Two Big Reasons Why Subway Won’t Hire You to Do Their Printing
This is all it would take to make everything all right for your company: Landing a printing contract with Subway.
Okay, maybe it doesn’t have to be Subway. Maybe it’s Target or the big manufacturer in your city. Basically, any big brand that requires high volume printing and graphics would be a great client, especially for a printing company struggling to stay afloat in today’s economy.
So why can’t more companies go out and land these gigs? I can boil it down to two simple reasons.
You don’t know the printing decision makers at Subway. Listen, the name of the game is contacts. If you don’t have a thorough network of contacts established, it’s going to be extremely hard for you to break in with a big company.
Why? Because even if you’re an exceptional company, many corporations will only rely on the recommendations of established professionals in the printing industry.
You can’t pass their screening. Once you get your foot in the door and the introduction is made, you’re not guaranteed to get the job. You need to prove that not only are you capable of completing the work, but that your company will be around for years.
Big corporations like Subway or Target will screen you intensely. They’ll want to see that you’re in the black, you have a solid, well-established operation, and that you’ll be a reliable partner for the foreseeable future.
Remember, not only are you spending a lot of time going through this intensive process for long-term rewards, but they are too. So you need to make your financial house is in order well before you seek out bigger contacts.
If you plan on making a push for the bigger contracts, I have two recommendations: Start building your network, and make sure your financial house is in order. Do you have the majority of the capabilities needed to grow a sustainable business? If not, there are numerous strategies to take you there, including a merger and acquisition. (If you’re interested in learning more, sign up for a free 30-minute consultation and we can discuss options.)
No doors will open unless you know the right people and your company looks poised to grow. Establish those two foundational elements, and you may be riding the Subway account sooner than you think.
(Photo by WSDOT)
If you're looking to make a strategic acqusition, download Rock LaManna's Free Acquisition Criteria for Printing Companies.
Rock LaManna provides executive coaching for printing owners looking to grow their printing business, merge with a synergistic partner, make a strategic acquisition, or create a succession plan.