Penn State Open House Draws a Crowd

On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, Penn State University's Multimedia & Print Center opened its doors to the university community. IPG's Bob Neubauer attended the open house in University Park, Pa., which featured tours, seminars and some nice prizes.

"We are showcasing our services that we offer exclusively for the university," says Manager Theresa Roby. "We are here for them and we like them to be able to see what we offer them."

IPG’s Bob ­Neubauer (center) is flanked by Director Abbas Badani and Manager Theresa Roby during this week's open house at Penn State.

The presses were busy throughout both days of the open house — including the in-plant's new four-color, 23×29˝ Ryobi 764E. The wide-format printing and dye-sublimation area was especially popular. Staff showed off samples ranging from the impressive wall wrap that covers a full wall of the department with fine art reproductions, to decals being diecut with the shop's Graphtec contour cutter. Visitors were enthusiastic about the in-plant's "Personalize It" line of dye-sub products, such as mugs, shirts, blankets and more.

Tour groups showed up throughout both days of the event, sitting for seminars on topics like online stationery setup and ordering, visual identity standards and preparing data files for mailing. They enjoyed food and drinks, took away gift bags and registered for prizes like a Ricoh Theta 360-degree camera and Penn State basketball tickets. (Watch the video below to see scenes from the open house.)

Director Abbas Badani says focus of the open house was on the "small users" such as administrative and support staff who often don't understand what the in-plant does.

"A lot of people don't even realize what's in the building," he laughs. He wants them to come away with an understanding of "how the end product comes out from a concept that they've sent."

"It will hopefully raise the awareness of our services to the university," adds Roby, "and make us a first call and a first thought when they have a project."

But the open house is not just a marketing and educational tool for customers, says Badani. It's also a way for the in-plant to show off to upper management.

"The folks I report to, they were so impressed by the facility, my boss sent out an email to the whole division that she's over telling everybody to come and visit to see what a great job that the staff here are doing," he says. "So this is the kind of positive publicity that we look for."