If you were just visiting Philadelphia, you probably didn’t have any Tastykakes. You have to buy them at the grocery store or a minute market. Personally, I prefer the Chocolate Lovers Cupcakes. They come two a package and you have to open the cellophane carefully so you don’t disrupt the thick chocolate icing on the cupcakes. You can eat one in two bites but I always tried to eat one in four bites so they would last longer.
But, alas, I’m a fat old slug so I don’t eat many treats anymore. Tastykakes has come out with a sugar free collection and I’m going to try them. Tasty Baking Company was founded in 1914 and has grown from sales of $300,000 the first year to almost $270.0 million in 2006. Management announced they are moving to a new 345,000 square foot plant in the old Philadelphia Navy Yard.
The winners of my first-ever print communications company website contest will be receiving a case of Tastykakes to acknowledge their being judged among the best. Remarkably, not one of the winners is from Philadelphia, so the winners will be experiencing a taste of Philadelphia.
We’re going to take a website tour so you can see the winning sites first hand. I’ve rented a bus so climb aboard and let’s go. We are headed for Madison, Wisconsin to see the website of American Printing. So key in www.amercanprintingco.com. Our judges selected this winner for it clarity and organization. It is written and designed to answer the questions that a prospective customer is like to ask.
Eric Schindler, Technical Service Representative at American Printing submitted the company website and I’m guessing he had some hand in its design.
Everybody back on the bus!
We are headed north to De Pere, Wisconsin to visit the website of a specialty printer, Independent Printing Company, Inc. Key in www.independentprinting.com. Our judges selected this site for its pleasing graphics that seem to match up well with the buyer-friendly text. This company specializes in standard pocket folders, reinforced folders, tab folders and well, you get the picture and you can read about their other specialties.
You will note that this specialization has made this company customer service oriented versus sale oriented, hence, the need for a website that sells. Steve Vogel, Creative Marketing, at Independent submitted this winning site.
I decided to bag the categories based on company size and have the judges pick six winners and to name one “Best in Show”.
We’re headed south to Wauconda, Illinois to visit www.plasticgrahic.com. The judges loved this site because you immediately see that Plastic Graphic Company printing plastic cards, tags, charts, point-of-purchase materials and measuring tools like protractors. They also loved the company address and phone at the bottom of each page. There is nothing worse than having to search of the company phone number. I have actually visited some websites where there was no phone number anywhere.
This site was submitted by Jeff Grimes and he should watch for a Tastykake delivery.
Okay, we’re headed for St. Cloud, Minnesota and www.sentinelprinting.com. Katie Olson, a perfect name for a Minnesotan, sent us her award-winning entry. This company is another specialist with web and sheetfed equipment printing books, directories, manuals and catalogs. The company was founded in 1854 and is the oldest of our winners.
This website does a great job of defining the company and it has an emphasis on customer education. That’s always an effective marketing tool. Katie, thanks for the entry and look for a shipment of Tastykakes.
Now we are headed south all the way to Orlando, Florida. Yes, we be staying overnight in the $23 Dollar Country Cabins Motel in Hoodunit, Kentucky. No TV but I’m a budget. Key in www.orlandoprinter.com. Very clever since Next Generation Printing sells 98% of its work over the web and they sell all over the world. Lotsa people coming to Orlando and if they need printing for a convention at Disney World or Universal, they probably Google “Orlando Printing”. Frank Nathe submitted this website and he tells me they don’t emphasize the phone number since they have customers around the world who are shopping for printing on the Internet.
Finally, we’ve got to load up and head way north before the first blizzard in Rochester, New York. Our grand prize winner is www.cohber.com the website that sells Cohber Press Inc. This entry was submitted by Eric C. Webber, President and CEO.
One of our judges remarked this site is simply elegant and loaded with great information including a very clever approach to the company history which often is very boring and self-serving.
Now, I’m exhausted by all this travel and my rowdy busmates. I’m going to take a nap while you get out there and sell something!
