AllenGroup | strategic marketing & communications

How you communicate is often as important as what you are saying.

Proofing

In our production area, we recently upgraded to a direct-to-plate system. It represents the best available technology for efficient production that has been fully tested in live production environments. It reduces proofing and manufacturing time for our customers. Our pre-press area uses the latest processes, such as PDF workflows. We offer laser proofs for early reviews.

Quality

We begin with good specifications. You can choose to your own written specifications or ask our experts for a recommendation based on intended use. We understand that YOU define quality: It can mean tight specification tolerances for glue adherence on high-speed equipment. It can mean full color graphics. AllenGroup will define and measure quality according to your terms. In the beginning of our relationship, you will set the standard –in terms of specifications, delivery, service, or any other criteria – and we’ll make it happen.

Commitment

While we do not often have problems with production or delivery, our service commitment is noteworthy during problem resolution. If any problem were to occur, though, you would witness how a smaller, flexible company can focus resources within hours. If there is a delivery problem, we can respond with a new shipment by our own truck; if there is a quality problem, we can respond with technical expertise or quick product replacement. For any type of difficulty you experience, we will resolve it without bureaucratic delays and restore your confidence in us.

Forms management

Each transaction – each order of business cards or brochures – generates information about our customers. From that data, we provide information back to our customers to help them make good decisions. With comprehensive knowledge of the environment, we can help manage printed and electronic forms for consistency and consolidation. There are many opportunities for savings and efficiency, including electronic ordering, just-in- time production or print on demand.

Change orders? No problem!

Our process for change is simple – whatever it takes. Yes, we have a formal policy, but our experience has shown that changes are often last minute, and don’t always, or even usually, fit neatly into a defined process. Our planned process confirms the work completed so far and documents the changes, and any costs, for the customer. We want to be sure that we understand the change and your requirements. Our customer service group tracks change orders personally in order to ensure that they are executed at the lowest cost and quickest turnaround. Please remember that with a company our size, every order is visible and relevant to us. There is so bureaucracy between the customer service staff and production area.

Warehousing & fulfillment

Our warehousing programs support several customers. We store both raw materials and finished goods. We use our own inventory so we can offer low costs and still offer just-in-time delivery. For online ordering, we have a few options:

• third-party catalog systems, like Ariba
• EDI
• your internal catalog
• your own website, developed by AllenGroup
• fax & telephone (where a live person will answer your call!)

It is our job to make placing an order as easy as possible, and to that end we seek to accommodate your processes. Working this way has given us experience with many systems, including electronic catalogs.

Reporting

Whatever you need, whenever you need it, and the analysis, too. (yeah, that’s all we have to say on that)

Online ordering

We have several ordering sites developed for specific customers. These sites can include:

• A list or catalog of available items, with thumbnail sketches if you choose
• PDF proofs to show personalized information for each individual order. These proofs are reviewed by the customer before the final order is sent to us.
• Electronic order and shipping confirmations
• Direct billing to the company on a blanket or individual purchase order, or a purchasing card
• Familiar shopping cart order structure

Technology and cost savings

Alllen Group actively seeks ways that our knowledge can benefit you. We hope to grow our relationship beyond transactions, and this – using technology to save money and deliver value - is how we go about it. We share our knowledge in envelopes and mailing regulations and construction. This knowledge is your best defense against rising costs. We consult with you to understand your objectives and then use our knowledge of your ordering patterns to suggestions. We will help you document that value if you wish.

We want to make it easy to be our customer. We drive efficiency through the technology that makes sense for our customers. We use it to make transactions cost less and to make our internal operations more efficient. As a philosophy, it’s not complex. As a practice, it can become complex, but that is part of the value we deliver to you. Our product is consistent, our prices are fair, and we will grow our value to you as our relationship lengthens. We do that because we believe that value is more than simply printing and fulfillment or simply service and knowledge; it is the sum of all the components that makes us uniquely dedicated to you, our customer.

Digital Black & White Variable Data Printing Services

• On-Demand printing of manuals, reports, business forms, etc.
• 1or 2 sided
• 81/2 x 11, 8 1/2 x 14, or 11 x 17
• 4tray configuration (allows up to 4 different paper stocks within a job)
• MICR Capabilities

Color and Black & White Non-Variable offset Printing

• All sheet sizes
• Full range of envelope printing

Full Color Printing Capabilities

• Digital Color Documents
• Full Color Envelopes
• Full Color Commercial

File Formats

• Mainframe output formats (Xerox Metacode, Xerox DJDE, Impact Line Data, AFP)
• PC formats Postscript, PCL, PDF, Flat Files
• HardCopy

File / Work Transmission Methods

• E-mail
• FTP
• Courier

Data Processing / Programming

• Documentcomposition
• Print stream manipulation and formatting
• Full range of Graphic Arts
• Scanning
• PDF creation
• De-Duping address and print files
• Electronic Document Hosting (Web or email)

Finishing Services

• Stitching
• Portrait – 1 staple on top left hand side of the page
• Portrait – 2 staples on left hand side of the page
• Landscape – 1 staple on top left hand side of the page
• Landscape – 2 staples on top of the page
• Saddle Stitch (Signature Booklet) with or without covers
  • Finished size 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 booklet
  • Finished size 8 1/2 x 11 booklet
• Tape Binding
• Perfect Binding

Professional Services

• Print Stream Optimization
• Benchmarking for “best in class” processing
• Constituent household communications review

Mailing / Shipping Services

• Full range First Class and Standard
• UPS
• Freight

Inserting Equipment

• (3) Pitney Bowes Series 8 inserters (4 and 6 pocket inserts)**
• (1) Pitney Bowes Series 7 inserter (4 pocket inserts)**
• **All inserters areconfigurable for #10, 6 x 10 and9x12 envelopes

Printing Equipment

• Docutech 135 with booklet maker
• (3) Xerox 4135’s
• (1) Xerox 4635mx MICR
• (1) Xerox 4090

Fulfillment

Warehouse Management

Misc.

• Tabbing
• Cutting
• Folding
• Envelope design and printing
• Three Hole Drilling
• Perforating
• Boxing