New In-plant Leaps Forward

And save money the in-plant has. Smith estimates his shop saves Hobby Lobby between 45 and 50 percent over the cost of printing that work outside.

Bring It In-house

The idea for starting an in-plant, Smith says, began when Green encouraged Vice President of Advertising Bill Hane to bring more printing in-house. Though Hobby Lobby already had a small copy shop and a sign printing shop, all offset printing was being sent to local printers—not always in a coordinated and cost-effective manner. As this was costing the company a lot of money, particularly for forms printing, Hane ordered a press to print those forms in-house. Smith was hired in November 1999 to run that two-color Hamada 234. From forms he progressed to letterhead and business cards.