A Story of Success in Commercial Printing Business
Mr. Tan may as well be considered as the owner of one of the most successful commercial printing companies in his city today. But it has not always been this way. Twenty years ago, his peers would remember the soft-spoken Mr. Tan as just another patient and hard-working employee of a big commercial printer also in the same city. But the company closed down because of worker problems. When the employees of the press went on strike because of some demands, the owners chose to close down shop because their long-time workers were becoming a source of headache for them.
During this time, Mr. Tan had worked for the commercial printer more than five years. Instead of joining his colleagues for after-office happy hours in the local watering holes, he saved up money. He would spend extra time in the office in order to finish jobs and the overtime pay that he got from the extra work was added to his savings. He seldom splurged and he dressed simply. He did not own a car and took the public commute to and from work.
When his employer decided to close their printing operations, Mr. Tan had already been promoted as printing department supervisor. He was already in-charge of most of the printing operations overseeing the photography, plating, printing, collating, as well as other finishing tasks. He also scheduled the printing operations so that the company will not spend so much on overtime pay and yet still meet the deadlines set by the clients. He was so effective in his job and he also proved his trustworthiness that is why in just a few years of working in the press, he was already promoted in the supervisory position. He was in the right place at the right time so that when his predecessor retired, he was immediately promoted.
But when he lost his job, it was not the time for him to be sorrowful. Instead, he took the separation pay and combined it with his existing savings. He loaned so more money from his mother and he set up his own printing press. He started with one unit of one-color offset printer. But since he knew how to work, how to compute quotations, where to source his materials and equipment, it was not long after that he was able to expand his business.
At present, which is about 18 years since he started his business, Mr. Tan now owns the four-door office building where his office is also located. This is where his front office personnel and layout artists go to work. He also has a huge printing plant near his home. He has already has two units of one-color offset machine, a two-color machine, and a four-color machine. He also has high-grade laser printers, a high-resolution scanner, an image setter for color separation, and even a tarpaulin printing machine. He employs almost a hundred employees already. He surely has gone a long way in his business!
But despite his success in the commercial printing industry, Mr. Tan remains simple and humble. He still drives his old pick-up truck that also doubles as their delivery vehicle. He is a devoted family man who chooses to spend his free time with his wife and kids. In order to keep the finances in check, his wife handles the accounting of their business while the kids help in the layout. His niece is also at the front desk, taking care of clients. It is still pretty much a family affair and his company now is a very successful commercial printer.
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