brandenergy Insights for brand builders from

Today’s new normal, while heading toward a place of full recovery, has come with no short supply of challenges for many businesses, pun intended. Due to the unforeseen regulations and adjustments put in place over the pandemic, paper mills paused production. With fuel prices on the rise, tighter restrictions on drivers and labor shortages industry-wide, the trucking industry has been hard-hit, affecting delivery schedules nationwide. From this to freight physically stuck on both coasts and adjustments within paper mills to better meet the demands of e-commerce causing delays and an increased lead time, our industry is one of the many greatly impacted.

Peter Goss, Mahesh Krishnan, Jeff Banks, Joe Turba (left to right), American Litho Gift Card Team Thinking of improving your brand’s gift card offerings? Our team’s got you covered. With over 50 years experience combined working with some of the nation’s leading retailers and brands on innovating their gift card experience for their customers, the… [Read More]

Before you give up on the analog world to go fully-digital, we want to share a list of statistics that show those that ignore the mailbox do so at their own peril. As you read the list below, we challenge you to think about how you might pair your digital efforts with a renewed focus on direct mail to invigorate your response and conversion rates and drive your sales to new heights.

Thank you to HP, Inc., for their supporting American Litho as we celebrate the first in US to install the HP PageWide Web Press T250 HD.

For over 20 years Joe Turba has been turning heads in the printing industry, most notably for his work to develop and expand gift card programs for brands across the country. From offering creative solutions to developing strategies and systems that set trends, his ultimate goal has always been to guide brands through what it… [Read More]

Emphasizing the care in health care marketing: a new series from American Litho Without a doubt, the last year has brought grueling trials for our nation’s health care providers. Hospital, clinic and medical office teams have worked day and night to keep us healthy, seeking new ways to safely provide care in person, by phone… [Read More]

We’re ecstatic to share a highlight of our year as we settle into a new one filled with exciting opportunities – we’ve been recognized by Printing Impressions Magazine as one of the nation’s leading print providers. A prestigious annual ranking of 350 of the nation’s largest, most powerful organizations, our team’s passion for the power of print has placed us in the Top 40. Let us help bring our award-winning service to your next campaign.

It is often said that if we fail to adapt, we fail to move forward. At American Litho, we are known for our ability to tailor our capabilities to meet the needs of our customers, and in 2020 we found ourselves adapting more than ever. As we reflect on the past year and plan for… [Read More]

Ranking fifth in Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces for mid-sized companies means even more in 2020! American Litho is VERY proud and extremely honored to have been voted one of the 5 best mid-sized companies in Chicagoland for the third year in a row by the Chicago Tribune’s Top Work Places of 2020. In 2020, we… [Read More]

When American Litho first opened its doors more than 25 years ago, we set out to provide our clients with the best printing experience possible. It stood to reason that in order to do that, we’d have to partner with the best print equipment companies to ensure quality, timeliness, and cost efficiency. We insisted on… [Read More]

MBO Komori Group recently featured American Litho’s President, Mike Fontana, Executive VP, Chris Joyaux, and Director of Finishing, Truman Pope in a case study highlighting our partnership and ALitho’s investment in production technology. “MBO’s speeds and widths are a perfect fit for our HP Digital Presses” We are proud to be recognized for the recent… [Read More]

ALitho is once again expanding its digital capacity to keep pace with our clients needs, introducing the first HP T-250.

G7 Colorspace Master Facility certification means that American Litho has maintained the highest level of excellence in grayscale, primary, and secondary color reproduction across the entire color spectrum, including flesh tones.

Healthy Revenue Strategy #9 – What is a hyper-endemic marketing platform? How can this concept help you target prospects and dramatically increase your marketing ROI?

Neuromarketing is the study of how the brain reacts to marketing messages. At American Litho, we follow scientific findings in this area because we want every campaign you create with us to deliver the strongest possible performance.
This week, we’re going to share an emerging case study that shows how one creative team revamped their control to dramatically lift response rates. Their decision-making path will reveal new ways your brand can benefit from the power of multisensory appeal.

Over the past few months, team members here at American Litho have posed many important questions, and we have welcomed the chance to answer them.
Employees want to know how the current shifts in our economy will affect their work roles, and rightly so. We are encouraging them to see this as a time of challenge, but also one of growth and learning. American Litho is a cross-national workforce that began as a small group of dedicated people, all handling multiple functions to help our company grow. Today, we are hundreds strong, but the way we deal with challenges comes from the same source.

In the current business climate, you might not have much time for analysis, brainstorming and retooling your direct mail control.

American Litho is a print and all-channel marketing leader. We never stop expanding the knowledge and technology required to make personalization strategies work for you.

