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McNeal Graphics Group |
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December 15, 2014 Issue |
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The Most Powerful Name In Corporate News and Information |
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High Volume Printed Products for Memphis TN and Surrounding Areas |
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McNeal Graphics Group
Interview conducted by: Lynn Fosse, Senior Editor, CEOCFO Magazine, Published – December 15, 2014
CEOCFO: Mr. Drumwright, your site indicates that McNeal Graphics Group operates very differently from traditional printing companies. How so? What is your procedure? Mr. Drumwright: We differentiate our business by the unique way we blend internal production with external resources. Using a combination of inside and outside resources allows us to offer our customers a wide range of products and services at very competitive prices, and it serves them and us well. We are not bogged down with huge capital expenditures and it gets us away from what I call a manufacturing mentality.
A manufacturing mentality is that you are trying to manufacture to a high capacity or high percentage of your capacity, so you are more internally focused. We are more of a sales and marketing company, so we are focused on what our customers’ needs are and how we can go about solving their problems, as opposed to trying to figure out how we are going to keep our equipment running.
As an example, we develop online fulfillment websites for customers, particularly in multi-location businesses where their branches, other locations or distributors can go online and order specific materials. Because of the way we work, we can include not only things like letterhead, envelopes and business cards, but we can offer pens, apparel and even signage. We fulfill all that in our business, so it gives our customers a lot of flexibility in the way they can do business.
CEOCFO: Would you tell us about the printing industry today and your role in it? Mr. Drumwright: Some things have gone away or diminished but there are areas of growth as well. A good example is packaging. Packaging is certainly a growing part of the industry. Signage and retail-type products are a growing part of the industry. The industry is constantly shifting and because we are less manufacturing-intensive we can quickly go where the market is leading us. Like many industries, online sales have had an impact but those products are more commodity-type products that do not require a lot of communication. The types of work that we do tends to be more complex, has a lot more pieces to it, and requires a greater level of communication and expertise to carry it out. Typically, our customers are a little larger, mid-sized and up, and are the kinds of businesses that typically need more expertise. We still believe in outside sales people and the expertise that comes along with that, and that is where a great deal of our marketing efforts are directed.
CEOCFO: What is your geographic reach today? Mr. Drumwright: We are regional, primarily Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. We do have some national accounts, as well.
CEOCFO: Do you find that the approach of outside salespeople is more important in the area that you serve where in somewhere like New York it might not make a difference? Mr. Drumwright: I tend to think that any time you have more sophisticated or more complex requirements that you really need an outside sales presence. I do not have a lot of experience in the New York market, but I would think that the same things apply. You need a fair amount of expertise for these more complex projects.
CEOCFO: Are there particular industries where you have a larger presence? Mr. Drumwright: There are. We are heavily involved in the retail industry where we do a lot of signage and retail store pricing kits, shelf toppers and shelf labels. That is an industry that is good for us because they are multi-location typically, and they require distribution and fulfillment, which is a big part of what we do. The banking industry is another area where we have a strong hold. Manufacturing in general because of the part of the country we are in. There is still a lot of manufacturing here and we do a fair amount of packaging, carton and product labels, assembly and product instructions, cartons or plastics bags for packaging, and that sort of thing.
CEOCFO: How do you keep on top of regulations, trends, new techniques and new equipment so that you can provide the best and most personalized service? Mr. Drumwright: I will say it is very difficult. We have a saying here “relentless pursuit of value” that reflects an attitude we try to pass down to every employee. We are dogged in our determination to find ways to create value for our customers because that is what keeps our customers coming back.
We attend industry trade shows, we try to stay on top of all the industry magazines. We are constantly talking to people in the industry because we have resources all over the country and in a couple of other countries. So we keep an ear to the ground to uncover value, and we keep an open mind.
We promote a culture where people are not afraid to change. Often in our industry, people tend to just keep doing things one way and they become complacent. We are constantly trying to figure out how to do it different or better, or how we can make our customers happier. It is a constant battle and technology probably is one of the things that is the hardest to keep up with, but brings the greatest opportunity. I stick my nose in that arena to make sure that we are on top of the most recent and most advanced changes.
CEOCFO: McNeal Graphics was recognized in the Inc. 5000, indicating business must be good. What might be different a year from now? Mr. Drumwright: We are in an acquisition mode and have been. We have one acquisition scheduled to come online at the end of the year, and we are actively talking to other businesses. I imagine two acquisitions in the coming months. We are actively pursuing experienced sales people and experienced management people because we are growing rapidly and we need more people who can pick up the ball and run with it.
CEOCFO: Is that the reason for acquisitions as well? Mr. Drumwright: That is part of it, and when we are acquiring a company one of our criteria is solid management and/or sales talent in addition to making sure it is a good overall fit with a good return on investment. That is definitely part of it. Another aspect is acquiring knowledge in general. Every time we make an acquisition, we learn more about our industry through additional resources or new ways to do things that improve value with our customers. We can spread that knowledge over our pre-existing businesses, and it makes our overall business better and more competitive.
CEOCFO: Put it all together for our readers. Why choose McNeal Graphics Group? Mr. Drumwright: Reliable, stable, professional, and innovative. We are a very stable and financially strong business in a volatile industry. We are professional and very thorough in the way we follow up and follow through with our customers and prospects. Just this morning, one of my sales people passed along to me comments from a customer who was very complimentary about us and the way we handle our business. We are committed to the industry and we are going to be here for a long time. |
"We are
more of a sales and marketing company, so we are focused on what our
customers’ needs are and how we can go about solving their problems, as
opposed to trying to figure out how we are going to keep our equipment
running."
McNeal Graphics Group
Contact: Gerald Drumwright 901-489-7961
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Printing Companies in Memphis Tennessee, McNeal Graphics Group, CEO Interviews 2014, Gerald Drumwright, High Volume Printed Products for Memphis TN and Surrounding Areas, we develop online fulfillment websites for customers, particularly in multi-location businesses where their branches, other locations or distributors can go online and order specific materials like letterhead, envelopes, business cards, pens, apparel and signage, Industrial Companies, Recent CEO Interviews, printers in Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama printers that blend internal production with external resources offering customers a wide range of products and services at very competitive prices, printers that are sales and marketing companies, McNeal Graphics Group Press Releases, News, Companies looking for venture capital, Angel Investors, private companies looking for investors, industrial companies seeking investors, printing companies needing investment capital |
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Gerald
Drumwright