Could you give us a brief historical background about Trilabit?
Trilabit was founded in 1993 as a typographic studio. At that time we made the decision to have high technology which would be operated by the best graphics and typographers in the Czech Republic.We are continuing on with this same commitment today and we can say that there is no competition with a truly independent studio in the Czech Republic. That is the reason why we have such clients as the biggest advertisement agencies ARK Thompson, Satchi & Satchi, Bates who cater to big companies such as Skoda Auto and Microsoft. Our advantage is that we have started a little later than the other companies and that is why it gave us the opportunity to have such modern technology and specially trained people for the studio.
Are you working directly with some advertising companies and also directly with the other clients, companies ?
Yes, we work directly with final customers as well as for advertising agencies. Among our direct clients are ´Investicni a postovni banka´ (IPB) ; which is the second biggest bank in the Czech Republic. Although these huge companies may not require a complete compaign, they rely on our special services which are second to none.
Our clients are businessmen and they like figures. Could you give us some figures about Trilabit?
The turnover for last year was 25 million crowns. It is about 3.5 million crowns per one productive person.The increase is about 20% each year. Although our grouth is primarily thanks to our high level of technology such as Quantel Graphic Paintbox, Cymbolic Sciences image setter Light Jet 2021 for diapositives, Heidelberg drum and flat-bed scanners, Barco monitors etc.
Could you be more precise about the facilities you offer to your customers? Which are the latest investments you made in order to modernize your infrastructure?
In 1998 we bought a new graphic station called Graphic Paintbox 2 from the British company Quantel and we bought an image setter for diapositives LightJet 2021 from the Canadian company Cymbolic Sciences. At the end of last year we finalized the innovation of our digital technology by buying a big plotter from Hewlett Packard DesignJet 3500 and a large format laminator Neschen 1400N. So now we can offer our clients the variety of services ranging from graphic design to digital printouts. This variety of technologies and services is a necessity because our suppliers are not flexible enough to fulfill the requirements of our customers. That is also why we have good scanners. Last year we bought three scanners from the German firm Heidelberg. They are drum scanner TANGO, flat scanners TOPAZ format A3 and OPAL.
Is the main market of Trilabit in Prague, or do you also have customers all around the Czech Republic?
Approximatly 80% of our customers are from Prague but for the special services like Graphic Paintbox we do supply customers from Northern Bohemia, Brno and Bratislava. We also have foreign customers from Poland, Luxemburg, Belgium, the USA and India.
What is the secret of Trilabit´s success to attract new clients?
I would like to say, that it is because we are the best. We provide the highest quality services and there is a certain guarantee in the size of our company, so the clients can be sure that their work will be done in time because we have the capacity. Even though we are a small firm in a small ´playground´ here in the Czech Republic, Trilabit may seem to be a big firm by comparison. Even though we are a small studio in Prague we are among the ten biggest in our field.
Could you be more precise about all the different products you provide to your customers?
About 30% are magazines, 50% are advertisements and the rest are the extras like lithographies, diapositives, making big posters. What we offer depends very much on our people here. If we did not have any talented people, we would be doing nothing more than copying. But because we employ mainly talented people, we are able to do so many graphic designs, works for advertising agencies as well as dealing directly with the customer. The production of lithographies is supplementary.
| The internet is becoming more and more an important means of communication. Do you plan in the future to create the web sites, advertising for internet ?
Yes, we have big plans for building web sites. Earlier this year we augmented our staff, and now have the talent to do this . We now have the best people in this field. It started by the legal purchase of the program, which is perhaps a little unusual in Eastern Europe. I think we have been quite successful. We also have recently made web sites for some rather impressive clients, and are working for a big client - the biggest Czech producer of weaving machines. We prepare the webpages and 3D visualization of their products for a big exhibition of textile equipment machinery in the USA which is scheduled for next month.
Our readers are always looking for new business opportunities. In which areas of your activities are you interested in attracting some partners, investments?
We would like to attract new clients to our services. We know the central European market, its specialities and its differences from markets elsewhere. If we reach the required financial goals, we will surely establish a good printing house as it is an area, where our partners are not flexible enough.
How do you see the future of Trilabit?
I see nothing but uninterrupted grouth potential. We have highly trained employees. We have the best state-of-the-art equipment. The market is huge. We have an edge on the competition, because of our foresight about what is needed to do the best work for our high profile clients. We have their respect. And, we have the dedication. Therefore, I am very confident about the future.
I like to joke and we are too serious all the time. I hope that you like the atmosphere in Trilabit and that you are satisfied with our services. Petra, the graphic designer and Mr. Nemecek enjoyed the job.
Do not take it too gravely, but we also came to interview you as business people, so could you give us a brief background of your professional experience. How did you come to the idea of creating Trilabit?
From the time that the communists were defeated I was engaged in a little bit of politics and more in journalism. I had been working in the Czechoslovak news agency as the deputy cheif. However, when Czechoslovakia split into two countries, I felt that I could not work for either country. It seemed that there was no place for me within their mutual nationalism.
I found solace in my original profession - film direction and worked in my friend´s company. Nevertheless I realized that I was not busy enough! I liked Macintoshes very much, so I bought one and that is how I started Trilabit.
I still make documentary films and am currently preparing a documentary series on the Czech Republic. It will have 54 parts and represents three years of work.
What has been your biggest achievement since you established Trilabit?
That I have started to make films again.
What would be your final message to our readers?
I will be serious now. We use the same equipment and same programs and equivalently educated people as is used in the United States and elsewhere in the industrialized world. The net of talented people is the same all over the world and that is why I think that we are able to satisfy the most complicated requirements of our customers.
They do not have to be afraid of Prague, we have telephones, we are dressed properly and we have Mac Donalds.
Well, my biggest problem is that our foreign customers have to communicate with our firm through my wife only!
.. That is why you are a good team as well . |