If your brand isn’t thriving right now, here’s a ray of hope. Engagement will rise if you align your message with human hopes and needs, using techniques that have been proven over and over again to engage the senses and the mind.

Healthy Revenue Strategy #4 uses programmatic video ads that 80% of viewers will remember. Reach millions at home to lift sales & engagement.

Now that most Americans are sheltering in place – or at the very least, making fewer trips out – buying patterns have shifted in a massive way.
If you’re in retail, food service, entertainment or any vertical that traditionally draws people to physical locations, you’re already feeling the impact. Yet all brands need to take notice of two new realities:
• Online spending has risen 10% to 30%.
• Seeing what came in the mail has become a major source of delight and connection for millions.

How are you feeling about sales, engagement, and revenues? If you’re wondering how you can pull a rabbit out of a hat right now, you’re not alone. Many brands that rely on foot traffic in their brick-and-mortar locations are realizing they need to take action and keep customers engaged. At American Litho, we believe the… [Read More]

Direct mail retargeting is a cost-effective way to connect with customers who have already shown interest in your products and services, based on their digital signals. The DMA reports that direct mail retargeting has a response rate of close to 25%, compared to the digital retargeting ad click rate of .06%. So what is direct… [Read More]

American Litho offering innovative ways to stay relevant!

Illinois Shelter in Place Status & COVID-19 It is difficult to put into words this incredible emotional roller coaster we are all on, as we navigate through these trying times together. As the news surrounding the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to evolve, I wanted to reassure you that American Litho is here for you whenever you… [Read More]

New custom coater from Harris & Bruno adds even more sensory appeal to campaigns running on our HP T240 HD system! Recognized as the highest volume of digital impressions of any startup HP printer nationwide.

When there’s a training session on the American Litho production floor, we’re usually learning from a technology partner who is showing us what a newly acquired system will add to our broad array of print and direct mail capabilities. But last month, our valued partners at HP, Inc. (Hewlett Packard) asked us to train them –… [Read More]

2019 Printing Impressions 400 – the who’s who of the printing industry — ranks American Litho among the top of all North American printing companies.

American Litho is celebrating the news that our company has been voted one of the best places to work in the Chicago area for a second straight year. This annual honor comes from the Chicago Tribune and is based on independent research by Energage, a workplace improvement specialist. We are very proud to be on… [Read More]

At American Litho, we’re tech freaks. That’s because we know that innovation opens the door to exciting new possibilities for you and your brand. Our search for new print tech that delivers more speed, accuracy and quality led us to the HP PageWide Web Press T240 HD. And since this new system hit our production… [Read More]

Advances in the way that marketers use direct mail are paying BIG dividends. Did you know that response rates seen with the typical house list reached an amazing 9% in 2018? This figure comes from the Direct Marketing Association (now part of the ANA, Data Marketing & Analytics), and it represents giant leap from the… [Read More]

Posted by Tony Ferruzza Accurate color reproduction is absolutely essential to the way the world sees your brand. This is why the American Litho team strives to meet the highest possible standards of color management in our industry. We are very proud that our company has met the G7 Master Facility Colorspace standards set by… [Read More]

Everyone who works at American Litho knows Mike Fontana as a visionary leader and a strong, supportive presence in the workplace. He champions an open-door leadership style and a devotion to employee growth and development that have helped us evolve from a small print shop in Addison, Illinois to the fast-growing, multifaceted company we are… [Read More]

Every year, print companies from across the globe submit their best work to the Printing Industries of America’s Premier Print Awards competition. As the largest graphic arts trade association, PIA is devoted to the advancement of the graphic communications industry worldwide. Receiving a Best in Category Award – also known as a “Benny” – from… [Read More]

By any measure, Nordstrom Inc. is a solid-gold example of retail success. The company operates 379 locations in 40 U.S. states, Canada and Puerto Rico, earning $564 million in net income in FY19. But even industry leaders make big mistakes. Co-President Erik Nordstrom recently announced that the company has drastically changed its sales and profits… [Read More]

While at the National Postal Forum, our video crew talked with Matt Menconi, Executive VP of Sales, about the value of American Litho’s long-standing partnership with USPS. There’s nothing like having the Post Office in your corner, Matt says –explaining how having USPS experts at the table solves complex problems and maximizes value for all… [Read More]

American Litho never stops investing in new print technologies that will help you engage thousands, even millions of new customers with greater efficiency and impact. We are thrilled to announce the arrival of HP’s PageWide Web Press T240 HD on our production floor, as recently reported in What They Think. HP’s state-of-the-art system opens the… [Read More]

