CASE STUDY
Rainbow Print rebuilds – post-quake
Rainbow Print considers itself lucky on two counts: it experienced only minor damage from Christchurch’s major earthquakes and it had made a well-timed move to implement some risk management plans before the February quake.
For business partners Graeme Duncan and John Boyle, the best thing their customers did after the earthquake was keep feeding work to the commercial printing company.
John Boyle says having a nationwide sales team helped tremendously.
He said they were also proactive, going out to their clients and informing them it was business as usual.
“We did survive and we needed their continued support to keep going.”
Fortunately the company’s printing presses were intact and they could resume print runs just a day after the quake. And then there were the risk management plans they had put in place.
“We were lucky in that we had a risk management process for our company. We had already started putting some of the contingencies in place,” says Boyle.
Although the company was back on its feet within days of the February earthquake, Rainbow Print was aware that for its staff, the upheaval would last much longer. Many were (and still are) coping with the aftermath of the loss of their homes, families and friends. Staff with children had to deal with disruption to schools, with some schools closed and others suddenly sharing facilities with a large number of extra students.
Embracing competitors
One of the best things the company did after the quake was open its door to its competitors. This allowed these other printing businesses to continue running too.
Boyle is proud of the dedication demonstrated by his staff.
“During daylight, they would tend to their affairs at home, such as cleaning up, and then when it was dark, they would come in to finish off work because they knew our company needed to keep its commitment to clients to continue as a business.”
“During daylight, they would tend to their affairs at home, such as cleaning up, and then when it was dark, they would come in to finish off work because they knew our company needed to keep its commitment to clients to continue as a business.”
Boyle says for many it will be another three to four years before they get back on their feet.
“It is really a case of grinning and bearing it, and moving on.”
Market shift
“As a company we are modifying our business model and looking forward to new opportunities in the new Christchurch market,” he says.
