Windsor Marketing Group (WMG), a leading producer of in-store marketing solutions for the world’s premier retailers, has completed a 120,000-square-foot expansion of its headquarters designed to further enhance the firm’s ability to deliver cutting-edge programs for clients at lightning fast speeds, while retaining its commitment to sustainability.
This is the third expansion of WMG’s state-of-the-art, deep-green headquarters in Suffield, CT since opening the facility in 2005 and will consolidate the entire 185-person workforce into a single 250,000 square foot campus.
Credit: Windsor Marketing Group
The latest phase in the company’s multi-million-dollar expansion and the addition of more cutting-edge technology provides WMG with even greater flexibility to easily meet last-minute client demands, no matter how tight the schedule.
“Unlike traditional industry practices, at WMG we plan our work according to client timelines instead of our own. That philosophy drove all the decisions behind this expansion,” said WMG founder Kevin Armata. “Success of our clients come first, so the facility expansion was done for client benefit, and in a in a socially responsible way.”
Highlighting the commitment to environmentally safe business practices is the addition of state of the art new production technology that is virtually waste-free. WMG also recycles all of its waste paper and utilizes inks that do not require the use of solvents.
“We had originally planned to simply move our existing production technology to the new facility and recreate the award-winning ECO system which was the environmental protection system we used in our old plant,” said Armata, referring to a system that had already reduced litho ink and solvent waste to a single five-gallon container a year. “After we began researching new technology, however, we discovered processes that were even greener and more environmentally responsible, so we made the investment in new technology instead.”
The new facility has features that include many conservation-based elements, such as:
- T5 lighting with LED lighting in key manufacturing areas. These lights significantly reduce electricity usage and are longer lasting than conventional lighting elements.
- Time-sensitive heating and cooling systems that automatically heat and cool the facility on demand only.
- A carbon filtration system that completely replaces air six times per hour, resulting in optimal air quality.
- Pallets made of recycled plastic, making them more durable than disposable wood pallets.
- Use of environmentally-friendly soy based inks and UV printing technology to mitigate toxic emissions (VOCs)
- A 99% reduction in overall solvent usage, and a closed system for remaining solvents.
- Primary use equipment like high-efficiency presses, where cutting edge design makes them far more energy efficient than their earlier generation predecessors.
- Generators that allow us to participate in a state program where we can be called upon by officials to reduce our electricity consumption on peak electricity usage days.
- Pre-press equipment that is faster and more energy efficient,
- Pre-Press equipment that utilizes environmentally friendly chemistry.
“We are committed to our sustainability efforts, and we understand that many of our clients prefer to be associated with partners who take the time to do things correctly, like we do.” said Armata “There’s a positive halo effect that they can take credit for too.”
The company’s socially responsible values were the reason that business author John Mackey featured WMG in his 2013 best-seller, Conscious Capitalism. In his book, Mackey detailed how, during the 2008 recession, Armata faced a decision about whether to layoff 20 percent of the workforce. Instead, he re-purposed the team by identifying team members with skills such as carpentry, painting and plumbing; then had them finish the interior of their new expanded workplace. The construction project not only offered job security, but galvanized the WMG workforce and the community.
Back-to-back winner of the Hartford Business Journal’s “Family Business Award,” Armata’s commitment to his workforce continues today. WMG has many employees with multiple generations and multiple family members working in the facility. Providing an enjoyable workplace for the WMG team was a construction priority that resulted in the addition of such amenities as a gym and exercise studio where employees can take weekly yoga classes free of charge.
“Completion of this third phase of expansion reinforces our commitment to growing our clients’ in-store sales and profits, to our employees, and to the Suffield community,” Armata said. “In addition, it provides us with the resources we need to expand our leadership role as a provider of unmatched service and state-of-the-art marketing solutions while remaining consistent with our commitment to social responsibility.”
WMG’s commitment to its clients, its employees and its community has not gone unnoticed by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).
“Our partnership with Windsor Marketing Group is great for Suffield and the entire state. The company, which started as a two-man operation and has been growing steadily for 40 years, is once again expanding and adding jobs,” said Catherine Smith, commissioner of the state’s DECD. “We are proud to support this state-of-the-art and eco-friendly project that will help Windsor Marketing Group become more competitive and position it for future growth. It’s these successes that are driving the state’s economy, putting our residents to work, and providing a steady, robust tax base for our cities and towns.”
More information about WMG’s services is available at windsormarketing.com.
About Windsor Marketing Group
Windsor Marketing Group helps retailers increase sales by developing, manufacturing and distributing in-store marketing programs that captivate shoppers and inspire them to buy. The company believes everything it does, must lead to its clients’ business success and is committed to building its clients’ businesses by enhancing the shopping experience, increasing basket size, and stimulating impulse purchases. Since 1976, the company has grown to over 185 associates serving more than 3000 clients from some of the most respected retail chains in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.windsormarketing.com.
You can also follow Windsor Marketing Group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WindsorMarketing/ and Twitter at @WindsorMG
SOURCE Windsor Marketing Group