This week, American Litho hosted 60 students from the College of DuPage Graphic Design program to give the aspiring designers an inside look at how printed pieces are produced. “The tour has always been the highlight of the semester,” says College of DuPage Graphic Design Professor Dave Rogers. “Seeing how print professionals work remains the best way… [Read More]

Each year the Great Lakes Graphic Association recognizes leading companies in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin who meet the highest standards for superb craftsmanship in design, creation, and production of print materials for their clients. American Litho has been a perennial winner of the GLGA’s Graphics Excellence Award, with more than eight accolades received in 2018…. [Read More]

We’re always looking for new ways to expand the power of your direct marketing dollars – and we love it when the Postal Service joins in with new services and discounts. As 2019 gets underway, we’re especially excited about Informed Delivery, a digital notification service that lets residential customers preview their mail even before it… [Read More]

  We are grateful for the holiday present from Printing Impressions Magazine, listing American Litho for the 25th year in a row as in the Top 400 best print firms in U.S. & Canada. Alitho is proud to be a member of the elite TOP 40, placing us in the top 10% for 2018!  … [Read More]

I’m overcome with gratitude. For our employees … for our clients … for all our partners in the direct mail and printing industries. You are the reason for the great news we received last week via the Chicago Tribune. Thanks to you, American Litho has been recognized as the #1 mid-sized employer in the Chicago… [Read More]

OUCH! That’s what a lot of financial services companies are saying when they look at the rising costs associated with their direct mail campaigns. Trucking and paper expenses have gone through the roof this year, and sadly, there’s no sign that things will improve in 2019. So how are leading banks and credit card companies… [Read More]

Are you satisfied with the way your 2018 marketing strategy is performing? At American Litho, we are busy helping clients review where they’ve been this year and determine what improvements they can make. This means making sure that every element of their mail campaigns performs as powerfully as possible – and that the results are… [Read More]

We are pleased to have been awarded honors from the Great Lakes Graphics Association for another year of hard work, dedication to the craft and high-quality printing. The ceremony (May 2018) and recognition puts us in some excellent company and we are truly grateful to have been awarded the following honors: Best of Category Award– for… [Read More]

Dun & Bradstreet. InterContinental Hotels. Blue Cross Blue Shield. Deloitte. Sonic. Forever 21. Uber. Verizon. Equifax. These are just a few of the corporate giants in the news lately following serious data breaches – each one involving thousands, even millions of customer records. That’s a list we never want to see your company join. At… [Read More]

Volatility in paper prices or supplies can disrupt the timely, cost-effective completion of any print project. Empowerment comes from knowing what’s happening in the paper markets so you can make the right strategic decisions. As your full-service print partner, American Litho seeks to share paper industry news that can affect campaign timelines and costs. Our… [Read More]

Everyone here at American Litho is thrilled to see that Printing Impressions has ranked our company among the top 5 catalog producers in the nation. We are very proud of this recognition, along with our double-digit growth in catalog and direct mail production. The way we see it, our success reflects the strategic conversations we have with… [Read More]

Getting your message into the hands of target customers at the lowest possible cost demands a constant eye on supplies of the goods we use to manufacture your direct mail appeals. This is why we make it our business to track trends in local and global paper markets, anticipating shifts that will affect budgets and… [Read More]

This has been one amazing year here at American Litho! We have set, reached and in many cases exceeded some very ambitious goals – and this past Monday, our sales team gathered to celebrate everything we’ve achieved in the past 12 months. In serving top brands in virtually all industries, we seek to create true… [Read More]

If you’re thinking American Litho has gone into the business of fortune-telling, let me set you straight. We’re still working hard to be your #1 resource for omnichannel and direct marketing solutions. But when it comes to predicting who, among the millions of potential customers out there, might be ready to buy your products and… [Read More]

American Litho’s commitment to serving clients with excellence requires us to have the latest technology in-house. Our reputation depends on absolute precision in quality control, especially when it comes to color management. We were honored to share the spotlight at the PRINT 17 expo in Chicago this past week as HP announced its 600th digital… [Read More]

What do we know about the best way to engage customers and capture new sales? And how do we know it? These are crucial questions that should shape your brand’s marketing budget. Unless you’re putting your dollars behind techniques that are proven to work, you’re opening the door for competitors to walk right in and… [Read More]

Congratulations to the entire American Litho team!   We’ve just been notified that we have won several new awards from the Great Lakes Graphics Association, including 3 best-in-show awards for projects delivered on behalf of our clients in 2016.   The awards ceremony will be held May 24 at Medinah Shrine Center, Addison, Illinois and… [Read More]

