Gupta, 36, started working in a printing press at the age of 10. This gives him the rich experience of more than two decades in the industry. He established Classic Printer in 2003. Classic ventured into digital printing with a Xerox digital press in 2009. Later, Gupta opted for Xerox and Konica Minolta machines. Right now, the company has four digital presses at two facilities in Allahabad.

However, Gupta is in no hurry. He said a new digital press takes around a year’s time to start generating good business in a city like Allahabad, as the city has its own sets of limitations. Yet, Gupta added, in spite of being based in a tier 2 location, Classic Printers offers its services at a subsidized rate, matching the Delhi market.

He said while Allahabad used to be a printing hub earlier, slowly jobs started shifting to Meerut and Delhi.

Now, without many business clients in sight, Gupta is planning to offer digital services to offset printers in the vicinity, and also to small digital printers.

Gupta said he was happy with the Canon Imagepress C10000VP. “It’s especially good for matt printing,” he said.

Classic prints visiting cards, books and magazines, stickers and invitation cards, birthday cards, personal photo albums, brochures, catalogues, leaflets, restaurant menus, identity cards and others.

With two printing facilities and 10 employees, Classic Printer turnover was Rs 1.10 crore in the last financial year.  

There are around eight digital printers in Allahabad. Next, Gupta wants to establish Classic Printer as a solution provider and produce big volume.

The Imagepress 10000VP, Canon’s Canon’s first 100ppm device, has yielded more than 30 installations in the last one year, attracting the attention of major players.