The Smartpress Story
Continuous Improvement
We were growing and growing successfully. Yet there was still a little voice saying there were so many people who deserve better print and a better print-buying experience. The voice whispered that we should open up our printing capabilities to marketing departments, small businesses and independent graphic designers through state-of-the-art online printing. That voice was our founder. We listened and got to work.
From Retail to Online Printing
We got busy imagining what our future customers would need to execute their print projects through an online interface. They would need instant price quoting with custom sizes and configurations, expert advice from our staff, efficiency through the proofing process and consistent communication on job status and shipping notifications.
We developed our own proprietary print-management platform around these needs and in late 2009, launched Smartpress.com. We applied our established values of customer service and the highest quality online ordering experience, production and execution. We gained many insights from our customers and continued to build our platform to meet new customer needs.
Today, Smartpress ships hundreds of orders daily throughout North America and helps thousands of customers "create brilliant print."
Through the Storefronts and other managed services we offer, we can create a branded version of the Smartpress ordering platform for other companies and organizations: distributed ordering for branded print, promotional materials, marketing collateral and operational printing needs.
This web-to-print one-stop-shop software provides corporate clients a customized, full-service solution for their multiple departments, franchises and entities.
Along with our parent company, The Bernard Group, Smartpress maintains four foundational values to create an empowered workforce and a satisfying culture:
- Wow our clients and each other
- Ownership breeds freedom and trust
- Passion for excellence with superior quality and breathtaking speed
- Talented teams of engaged people focused on serving clients and each other
With 60+ paper stocks, we believe in carefully sourcing them and all the material we print on. Smartpress is committed to making positive change by continually integrating environmentally-conscious business practices and supporting initiatives to benefit our employees and local community. See all the ways we make social responsibility a priority here.
Employee-Owned
As an ESOP business, Smartpress is 100% employee-owned. When Smartpress and The Bernard Group succeed, all of our 900+ co-owners participate in the success through incentives and shares of the company. At the heart of it all, we really do work for something bigger than ourselves as we contribute to our clients' and each other's success every day.
Being part of a company that provides an equitable and engaged partnership for co-owners includes valuing the diversity and inclusion of the people with whom we work. We're committed to equal opportunity and intolerant of discrimination and harassment. We represent a diverse workforce in our local community and are proud of our cross-cultural work environment. We appreciate and hone our team's skills, performance, development and experience. Join our team here.
Always Moving Forward
Today, we operate out of offices and production facilities at seven locations in Chanhassen, Shakopee and Chaska, Minnesota; New York City; and Seattle, Washington. From offices to warehouses to production facilities, our 676,000 sq. ft. is home to an ever-expanding fleet of large- and small-format presses, a woodshop and a design center with robust fabrication, bindery, finishing and kitting capabilities. We continue to invest in the best online printing services and print-management platform in the world. And this is what enables our customers to create brilliant print.