On March 21, Bell and Howell published the new DM200 – the first-ever ranking of companies like ours based exclusively on direct mail revenue. All of us here in Carol Stream sent up a gigantic cheer to see American Litho at #9 on the list of top-flight direct marketers across the U.S. Why are we… [Read More]

This week we caught up with Tony Ferruzza, new Senior VP of the Sheet-Fed and Digital Division at American Litho. Here, Tony reflects on where the print industry has been and where it’s going, and introduces the new team members (ABOVE, left to right – Mike Ferruzza, Tony Ferruzza, Eugene “Corky” Czech, Daniella Tucci, Chris… [Read More]

The direct marketing landscape is an ever-evolving, dynamic business. The need for speed and precision in reaching the right customers with the right information at exactly the right time has never been more crucial for a brand’s survival. In a recent interview with Ashley Roberts of PI World, American Litho President Mike Fontana reflects on… [Read More]

How do exciting design ideas turn into printed pieces that inspire and motivate people? What happens from the moment a graphic designer submits files right through to the moment the finished materials are ready to ship? You can answer those questions in the classroom, says College of DuPage Graphic Design Professor Dave Rogers – but the best… [Read More]

Earlier this year we had the privilege of producing the 212-page Summit Charcoal Grill Cookbook for Weber-Stephens Products Corporation, the maker of iconic Weber Grills. This was an exciting project from the get-go, and we knew it would demand the best from our entire crew. Ron Weeks, our National Accounts Director, started off by searching… [Read More]

We’re thrilled to be on the scene today as the Internet Retailer Conference + Expo kicks off at Chicago’s McCormick Place West. While we put the finishing touches on Booth #1968, attendees are getting fired up in dozens of pre-conference workshops offered by industry experts. Wish we could join all of them, too – these… [Read More]

You’ve heard about the love affair with old-school vinyl recordings. Turns out its main proponents aren’t Baby Boomers grooving on their college album collections. Research from MusicWatch shows this trend is driven by a whole new wave of aficionados under 35, who account for 72% of surging vinyl sales. We believe digital natives (including Millennials)… [Read More]

We were blown away by the findings of this recent Accenture survey. Who would have guessed there’d be such a huge gap between what leading U.S. retailers deliver and what shoppers actually want? The survey shows that 47% of all customers want up-to-the-minute information on new products, discounts and special orders while they’re in the… [Read More]

Last night we had the pleasure of attending the Graphics Excellence Awards celebration hosted by the Great Lakes Graphics Association (GLGA) at the Medinah Shrine Center in Addison, Illinois.   This is an event we look forward to all year long. It’s an honor to be nominated for a GLGA award and an even greater… [Read More]

At American Litho (ALitho), we’re not afraid to take on a challenge. That’s the theme behind this digital case study with Sam Dentino, the latest in a series we will share with you this year. Sam walks us through the process of reworking a direct mail piece, coming up with creative, cost-effective ways to manufacture… [Read More]

Print costs alone won’t tell you the whole story when it comes to evaluating the total cost-efficiency of your direct mail campaign. That’s why American Litho now offers all-in cost estimates for brands that want to see the bigger picture. This approach takes into account every step involved in creating your mailing, from list cleansing… [Read More]

Unless Congress or the courts intervene, a postal rate surcharge in place since January 2014 will be rolled back on Sunday, April 10, giving us the first rate decline in nearly a century. Sounds like great news for direct marketers, right? And in many ways it is. But what about the Postal Service’s claim that… [Read More]

Making promises is easy. Delivering takes a lot more work. That’s the theme behind this video case study with Brian Johnson, the first in a series we will share with you this year. Brian explains the process of diving deeper into the details of a catalog mailing, looking for every possible way to manufacture and… [Read More]

One of my favorite holiday shows is the Rankin/Bass TV special “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.” I love the show’s narrator, Special Delivery Kluger, voiced by the unforgettable Fred Astaire.  S.D. is a friendly mailman whose delivery truck is actually a custom snowcat that carries him throughout the North Pole, sharing tales of Santa with the… [Read More]

A few months back I shared some thoughts on growth with you, explaining why American Litho has expanded at a time when so many others say the printing industry is shrinking. The reasons we’re growing are simple – and they have everything to do with your brand. In a multichannel world, print remains an indispensable… [Read More]

Ever heard of the 7 P’s that are part of the preparedness strategy used by the U.S. Marines? It’s all about being ready when the big challenges come your way. Success with any print-based marketing campaign depends on having a detailed map of where you’re headed and the best tools and strategies to help you… [Read More]

Chicago is known for its dazzling skyline, delicious deep-dish pizza and world-class sports teams. But there’s another reason for our fame – one you might know about if direct mail is part of your brand’s success. Our city is a mailing powerhouse, with some 40% of all national campaigns launching within an hour of here…. [Read More]

