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Director of Sales
Michael Blake
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When I made the decision to expand into San Antonio, I knew I would need some help. If anyone has worked around salespeople for long, they know that managing them is like herding cats! I decided to delegate this responsibility to a new guy who didn't know any better.
 Along comes Michael Blake. He knows nothing of our industry having made his bones selling some kind of software I can’t even explain and museum quality speakers (two different jobs). I was looking for a Sales Manager, yet he shrewdly negotiated the title; Director of Sales. The joke's on him -- that just means I can delegate ALL of my duties to him.
Michael's first day was quite entertaining. I had him drive the hour plus to meet me and then took him down to San Antonio for a trade show. We spent a full day there before discovering the show went on until 8:00pm in the evening. After dropping him off at the office for a full 12-hour day, I discovered (quite innocently I promise) that it was his BIRTHDAY! Yes, I made it up to his lovely bride at the Christmas Party!
Michael has spent the last few months really honing our sales force. He has set up an entire program complete with templates, programs, and training to ensure that we are putting our best foot forward -- all the while hiring six (6) new sales people!
My hope (and his) is that he will do such a fine job that once we do move down south, I won't have to come into the office anymore. So, if you meet Michael or a member of our sales team, please (for all of us) buy some paper!
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 Big changes at CAD Supplies!
Our astute clients have figured out that it has been a year since we published our last newsletter. I have a very good excuse ... we were BUSY. While the economy was taking a nosedive, CAD Supplies has been preparing for our future!
My people here at CAD Supplies have been working feverishly to upgrade our computer system. We threw out the simple, cheap, tried and true program we used for the first 12 years. We now have a whiz-bang system that lets us do things only dreamed of before. We had some real growing pains while trying to set up all of our customers, vendors, and products -- all while still trying to run the business.
The upgraded system is designed to handle a huge uptick in business. Why, might you ask, did we think we would be getting a ton of new business in the middle of the recession? Well, I am glad you asked! We decided to expand in a couple of ways: we are actively moving into the San Antonio market, and we have also greatly expanded our Graphic Supply offerings for both Austin and SA.
To facilitate the big move, I hired a whiz-bang Director of Sales, who in turn hired a whiz bang sales force. We now have CAD and Graphic account managers roaming the byways in Austin and SA. Shortly they will be knocking on the door hoping to introduce themselves to all of our current and future clients! Please be gentle with them as they are learning EVERYTHING very quickly!
The next step might be the most painful and exciting of all. Just so nobody gets jealous (and so we can maintain our high standards of service), we will be moving our offices and warehouse a ways down the IH-35 corridor to San Marcos or New Braunfels. This really made the wife happy since we just bought our "last home ever" in Georgetown! Of course, most of my people live in south Austin and are very motivated to get us south of the river!
I look forward to the challenges ahead. Our loyal clients enable us to reach for the moon!
J Christopher Epstein
President
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Color Management
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Robin Wells
Austin Graphics
Account Manager
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The sign industry can take a proactive approach to this difficult economic time by making the most of their existing printing equipment. Customers look for sign makers to maintain the highest levels of color consistency, quality, and efficiency every time. Color management is critical to the process.
Color management can be a real headache for signmakers. There are a variety of devices that produce a substantial color difference. Signmakers are always in quest of a profile solution to ensure a superior product. This is the case whether they seek professional services or attempt to profile on their own the old fashion way: trial and error!
CAD Supplies Specialty takes a ground-up approach to color management, including an overview of the science behind the process, discussions of how ICC profiles for consumables can contribute to a fully color-managed workflow, as well as provide advice on ways to employ color management techniques for success.
CAD Supplies has launched a new program where we will provide a full color management process individualized to each of our clients. For loyal clients purchasing their media and supplies from CS2, this is just part of our outstanding service!
Maintaining a high quality product will insure that you (and by extension, we) retain loyal, satisfied customers that will also refer potential clients to your/our business.
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HP Designjet T1200
Twice the Speed, Twice the Rolls!
HP has finally listened to the masses with their introduction of the latest HP Designjet Family -- the T1200. The T1200 has integrated a dual roll system that allows for seemless swapping of media between rolls. The Designjet T1200 continues to maintain the speed and quality print expected from HP.
Inkjet plotters have traditionally only had one (1) roll. To use a single machine for dual sizes or purposes requires careful monitoring to ensure people do not send 36" prints when 30" paper is loaded. It also means downtime when rolls have to be changed or paper wasted from sending the wrong prints. The T1200 overcomes this by supporting two (2) rolls. Users can submit both jobs and the system will automatically swap between rolls, all in a matter of seconds.
 Featuring 32GB of dedicated file processing memory, this is a huge step up. It means that when data is output directly from a CAD system in HPGL/2 or a vector-based PDF file is sent, all of the raster processing is done on the printer and not on the workstation that submits the job.
As vector data is much smaller than raster data, this can significantly reduce network traffic, up to 50 times in some cases according to HP. This is significant, even on Gigabit Ethernet, which comes standard on the T1200. It also frees up the workstation to perform the next task.
As with the previous generation DesignJet T Series printers, the T1200 features three (3) blacks. This means traditional matte black for line drawings, photo black for true black on glossy paper, and a separate grey to help achieve better grey tones. With one eye on creating a workhorse linework printer, the ink capacity of the matt black cartridge has been increased to 300ml. The other blacks, Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow remain in cartridges of 130ml or 69ml sizes.
In relation to its T1120 predecessor, the T1200 boasts a slight increase in print speed, printing an A1 line drawing in Economode (draft) in 28 seconds. This is compared to the 35 seconds it takes on the T1120. The quality of Economode is quite impressive for a draft mode and perfectly acceptable for design/review.
This is the plotter many have been waiting to upgrade to. Currently there is a "$1000 Cash In & Trade Up" rebate available through April 30, 2010. We have already sold as many of the T1200's in the last two months as we did T1120 throughout 2009. Please contact CAD Supplies for further information.
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