I thought I would let you all in on a little secret. You DON’T want to hire BIG Images. That’s right. Go take your printing somewhere else. Trust me. As an insider working with this company for more that 5 years, taking all the customer compliments, dealing with all the joy and happiness from a job well done, helping customers to sell more product faster, I can tell you that the experience is just too jarring for most. You won’t know what to do. You’d be better off going somewhere else. Then you’ll get the service you expect from a printer. Here’s why:

1. BIG Images cares too much — their customer service is just too customer focused. How can a print shop survive without thinking about themselves first?
2. They’re too involved in their community — if they’re so involved in the community then they probably don’t have time for you.
3. BIG Images is too creative — no one wants a printer that adds creativity to the experience. That’s why the customer is the designer and they’re just the printer!
4. BIG Images is too fast — how can anyone do quality work THAT fast?!?
5. They think too much — your head will hurt after talking with them. They have too much knowledge, too many ideas.
6. They’re too BIG — no one needs BIG posters when you can settle for a small Kinko’s print.
7. BIG Images is too concerned with quality — their prints are so good you wont want to get rid of them when your campaign is over.
8. They’re too committed — it’d be nice to have to fight ‘em to keep their guarantees, but they do it without you even asking.
9. They’re too advanced — who wants to work with a printer that writes their own software? Or studies color? Shouldn’t they concentrate on paper or something?
10. They’re too connected — no one wants a printer that understands Web 2.0 and the social internet. Who stays that connected to their printer anyways?

Please, spread the word to your friends. Don’t let them get lulled in by these “relentless customer service” tactics. It’s just not fair. And if you’re one of those affected by what you read above share your story in the comments.

Studio 101 West has been a customer of BIG Images since BIG Images opened, and we have been proud to serve them ever since.

Studio 101 West, founded in 1988 by Dennis and Deborah Swanson, offers a broad array of services from Photography to Graphic Design to Video and Multimedia. In their own words, here is what Studio 101 has to say about their company: 

“Studio 101 West lives by the credo that you only get one chance to make a first impression. Following that mandate, our mark has been made on service businesses and manufactures across the country. Seeking to go further than the norm, we work as business partners with each of our clients. What matters to you, matters to us. Our greatest desire is to push your business to the next level. Making you look good while making your job easier, is essential to our own business plan.”

BIG Images has been proud to serve Studio 101 West as a customer since first opening.

A fabric Church banner for use outdoors

Perhaps one of the reasons BIG Images has been such a perfect fit for Studio 101 West is our shared desire to put the customer first. As one of our most exacting clients, they are always pushing us to ever-higher levels of quality and service. 

Banner stands, designed by Studio 101 West and printed on BIG Images’ outdoor banner, for trade show marketing

Or perhaps they recognize our dedication to technology. Over 90% of Studio 101 West’s work is shot digitally, enabling them to offer rapid turn around times and greater creative control. This is precisely why BIG Images has dedicated itself to technological advancements within its workflow. Our ability to offer rapid turn around time and predictable quality has been paramount in our ability to please studios such as Dennis Swanson’s. Here is what Dennis had to say about BIG Images: 

“Studio 101 West has worked with Big Images since they first opened their doors and we have always been impressed with the great work they produce and their excellent customer service. Big Images truly stands by their On Time and Satisfaction Guarantees. Wether its for a custom fine art wall print or a ten foot wide trade show booth, we can rest assured that through Big Images we are providing our clients with the same high standard of work that Studio 101 West has built its reputation on.” — Dennis Swanson, Photographer/Owner of Studio 101 West

New Inks increase color gamut and image strength.

BIG Images recently completed the conversion to a new ink system for its outdoor solutions. These new inks bring a few direct benefits to our customers. These include: 

• Increased color gamut—we can now produce better color encompassing about 15% more of the Pantone color range.
• Better weather resistance—waterproof and lightfast outdoors for up to 5 years.
• Increased strength—the new inks stick to the material better, meaning more scratch resistance and longer life

All of BIG Images outdoor solutions are using this new ink starting immediately.

The Contrails Group

Our DesignJet HP5000 printing posters for Team Oracle.

“My Business takes me all over the country and BIG Images’ solution-based approach provides me with on–demand marketing tools wherever I am. Their streamlined processes ensure the highest quality product, on time, every time, which allows them to focus their attention on technology, research and development, and me; the customer.” —Karl Koeppen, Contrails Group

Challenge:
The Contrails Group needed an on–demand print shop to produce projects such as the 7 ft. x 10 ft. banner, capable of withstanding the rigors of the outdoor environment—sunlight, moisture, cross-country transportation, all within 20 hours.

Solution:
BIG Images utilized its custom designed production facility and inks built for outdoor use to produce this huge full – color banner in less than 20 hours. The unique reinforced vinyl banner material is designed to withstand the test of time and outdoor elements.

“Big Images has become an important asset to our advertising. They are fast, economical, professional, and most important to me, produce excellent quality work. I’ve also found their advice on image preparation and presentation to be very helpful. Usually, you have to go to a fairly large city to get this kind of expertise. Having Big Images here allows us to have better interaction and turnaround but still get a professional product.” —Kirby Spencer, Zoo Med Labs

Our DesignJet HP5000 printing posters for Zoo Med Laboratories. The computer on the right is soft-proofing the image, informing our print-manager of any color-shifts before the image prints.

Challenge 

Zoo Med Labs needed a supplier that could provide consistent results for their point–of–purchase banners. The challenge was that these images contained intense vibrant colors that are difficult to produce because they are out of gamut—meaning they are not physically printable. So how does BIG Images print colors that cannot be printed?

Solution
We have invested heavily in our color-management system, spending hundreds of hours calibrating our monitors and print–media, and learning the technology behind color management. Using this cutting edge color knowledge and technology BIG Images is able to accurately soft–proof colors before printing, thus predicting color shifts. This allows us to customize our workflow for optimal performance. For Zoo Med this meant they knew they were getting predictable, repeatable results each time we printed their images. 

About Zoo Med Laboratories Inc.
Zoo Med is the worlds #1 reptile product company worldwide producing an array of accessories for any reptile enthusiast. To learn more about them visit the Zoo Med Laboratories web site.