Christo and Hanlie Lombard bought their Minuteman Press franchise in the Sunshine Coast of Queensland in November 2013. As they approach ten years in business, Christo shares his insights on the business. “Our growth areas are wide format display signage and labels," he says.
(l-r) Minuteman Press franchise, Sunshine Coast owners Hanlie & Christo Lombard with graphic designer/production manager Adam
“Ten years went by so fast,” said Christo Lombard. “I suppose time flies when you are having this much fun. We look forward to the next ten years!”
What are 3 keys to your success?
“The three basics: Service, Price, and Quality. We have assembled a great team and foster an attitude of giving unbeatable customer service. Our products are priced competitively, and quality is always of the highest standard.”
Why did you choose Minuteman Press?
“We owned a business in the automotive industry in South Africa for many years. We had customers in the print industry and were always interested in the print business. When we started looking at business opportunities in Australia, we compared different franchise businesses, and the Minuteman model was most favourable.
“As a small business owner, it is very valuable to have the head office taking care of important matters such as the website, SEO, new equipment research and business opportunities. This frees us up to look after our customers and focus on local marketing strategies. Also, the local Minuteman Press representatives are always available when we have questions.”
What sets you apart from the competition?
“We let clients know that we can take care of all their printing, marketing, and promo needs. Our point of difference in our area would be the fast turn-around of jobs and outstanding customer service. We’ve also added equipment and machinery to handle high volume coil bound booklets for training manuals and diaries. Our growth areas are wide format display signage and labels.”
What are the key ways you’ve grown your business?
“From the word go we have utilized all the marketing channels. We joined networking groups, sports clubs and Chambers of Commerce. We have also done mail-outs, e-mail marketing, SEO, tele-marketing, and promo handouts.”
How would you best describe your business community?
“Our community tends to be loyal to their suppliers and it was hard work to break into the market, but once trust is gained through good, honest service the customers tend to stay with us.”
Why do you think printing remains so vital to businesses today?
“Print is easier to read than digital media, and you can fit more information on a page than in social media content. Advertisement recall is 1.7 times higher with print, and more likely to drive action than its digital media counterpart. Digital media can never match the tactility of print media. Like all other marketing, use must be made of all available channels to increase awareness and customer engagement.”
What are the biggest personal and professional rewards of owning your business?
“Our biggest reward is not only to witness the growth of the business, but also the personal and professional growth of all the team members.”
What advice would you give to other business owners right now?
Christo Lombard: “Dream even bigger and market even more!”
Minuteman Press Sunshine Coast is located at Unit 2a, 22-24 Premier Circuit, Warana, Sunshine Coast, QLD 4575.
For more information about Minuteman Press Sunshine Coast, visit their website: https://minuteman.com/au/locations/qld/sunshine-coast/
https://minutemanpressfranchise.com.au
