Open Houses, California Style

“We conducted our first open house in the fall of 2005 to showcase our HP digital press,” she says, “and a second in 2006 shortly after we acquired our Presstek 34DI digital offset press.”

Rutledge turned to the in-plant’s vendors to help her subsidize these events. These included Presstek and HP, as well as the company the university uses for bulk mailings and some of the shop’s paper vendors. While customers may be interested in learning more about the in-plant’s services, what really draws them in, according to Rutledge, are food and door prizes. Both of her events featured these elements in abundance.