Pune’s Shraddha Arts trusts Ricoh Pro C5100s for precision

The Ricoh Pro C5100s can produce from the most basic to the most complex mixed-media jobs at a low cost per page. It can keep productivity at maximum speed while moving from one project to the next with easy-to-use controls, high image quality and automated in-line finishing. Other features include stapling, hole punching, multi-folding, saddle stitching, cover insertion and professional-grade booklet making. The machine offers a print resolution of 1200 x 4800 dpi at the output speed of 65 ppm.

Honalikar started his career in advertising and designing before starting his own print firm in 2011, offering services in social stationery and others, such as wedding cards, visiting cards, brochures, outdoor-indoor branding, poster, banner, panel, and standee, to individual and corporate clients.

Earlier, the company had smaller printing machines, and quality jobs were outsourced. This is where Ricoh comes into the picture. “My goal is to give 100% customer satisfaction. The outsourced jobs were all printed in a Ricoh machine, and my customers were happy with the results. I wanted to continue this quality in print. This is the reason I went for a Ricoh machine,” said Honalikar.

Another reason why he went for Ricoh was the services provided by the company. “The services are the best in the city compared to any other manufacturers,” he said. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Ricoh has 80% market share of digital production printers in the city.

Growing slow and steady, Honalikar now wants to enter into commercial printing. “The location (in the thriving Baner area of the city) is good and we have a huge database of customers,” he said.

In the beginning, getting customers was not easy. He posted online ads and started receiving enquiries. Over time, the customer base grew. This is because, Honalikar said, he offers quality services on time. “The motto is to make the customers happy no matter what. A happy customer is the best advertising for your firm. If he is satisfied with your services, he will definitely refer you to his friends; whether you ask him to or not,” he said. “In my job, nothing is impossible. Even if others say that this particular job is impossible, I will try and make it possible.”

As customers grew, Honalikar started outsourcing the job, which was both expensive and time-consuming. “I thought if I had facilities in-house, I can spend more time getting more client,” he said. Hence, the investment.

Next in the agenda is a cutting machine from Polar. He also wants to add the complete post-press facilities in-house. The reason? “If a customer comes to us, he should not go back because we cannot do the job for him,” he said.  

Honalikar is happy with the machine and expects to get his return on investment in the next two years. Is there a market? “There is no market,” he said, “You will have to create the market. You will have to approach the customer. It all depends on how you work, how you convince your customers, and how your customers approach you.”