Minding Your Business
Copy & Click
How do you turn a small Virginia-based marketing communications firm into one of the key players in its field?

If you’re Rick Steele, you start by telephoning the big boys and asking for help.

In March, Steele’s 65-employee company, Liveprint.com, partnered with Kinko’s Inc. in a $40 million deal that moves the company into the big leagues of national and international business communications.

"The truth is I did just call [Kinko’s] and I was slowly working my way up the food chain," says Steele. "And then when we closed our first round of venture financing, our biggest investor was Chase Capital Partners, who also happened to have multimillions invested in Kinko’s. So Chase picked up the phone and created the bridge for us."

In time, Old Town Alexandria-based Liveprint accepted a deal to become the online arm of Kinko’s. Under the agreement, Liveprint will offer everything from design expertise, advice and marketing solutions to business cards, stationery, newsletters, résumés, invitations and even apparel.

The company will launch the new Kinkos.com Web site this summer, allowing customers to utilize all of the Ventura, Calif.-based company’s services online. Kinko’s saw the merger with Liveprint as an easy transition into the cybermarket, and it has retained Steele to run the show.

"They trusted us with their brand because Kinko’s and Liveprint had similar foundations for their companies," explains 37-year-old Steele. "And that was all about the customer experience: What’s the best way to create the greatest customer experience?"

Steel anticipates the Alexandria branch will grow to 200 employees. Meanwhile, business with Internet companies continues to grow. Liveprint is already linked with America Online, and Steele says more deals are coming.

"We’re still a separate company, the only thing that changes is the name on the door," he says. "We’re ... 3,000 miles away. It keeps us agile and moving forward. Everyone knows the Kinko’s name, though, and what they can bring to business."

— Mike Ashley