Waukesha Chamber Top 10 Businesses: Spectrum Digital Services
Most business owners would say that service is their top priority. But at Spectrum Digital Services, service is so important that it is the singular theme of the firm’s mission statement: "Serve the customer, serve each other, serve this place."
"It is borne of the belief that our individual and collective success and prosperity is a direct measure of our ability to serve," said Russell Gnant, president.
When Spectrum was founded in 1998, it was the first firm in the country to identify and focus on the growing recordable disc industry. The company offers CD-R and DVD-R screen printing and duplicating, with the majority of its business coming from screen printing. It does screen printing on CDs and DVDs that customers can then record on. In-house services include pre-press, film-making, screen making and ink mixing.
After only five years in business, Spectrum is an international firm with customers in the United States, Canada, South America and Japan. Clients include IBM, Motorola, Ford, General Motors, NASA, Back of America and Rockwell Automation.
Spectrum has continually reduced its average lead time over the last several years, dropping from 72 hours in 2000 to 48 hours in 2002. This year, many of the firm’s orders are being processed in 24 hours or less.
The firm’s newest services include packaging options such as jewel cases and sleeves, and DVD services. Spectrum invested in DVD duplicating equipment to diversify its services and stay afloat in a weak economy, Gnant said.
"We had to downsize early last year, and that forced us to focus on core business and core values," he said. "We looked at ways to improve our ability to serve our customer rather than try to offer too many things."
The firm’s efforts were recognized with an Award of Excellence and two Certificates of Merit in the 2003 Graphics Excellence Awards program sponsored by Printing Industries of Wisconsin.
Gnant believes that a major component of successful customer service is setting goals, and each element of the firm’s philosophy includes specific goals related to maintaining product quality, fostering a positive work environment and taking responsibility for the way the company affects the greater community.
"Setting goals helps achieve goals, rather than just floating along hoping to achieve something great," Gnant said.
Company name: Spectrum Digital Services
Location: 600 Northshore Dr., Hartland
Year established: 1998
Type of business: Compact disc printing
Main products/services: CD printing and duplicating services
Number of employees: 14 full-time, 1 part-time
Business words of wisdom: "There is a lot of gloom and doom out there, but nobody knows how long things will stay this way. Hang in there. Somewhere along the way you score points simply for survival."
June 27, 2003 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
