## **From Struggling to Thriving: A UV Printing Success Story**

Midwest Sign & Graphics was just another small shop fighting for survival in a competitive market—until a single equipment decision transformed their $220,000/year business into a $1.1 million powerhouse in just 18 months. Here's exactly how they did it, and how you can replicate their success.

## **The Breaking Point: Why They Had to Change**

### **The Old Reality (Pre-Upgrade):**

- **Outdated Equipment:** Still using solvent printers from 2012

- **Limited Capabilities:** Couldn't print on anything thicker than 1/4"

- **Constant Outsourcing:** Losing 40-60% margins on acrylic and metal jobs

- **Declining Clients:** Losing bids to shops with UV capabilities

"We were working harder just to make less each year," recalls owner Mike Henderson. "Our $65,000 profit in 2020 shrank to $28,000 in 2021. Something had to change."

## **The Game-Changing Investment**

After 3 months of research, they chose:

- **Mimaki UJV100-160** UV LED printer

- **Key Features:**

  - 63" roll-to-roll and 2.4" flatbed capacity

  - White ink and clear varnish capabilities

  - $148,000 total investment (financed over 5 years)

"Scariest check I've ever written," Mike admits. "But the math showed we'd break even in 10 months if we captured just 30% of the jobs we'd been outsourcing."

## **The 5 Revenue Streams That Fueled Growth**

### **1. Premium Dimensional Lettering (32% Revenue)**

- **Old Way:** Outsourced at $38/sq ft

- **New Way:** Printed in-house at $11 cost, sold for $55

- **Game Changer:** Could now offer 24-hour turnaround vs. 2-week wait

### **2. Textured Store Displays (28% Revenue)**

- Spot UV textures on retail signage

- 400% markup over flat prints

- Became go-to vendor for local boutique chains

### **3. ADA-Compliant Tactile Signs (19% Revenue)**

- Braille and tactile elements printed directly

- $85-$120/sq ft for mandated installations

- Zero competition in their region

### **4. Custom Apparel (11% Revenue)**

- Printed on leather patches for jackets

- 70% gross margins vs. 40% with traditional methods

### **5. Industrial Labeling (10% Revenue)**

- Durable UV labels for manufacturing clients

- Recurring revenue from 6 local factories

## **The Numbers That Changed Everything**

| Metric | Before Upgrade | After 18 Months | Growth |

|--------|---------------|------------------|--------|

| Annual Revenue | $220,000 | $1,100,000 | 400% |

| Gross Margin | 38% | 62% | +24 pts |

| Jobs Completed/Month | 47 | 129 | 174% |

| Average Job Value | $390 | $1,425 | 265% |

## **5 Crucial Lessons Learned**

1. **Don't Buy Cheap:** "We almost went with a $85,000 Chinese import. The Mimaki's reliability saved us thousands in downtime."

2. **Train Religiously:** "Two weeks of manufacturer training eliminated what would've been $35,000 in rookie mistakes."

3. **Price for Value:** "We initially undercharged. Raising prices 40% actually increased demand—it positioned us as premium."

4. **Vertical Integration Wins:** "Bringing outsourced work in-house created instant 50%+ margins."

5. **Market the Capability:** "We rebranded as 'Midwest UV Specialists' and saw inbound leads triple."

## **The Ripple Effects Nobody Predicted**

- Landed a statewide hospital system contract ($280,000/year)

- Became a authorized vendor for 3 national franchises

- Now training other shops on UV adoption

- Recently added a second UV printer to meet demand

## **Your Roadmap to Similar Results**

1. **Identify Your Most-Outsourced Jobs** (that's low-hanging fruit)

2. **Calculate the Break-Even** (equipment cost ÷ new margin per job)

3. **Finance Strategically** (5-year terms keep payments manageable)

4. **Train Thoroughly** (budget for 2-4 weeks of learning curve)

5. **Rebrand Around New Capabilities** (become known for your UV advantage)

## **The Bottom Line**

"This wasn't just a printer—it was a complete business model transformation," Mike reflects. "That $148,000 investment now generates over $300,000 in annual profit. I only wish we'd done it sooner."

For shops feeling stuck in the shrinking commodity printing game, UV technology represents the clearest path to premium pricing, expanded services, and most importantly—sustainable profits.

**Could your shop be the next 5X success story?** The equipment exists, the market is ready—the only question is when you'll make your move.