PRINTING United Alliance is grateful to serve its members who make such significant impacts on the printing industry. Through our Member Spotlights, we continue to recognize our members, and help our community get to know their peers better, both professionally and personally. The following is a Q&A with Alliance member Chris Wallace, Owner and CEO at Performance Print Services in Durham, NC.
Can you please provide a brief history/background on your company?
Performance Print Services was established in 2017. We started the company to provide our customers with exceptional service, which is the foundation of our mission. We have 17 employees and we offer traditional sheetfed digital printing, wide format printing, and promotional products.
How and when did you enter the printing industry?
I entered the printing industry in 2000 when I moved to North Carolina in search of a new career. I answered an ad in the local newspaper seeking a customer service representative at an offset print shop. I ended up working there for seven years. My business partner Mitchell Bratton has worked in the printing industry since he was a teenager, where he started in his father’s print shop.
Are there markets or industries outside of your traditional offerings you are looking to add or have added? If so, what?
We are always looking to expand the markets and industries we serve and have done so over the past seven years we have been in business. As we continue to grow, my goal is to add to what we do in the way of equipment and print-related services that will benefit our customers.
What would you say has been your company’s biggest accomplishment?
Our first major accomplishment was moving to our current location. We started the company sharing space with a vendor partner, occupying 1800 square feet. We moved to a brand new facility in 2021, more than doubling our space. The following year we brought wide format in-house with the purchase of our flatbed printer, latex roll-fed printer, and Colex cutter. This has helped us expand our services with new customers and create additional work from existing customers.
What are some future goals for your operation?
My current plans include additional equipment for certain, and expanding our facility so that we can house the equipment that we’ll need.
Why did you decide to join the Alliance? What resources do you plan to or have already utilized through your membership?
I believe strongly in the benefits provided by industry advocacy groups such as PRINTING United. There is a lot to learn from other members and the resources provided by the Alliance are plentiful. I consistently direct my team to the PRINTING United iLEARNING+ library to get questions answered, and I also enjoy the newsletters and the Journal provided by the Alliance.
What activities/hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
I enjoy going to the beach and I spend quite a bit of time there boating, fishing and hanging out with my family and friends. I like to keep fit and “try” to make it to the gym mornings before work. I am also a big Ohio State Buckeye football fan and you can find me either at home or out with friends watching the games on Saturdays in the fall.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I’ve been working in the printing industry for 23 years, but the last seven have been the most rewarding. Starting this company was the best decision I have ever made. I truly love what I do and enjoy coming to work every day. We have a solid team and I am so proud of what they accomplish every day!
For more information on Performance Print Services, visit their website at https://www.performanceprintservices.com/.