COLUMBUS, June 28 - Early this morning, The Home Network Center emailed its revised, final quote request to four local printing companies. THNC's purpose is to learn which of these printers -- if any -- wants to have THNC as a customer and provide this nonprofit with quality printed materials.

This search began more than two weeks ago. THNC sent basic requests to several local printers. The four companies that have responded are Able Printing Co.; PXPOhio; Quality Xpress Graphix, and Buckeye Printing, which is now part of Vectra;

These companies have been provided with artwork -- graphics and printed layouts -- for basic office materials. They have been asked to provide prices for printing stationery -- letterhead and envelopes; two-sided business cards; greeting cards and envelopes; and a multi-purpose adhesive label.

"Learning the language of the printing industry has led to this final quote request," said Jack Farnlacher, executive director of THNC. "We needed to discover a few basic terms such as basis size, basis weight, Pantone ink colors, and the popular types of fine business paper. We listened to everyone that spoke with us about our needs and tried to include their suggestions in our final request. Our four-page final request will save THNC money with simplified printed products. If the printers comply with instructions in the request, we'll have a number of options and will be empowered to choose those that are the best and most cost-effective for our immediate needs."

One of the lessons learned during the past two weeks involved wording found in the initial quote request. A nonprofit may need creative suggestions to move it toward success, but vendors do not always speak the language of thinking, dreaming, and imagining. The final quote request contains none of the subtle requests for assistance that was found in the first one. THNC will need to learn from its recent experiences and patiently search for creative partners. The lesson seems to be, "Printers tell customers, 'Tell us what you want, and we'll print it.' Anything more isn't printing, and it isn't what we do."

"We have certainly grown during these two weeks. We have a greater respect for the preparation behind effective products. We hope our printed materials will lead to the success THNC needs to help it bring quality home networking services to the public," Jack said. "The printed products that we are creating is one more beginning in our quest for success."

COLUMBUS, June 3 - The Home Network Center began a search for its first long-term relationship with a local printing company. THNC's purpose is to find a reliable and helpful professional company.

This search involved contacting a sampling of local printers. To date, these printers include Able Printing Co.; NOVA Print, LLC.; PXPOhio; Buckeye Printing, which is now part of Vectra; Quality Xpress Graphix, and Watkins Printing Co.

"Our hope is find a quality organization," said Jack Farnlacher, executive director of THNC. "We will never know as much as any of these printers do about state-of-the-art developments in the printing industry. By doing business with a printer that cares about our success, we hope to use print technology in economical and effective ways. We are searching for partners -- companies that will help us accomplish our Mission Statement through their responsible and cost-effective suggestions."

Four companies -- Able, PXP, Vectra, and QXG -- have expressed an interest in having THNC as a customer. The next step is to submit a quote request or work order for immediately needed items which includes stationery and business cards. Part of the selection process will be evaluating how printers respond to this quote request. How does a printer help new customers provide the correct order information? How will the printer nurture that customer? These will always be valuable and important experiences, because THNC will always rely on its printer partners for producing the best and most effective printed materials.

"We hope to find companies that share our attitudes about doing business in ethical and responsible ways," Jack said. "Each vendor becomes an extension of THNC, actually working to better serve our members through the methods they use with THNC employees. If a printer does not share, at least in spirit, our ethical responsibility to our members, we clearly do not have the right partner. This statement will always be true."