement in on-time delivery,” Louis said. “Our employees now know they will get it right the first time. And our customers can rely on us more than ever before.”

Those customers include the Dallas Museum of Art, which counts on Louis Companies to create museum-quality prints of art work to sell in its gift shop. Louis Companies leverages high-tech color-matching equipment to ensure the hues and tones of the art are faithfully reproduced.

That same care goes into the production of every brochure, catalog, mailer and folder printed each day, Louis said.

When searching for a printer, Louis recommends that companies – whether end-users or creative agencies – seek out a vendor that offers value-oriented advice. In other words, the vendor should be more concerned about getting the customer a high-quality product at the best price possible, rather than running up a large sales slip.

“In printing, the price can be impacted by everything from paper quality to choice of photography,” Louis said. “The best printers understand these variables and explain them thoroughly to their clients.”

Companies also can benefit from one-stop shopping by choosing a well-rounded printing vendor, Louis said. In the case of Louis Companies, customers can purchase inventory management services, business forms, labels and tags, promotional items and awards.

[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]