Auckland’s Soar Printing has scored a victory for locally-owned companies, winning the contract to provide Auckland Council’s external printing services for the next three years.
From mid-2013, Soar Printing will have responsibility for printing the council’s posters, pamphlets, letterheads, business cards, envelopes, temporary signage and regular publications, including the monthly mini-magazine Our Auckland, distributed to households across Auckland. As key supplier for the printing services of the largest council in Australasia, Soar will also provide warehousing and distribution services for printed materials.
One of several medium sized and family-owned print businesses in Auckland, Soar Printing sees its founder's grandchildren running the company: Fred Soar, Jenny Carter and Vicky Soar. With so many large printing contracts, including government contracts, either going to the print giants or even offshore, small to medium size local print companies can take heart that they can still compete in such a tight market. Fred Soar, managing director of Soar Printing, says, “As an independent Auckland-owned business, we are honoured to serve the ratepayers of Auckland.”
The new partnership will see Soar and Auckland Council focus on providing efficient shorter runs for on demand print services rather than longer runs. Fred Soar says, “We aim to print a lot more items on a cost effective ‘print on demand’ basis using our online system, which will provide savings for the council and its ratepayers by reducing the size of print runs and removing the risk of unused material becoming obsolete.”
Peter Blackwell, manager of procurement for Auckland Council, says, “We are delighted to have secured the services of a local Auckland company, which will deliver cost effectiveness for ratepayers and has a strong record of environmental sustainability. We are looking forward to working with Soar Print.”
Soar Printing has carved out an enviable reputation for innovation and genuine attention to sustainability. Two weeks ago, the company became a sponsor of the Kauri Dieback Management Programme. Its certifications include: ISO 14001,9001 and 12647-1; Forest Stewardship Council; Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. Last year, it became the first New Zealand corporate printing company to offer carboNZero certified carbon-neutral printed products and services and, in December 2011, Soar Printing gained the title of the most sustainable business in the medium business category at the Sustainable 60 Awards.
