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Local Co. Finds Success With Promotional Postcards

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Most people love getting a postcard from loved ones on a trip, but it turns out bargain hunters love getting them from businesses, too.

That's how local company Printz found success in promotional postcards. And cards were just the beginning. Now they offer everything from posters to bumper stickers to Christmas cards.

It's too bad starting a business doesn't include immediately printing money. But printing can itself become a very lucrative business.

Started in 2006, Printz is now entering its eighth year with profits in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. It offers Web-based design and printing of postcards that offer deals, discounts or information about organizations.

Their printers can also spit out business cards, brochures, and Christmas cards.

It all started with Kurt Johnson, in a job he no longer loved.

"It was 2002. I was about 45 years old and I was a marketing professional," he said.

While there he heard about custom websites that allowed large corporate clients to design their own direct mail and have it printed and mailed right away. He figured he could do the same for small businesses.

The original sister company of Printz -- Postcard Builder -- started with three partners, two of them a married couple.

While most people say they don't like junk, small businesses often live and die by direct mail, meaning this company is growing by sending it out.

With four printers, they go through more than 6,000 rolls of paper a week with hopes to keep humming along.

They try to keep pricing competitive with online retailers, and can guarantee their product gets out in just a day or two.

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