Seeing the big picture across all channels of your marketing program is a constant challenge. That’s why we’re intrigued by a new analytical tool we recently previewed with our U.S. Postal Service representative here in Carol Stream. USPS’ new Marketing Impact Calculator, or MIC, is designed to help any business with $1 million or more… [Read More]

Do some elements of your brand-building plan belong in a museum? Probably not. But just think: marketers who are still relying heavily on conventional direct mail are following a strategy that showed up before the Civil War. Product coupons? First seen in 1886. TV spots? Prompting us to change channels for 74 years now. Even… [Read More]

We came home from last month’s National Postal Forum in Anaheim with fresh knowledge and ideas that we’re rapidly putting to work for you. Here’s how we’re working with Truman Pope and the American Litho postal logistics team to help you take advantage of the best opportunities. When he wasn’t immersed in courses leading to… [Read More]

I know you’ve seen that classic Saturday Night Live skit with Christopher Walken as the crazed music producer who just KNOWS his band’s new recording will go platinum if Will Ferrell can give him more cowbell. Walken is a pretty versatile guy, having appeared in 100+ films and TV shows. He’s one of only 2… [Read More]

If your head is spinning as you watch the ongoing parade of mergers in the paper industry, you’re not alone. We’ve been keeping a close eye on things as the marriage of Verso and NewPage hit the headlines — a deal so big it prompted the U.S. Department of Justice to order the sale of… [Read More]

Hey, we all know life can be tough. But if you’re the brand manager responsible for a new consumer product launch this year, you’re really in the hot seat. Packaged goods companies set the threshold for new product success at about $100 million in sales within the first 12 months. Yet only 2% of new… [Read More]

Clients often come to American Litho for advice on the best way to design and produce a given print project. How exactly do we figure that out? Whether we’re talking about a direct response campaign, a major sales promotion launch or the package for your new consumer product, determining the right press environment is often… [Read More]

If you can’t get the goods, you can’t build the box. It’s really that simple when it comes to understanding supply-chain issues in the packaging industry. But in recent weeks the game has gotten even more complicated, so it’s time for some perspective. During my 30+ years in the packaging and merchandising sector, I’ve had… [Read More]

The closest I’ve ever come to actually playing hockey is the occasional pick-up game with the neighborhood kids every winter. Still, thanks to my famous-sounding name, people often ask if I’m related to Hall of Famer Chris Chelios, the Blackhawks superstar who also helped Team USA win… [Read More]

Your prospects are looking for warmth, sparkle, and excitement — and ALitho is ready to help you deliver. The ideas we’ll share with you here are part of the trend toward multisensory marketing, which is proving its value in direct mail and many related fields. In working with clients all over the country, we’ve proven… [Read More]

If you’re a direct marketing partner of American Litho, you’ve already seen our colorful mailer asking what’s keeping you up at night. We want to know if you’re worried about the same things we are: How to max out all possible postage discounts every time you mail How to reach prospects with the right offer… [Read More]

I consider myself a pretty level-headed guy. But when I heard the news about Stuart Scott on Monday morning, I’m not ashamed to say I started to cry. As I read about his life, his family, and all he’d achieved in 22 years with ESPN, questions were running through my mind, probably the same ones… [Read More]

I’ve been thinking about that question a lot as the year comes to a close. What does success look like – especially in a business that’s changed so much in recent years and shows no signs of slowing down? People say the printing business is shrinking. I hear this almost every day. But at ALitho,… [Read More]

We just got back from the Private Label Manufacturers Association show held at the Rosemont Convention Center near Chicago, where we met with retailers, consumer products companies, design firms, and co-manufacturers — all looking for the next big idea to catapult their companies to new levels of success. In talking with people who dropped by… [Read More]

We just mailed something really great to decision-makers at 50 major grocery chains, but we wanted to share it with you, too. If you’re a retailer in any sector and you’re currently using direct mail to boost sales and customer engagement, we think you’ll identify with the challenges in this story. We’re all looking for reduced cycle… [Read More]

If you’re a direct marketing partner of American Litho, you’ve already seen our colorful mailer and quiz asking what’s keeping you up at night. The answer is likely to be as multifaceted as the challenges you face: Making sure you max out all possible postage discounts The race for relevance: reaching the customer with the… [Read More]

Think how many times you hear this question in the course of a business day. Ever noticed how differently you respond, depending on who’s doing the asking? The people we make time for are trusted partners and friends. We know that a quick exchange will help us do our work better, avoid pitfalls or understand… [Read More]