How WEG Saved $40k and Cut Weeks off Their Print Turnaround with Mimeo

CHALLENGE

To keep up with a busy tradeshow schedule and an active sales team, WEG’s marketing team invested in an industrial printer for their Duluth headquarters. The lease alone cost $60k per year, and that was before factoring in the cost per copy, ink, paper, and binding materials, bringing their total annual print spend to close to $80k. On top of the cost, only one dedicated marketing associate could operate the printer, meaning every order had to be submitted several weeks ahead of the ship date. For a team that needed to move quickly in a fast-changing business environment, that kind of lead time was a constant constraint.

When the printer lease expired during the COVID-19 pandemic and print needs had temporarily dropped, WEG recognized an opportunity to find a better solution.

HOW MIMEO HELPED

Patricia reached out to four different digital printers before settling on Mimeo, and the experience from the very first interaction stood out. "Not only was Mimeo the most responsive vendor, but they gave me a full tour of their online platform and sent me two, discounted test orders to make sure I was satisfied with the quality of their print."

With Mimeo as their print partner, the WEG marketing team gained the flexibility their previous process never allowed. Instead of routing files through a single print operator and waiting weeks for collateral to arrive at headquarters before shipping it out, the team can now manage their print orders from anywhere in the country with a next-day turnaround. Tradeshows, client meetings, and last-minute sales needs are no longer a logistical challenge.

THE RESULT

The financial impact was immediate and significant. By eliminating the printer lease and reducing variable costs like paper, ink, binding, and shipping, Mimeo saved WEG $40k in hard costs in their first year and a half alone. Month over month, the savings have been consistent.

"We check regularly to see how much we spent in print with Mimeo compared to what it would have been with our leased printer. Each month, we save 50% by using Mimeo. Honestly, switching to Mimeo is the best thing we ever did!" - Patricia Parker

THE BOTTOM LINE

For a marketing team supporting 38 tradeshows a year and a nationwide sales force, speed and cost efficiency aren't optional. By replacing a slow, expensive internal print process with Mimeo, WEG's marketing team got both, along with the flexibility to scale their print needs up or down as the business demands.

Key Takeaways

Replacing an industrial printer lease with Mimeo saved WEG $40k in hard costs in the first year and a half
Switching to on-demand printing cut a multi-week turnaround down to next day, giving the marketing team the agility to respond to last-minute needs
A 50% monthly cost savings compared to their previous leased printer makes the ROI of switching to Mimeo clear and consistent
Managing print orders through an online platform means the team can place and track orders from anywhere in the country
Eliminating a dedicated print operator freed up marketing resources for higher-value work

Download the Case Study

WEG is a global manufacturer of electric motors, drives, and other industrial equipment. Their U.S. marketing team oversees brand collateral for sales and events from their regional headquarters in Duluth, Georgia. Patricia Parker, Senior Marketing Analyst, organizes 38 tradeshows annually while supporting an outside sales team that coordinates client lunches and on-site meetings across the country. Getting high-quality print materials to the right place at a moment's notice is a core part of how their team operates.

Visit weg.net