This month, Dutch Graphic Group celebrates its 25th anniversary. A fine milestone for the Venlo-based entrepreneurial family Venezia, with sons Gino and Enzo representing the second generation for seven years now. The formula for success? "Working hard, keeping an eye on your customers, always delivering quality, providing a lot of service at a reasonable price, and seizing opportunities. That's what got us where we are today."
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Nino and Anita Venezia started the printing company ZON Graphic & Mail in October 2000. "I was working as head of the mailroom and printing for auction ZON in Venlo, so I knew how much printing was being delivered to us. I saw opportunities, and I had always wanted to start my own business, especially because, as an entrepreneur, I wanted to be responsible for my own decisions. The auction had just invested in a 2-colour press when I came up with the proposal to go self-employed. The management was keen. They became shareholders, and in October 2000, I went into business with Anita and five employees as printing company ZON Graphic & Mail."
The first few years were hard work, but from 2004, momentum picked up. Over the years, the company developed into a full graphics supplier, with a strong emphasis on fresh produce companies. "Many fresh produce trading companies know where to find us for labels, tags, and cutting cards. We maintain a continuous stock of packaging materials, allowing us to supply customers quickly. In this, we are truly unique. Large suppliers work with label delivery times of three to four weeks. In the fresh produce sector, that really is madness. By shifting production, we can deliver within three days if necessary. Trading companies then don't have to worry about stock and can focus on their own business."
Move
© Dutch graphic group"But we do more: From banners, tarpaulins, canvases, business cards, and so on," the pater familias continues. As the name Graphic & Mail no longer covered the scope, it was changed to Dutch Graphic Group in 2017. This was followed in 2019 by the move to new premises on the Fresh Park Venlo site, covering 2,600 m² with an additional mezzanine top floor of 400 m². Over the years, the company has undergone a real professionalisation drive. "We bought an LED printing press specifically for label printing in 2017. This made us the first in Europe, but within six months, that press was running at full capacity, and we had to buy a second one. In the meantime, a third machine is already operational. We also have two Vectra machines to make blank labels, so a quick job is no longer a problem even in high season, and this has also been discovered by a large number of new customers this year."
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Nino and his family do not believe in being the cheapest. "That almost destroyed the printing industry years ago. If a customer opts for a quality product, for our service, and for our innovative strength, then he is also willing to pay a reasonable price for it. It often comes down to tenths of cents per label, but the mass makes the cash register ring here, too. If you ensure continuity in production and quality, you can conclude long-term contracts with customers. That gives peace of mind in the organisation. But our strength is that we have become big by staying small. Even though we have grown from a regional supplier to a national player, personal contact has been at the top here for 25 years!"
© Dutch graphic groupFor more information:
Dutch graphic group
Venrayseweg 130A
Industrieterrein Venlo 3851
+31 (0) 77 399 96 40
[email protected]
www.dutchgraphicgroup.com
