For many print businesses, color is more than an aesthetic choice – it's a sales driver, a differentiator and a cornerstone of customer trust.

During the recent Dscoop.com session, “Color Success Stories: Real-World Impact on Sales and Management,” two industry experts shared their journeys in mastering color management, revealing how it can significantly influence a company’s bottom line.

Their experiences and examples begin around the 17:30 mark of the video.

Laying the Groundwork with Álvaro Mantilla

Leading this discussion is Álvaro Mantilla, HP Indigo Supplies Category Manager, Americas. He begins by setting the stage on how crucial effective color management is in today's market, emphasizing that accurate, consistent color is more than just a technical achievement. It's also a customer expectation that dictates satisfaction and sales.

Ty Coon: Tackling Challenges with Transparency and Teamwork

Ty Koon is co-owner of Lawton Connect in Orlando, FL, USA, a fifth-generation printer that delights brand-conscious clients and continually discovers cutting-edge ways to stand out. His businesses also include state-of-the-art microsites Mr. Scratch Off and Mr. Playing Card.

Ty approaches color management from the angle of improving internal processes and client communication. For him, the challenges extend beyond technical aspects, into managing expectations and ensuring that staff are equipped with the knowledge to explain color outcomes to clients effectively.

Education was a worthwhile hurdle, Ty said, because his team needs to understand what good color management looks like, and his customers need to understand what's achievable.

By fostering open communication with clients and training his team on how to discuss color variability and the process of achieving desired outcomes, Ty saw a dramatic shift in client relationships. He also emphasized the importance of using tools that support consistent color reproduction, which helped align what clients saw on screen with what was delivered in print.

“Educating our clients about what to expect was key," he said. "Once they understood what went into color management, trust levels increased.”

Jim Benedict: Perfecting the Process for Consistency

Jim Benedict is a creative powerhouse who works with some of the world's most impactful brands as marketing director for ENPOINTE. His team keeps finding new ways to drive results for clients.

In the video, Jim discusses the journey of ensuring consistency in color management. Facing challenges in achieving uniform results across different machines and substrates, his team works to ensure ENPOINTE's color output meets stringent customer requirements.

Their solution revolved around integrating new technology and creating a culture of continuous improvement. The team leveraged advanced color calibration tools and standardized workflows, which helped streamline production and reduced variability. As a result, Jim noted that the biggest win was not just the technical precision but how this consistency built stronger customer trust and led to repeat business.

“When we got the processes right, we didn’t just deliver a product," he said, "we delivered confidence.”

3 Takeaways

The experiences of Ty and Jim highlight these pointers for teams aiming to leverage color management for sales and operational success:

Education and transparency are essential: Ty's focus on training staff and openly communicating with clients underscores the importance of setting the right expectations and building relationships based on understanding and transparency. Consistency builds trust: As Jim's experience shows, when a print provider can deliver reliable color quality across various substrates and machines, it fosters customer confidence and drives repeat business. Invest in tools and processes: Both speakers emphasized that investing in technology and standardizing workflows is not just about precision in color reproduction, but also about ensuring operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

In a market where customers expect color to be accurate and consistent, effective color management goes beyond just technical know-how. It becomes a strategic business advantage, enabling print companies to exceed client expectations, boost loyalty and drive growth.