“What is that saying? There’s no substitute for hard work,” laughed
Ed McAllister, Founder & President of Sterling Digital Print,
when asked the secret to his success.
No doubt Ed did work hard, married with two young children at
the time, he recalls many nights sleeping in between his two Canon
6250s. Those days are long gone now, as Sterling celebrates
over 16 years in business, with more than 200 employees across
three Long Island locations and 60+ million in print volume.
“What made my business successful?” Ed ticks off on his fingers,
“One, work ethic; two, treating people right; and three, strategic
evolution."
Ed's journey into the printing industry started at a young age,
working in a printing company in a role that his father, a salesman
in the field, helped him secure. Starting from the ground up, Ed
worked the night shifts, then moved into sales, working with
companies like Lehman and Bear Stearns. However, his
dissatisfaction with the work environment and a desire to ”do
things better” led him to take a leap of faith to start his own
business and deploy his own principles for success.
Success Formula #1: Work Ethic
The early days of Sterling were marked by Ed's relentless work
ethic. He started as a broker, collaborating with two others in a
small office. The company grew steadily, securing accounts,
acquiring machines, and expanding its capabilities.
Success Formula #2: Cultivate Relationships
Ed's commitment to quality and dedication to his customers’
satisfaction set Sterling apart and the company grew exponentially.
The company's initial focus on financial services evolved into a
diversified portfolio that included commercial printing for
colleges, manufacturers, and international clients. With more
customers came more employees, and Ed began building a team at
Sterling and cultivating the work environment he had
envisioned.
Success Formula #3: Strategic Evolution
As Sterling Printing continued its growth trajectory,
incorporating offset equipment, sheet-fed presses, web printing,
and a flourishing digital department, the need for high-speed
inkjet capabilities became evident. “Offset works great for quality
and low costs so long as the print runs are high and variable data
is not needed. Toner has the quality, versatility, and variable
data printing, but limitations with high production
quantities. Inkjet ‘has it all’ – inkjet enables
high-quality, high-speed production with variable data capabilities
and favorable cost economics — high-speed inkjet is strategic
evolution,” said Ed. Sterling invested first in one and, quickly
thereafter, two Canon varioPRINT iX sheetfed inkjet presses.
“There are lots of reasons we chose the Canon varioPRINT iX —
its versatility in handling a diverse and broad range of media,
inline finishing capabilities, and its sheer speed and productivity
are three that immediately come to mind,” Ed said. “Not to mention,
they are extremely easy to operate and that is critically important
with today’s reduced workforce.” Sterling prints a wide variety of
print materials including transactional documents, direct mail,
books, catalogs, manuals, brochures, and magazines. At 294 letter
impressions per minute, more than 8,820 duplex letter sheets per
hour, Sterling is able to produce up to 20 million pages every
month on their two Canon varioPRINT iX sheetfed inkjet
presses.
“The Canon varioPRINT iX quite simply has surpassed our
expectations, the exceptional uptime, the quality, the service are
all 5-stars,” Ed concluded.
The Future of Sterling Print
As Sterling Print looks to the future, innovation remains at the
forefront. Ed McAllister's philosophy of outworking the competition
and staying ahead of industry trends continues to drive the
company's success. With a focus on providing comprehensive printing
services and a dedication to customer satisfaction, Sterling Print
is poised for continued growth and excellence in the dynamic world
of printing.
“Sterling’s journey from a small startup to a printing
powerhouse serves as a powerful reminder that success, driven by
principled processes, is not merely achievable — it's inevitable,”
said Francis McMahon, executive vice president, Production Print
Solutions, Canon Solutions America, Inc.
________________
Sterling Print
Sterling is a beacon of high-quality printing, serving diverse
industries globally. From its roots in finance, Sterling is now a
trusted service provider to sectors like manufacturing,
distribution, retail, and nonprofits.
As a full-service printing resource, Sterling excels in
short-run, quick-turnaround assignments, offering comprehensive
services such as digital and offset printing, UV coating, binding,
and mailing. Its advanced digital capabilities, including Variable
Data Printing, redefine communication dynamics.
Founded in 2007, Sterling seamlessly blends digital technologies
with traditional offset printing, delivering top-tier products
swiftly and cost-effectively. Operating 24/7 from a
state-of-the-art facility in Hauppauge, New York, Sterling's
strategic location ensures efficient, overnight delivery to
Manhattan without added costs.
For more information about Sterling Print, visit
SterlingDigitalPrint.com.
About thINK
thINK is an independent community of Canon Solutions America
inkjet customers, solution partners, and print industry experts,
and Canon Solutions America is a proud executive sponsor. Led by
some of the most successful inkjet service providers in the
country, it provides a forum for members to network, gain
knowledge, discuss common challenges, and share best practices. For
more information, visit thinkforum.com.
###
Canon is a registered trademark of Canon Inc. in the United
States and elsewhere. ProStream is a registered trademark and
trademark of Canon Production Printing Netherlands B.V. All other
referenced product names and marks are trademarks of their
respective owners. Views and opinions expressed in this testimonial
are based on the actual experiences of each voluntary participant
and are not intended to represent or guarantee that the same or
similar results will be achieved. Neither Canon Inc. nor Canon
U.S.A., Inc. nor Canon Solutions America, Inc. represents or
warrants any third-party product or feature referenced
hereunder.
Brian Bohl
thINK
5164088214
bbohl@cusa.canon.com