Customer StoriesTag:

Small Town Printer Makes Big Waves
Posted on by Liliana Wright Posted in Case Studies & Profiles, Marketing & Sales, Technology & Products
Leave a comment

Small Town Printer Makes Big Waves

In the heart of a coastal town, Surf City, North Carolina, where golden sands meet the endless sea, there’s a story unfolding – a tale of reinvention, determination, and creative passion. Meet Amy Shores, a dedicated teacher of several decades who decided to make a bold career change in the world of photography and printing, and how she’s turned her dream into a thriving business, Seaside Topsail Photography.

Amy’s story begins with a simple click of her camera, capturing the essence of beach landscapes and the warmth of family bonds in her portraits. She dabbled in weddings and came to the realization that she loved it! It was during these moments behind the lens that she realized her true calling lay in photography.

 

A Leap of Faith

During a busy and profitable summer, Amy’s sunrise and sunset photographs captured viewers’ hearts, leading to client requests for bridal portraits and other prints. Amidst this newfound success, she recognized the need to cut down on printing expenses and decided to bring the process in-house. With the encouragement of her fiancé, Jeff, and son, Tyler, she decided to invest in a Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-6100 printer, a tool that would become her partner in this new venture, and she grew her business from her garage.

Amy embarked on a journey of self-education, determined to master the art of graphic design and printing. Yet, there was a hurdle — she knew nothing about graphic design or printing. But instead of letting fear hold her back, she embraced the challenge with open arms. Hours turned into days as she scoured online resources and tutorials and sought guidance from her LexJet sales rep, Joe Francies. When she met Joe, she said, “I feel like I hit the lottery . . . he has answered so many questions for me. Sometimes, I call him when I’m having a bad week just to talk to him, and we talk things out. He had become more than a representative to me; he has become a friend.” With Joe’s invaluable help, Amy was committed to conquering every challenge that came her way.

         

Armed with a vision and determination, Amy envisioned her beachscapes adorning the walls of homes and galleries. However, the winter season brought challenges and doubts, making Amy question her career choices and contemplate if leaving her teaching job was a mistake. Financial concerns added to her worries. However, spring brought a glimmer of hope. Joe introduced her to an affordable solution, LexJet’s Elements Maldives Recycled Semi-Gloss Canvas, made 100% from recycled water bottles. As a resident of a beach town, this medium aligned perfectly with her art and her commitment to ocean conservation. She tried it and loved the beautiful sheen – she was in love! Hours were spent learning the nuances, understanding the art of color profiling, and mastering the techniques. Amy recalls, “I had a whole pile of “oops” canvas, at least a roll” as she learned her craft. Soon, her nervousness turned into expertise, as she began to produce captivating canvases that spoke volumes and increased her profits. 

 Success on Display

Amy’s artwork didn’t go unnoticed for long. She started displaying her canvases in local galleries, where her unique perspective on beach landscapes and nature found an eager audience. One of the advantages she has over other selling artists is her ability to print on demand. When a canvas is sold, she can easily print another one the same day, ensuring her customers are never left empty-handed. Owning a Canon printer and having the right canvas didn’t just mean convenience; it meant having the power to replicate her art instantly, something that would take weeks for other artists to achieve with outside labs.

Her newfound skills fueled her artistic endeavors and opened doors for her within the community. Amy started offering printing services to locals, creating a network of creativity and collaboration. Her canvases found their way into beach homes, not just as exhibits but as symbols of her unwavering spirit and determination.

 

 

 

Amy envisions significant growth for her studio. She has incorporated framing as a service, handled by her fiancé, and intends to establish a storefront with an expanded online presence. This platform will allow her to showcase supplementary products to cater to local residents, tourists, and individuals beyond her immediate area.

A Journey Worth Taking

Amy’s transition from teaching to photography and printing was indeed a leap of faith, but it’s a journey she wouldn’t change for the world. From novice to expert, from nervousness to confidence, Amy’s story is a testament to the power of determination, self-education, and the pursuit of one’s dreams — plus not being afraid to ask for help. She shows us that when you’re willing to embrace the unknown and work tirelessly toward your goals, success is not just achievable; it’s inevitable.

To learn more about Seaside Topsail Photography’s favorite LexJet products, contact a LexJet Customer Specialist at 800-453-9538 or visit lexjet.com.

Customer Stories: Finding the Silver Lining
Posted on by Liliana Wright Posted in Case Studies & Profiles, Marketing & Sales, Technology & Products
Leave a comment

Customer Stories: Finding the Silver Lining

Wasting time is precisely the challenge Richard Forschino, owner of Coastal Giclee and Supplies, was facing when his fine art reproduction business in Carmel, California, grew and demanded faster production. He recognized that opportunity was knocking at his door, and something had to change with his workflow to accommodate his new business stream.

Before he started his business, Richard and his wife, Delia Bradford, a well-known Impressionist artist, invested in costly printed art to be sold at art shows and festivals. At their first event, Richard recalls, “It started to drizzle, and the ink ran off the canvases that we spent a lot of money for. So, we started researching equipment and the process.” What many may see as a significant setback and unfortunate event, Richard and Delia looked for the silver lining that turned out to be a profitable business opportunity.

In the early days of his printing business, Richard relied on the equipment and media that were available at the time. He remembers the old media “had to be coated before being stretched. It was a huge process, very labor intensive… I had a flood coater. You had to print a whole roll at a time… it was costly.”

He also remembers the difficulty with the old printers during cold weather.  When the canvas got cold, the preheater warmed up the canvas, and certain ones would bubble up, causing head strikes. After some growing pains and time, Richard discovered EPSON’s introduction of an eco-solvent printer into the market, and he knew this was the solution he had been waiting for.

Richard invests in the EPSON line of printers and raves about the performance and speed of the SureColor® S80600 and its impact on his shop’s productivity and workflow. “It runs like a champ…This one’s phenomenal.”

He also discovered the Elements Polished Bianco Bright White Gloss Canvas SUV, which turned out to be a winning combination, “It’s just print and go and stretch and go. The Polished Bianco has the added feature of drying very, very quickly, we don’t have to wait very long.” The Polished Bianco has become Richard’s go-to canvas for his business and Delia’s art gallery. “It has a really nice, rich gloss level… color gamut is amazing… I’m not seeing any pulled threads through the canvas, which I’ve found in the past in many other brands.”

Coastal Giclee and Supplies has enjoyed tremendous success with the EPSON® SureColor® S80600 printer and Elements Polished Bianco Canvas, giving Richard and his staff the ability to provide high-quality art prints to artists, photographers, companies on the west coast and Hawaii, as well as local customers.

Richard and Delia could have allowed that rainy day to put a damper on their future plans, but instead, they used that experience as an opportunity to search for a solution that changed their business forecast for decades!

To learn more about the EPSON line of printers and our Elements Portfolio, click below or contact a LexJet Customer Specialist at 800-453-9538 or visit LexJet.com.