- 0:01 From buyer to speaker: a one-year transformation
- 0:53 Introducing Visions Inc., founded in 1985
- 1:26 A challenge to the room: what's your differentiator?
- 1:50 Coining "extrasensory print" for digital enhancement
- 2:08 Watching sales reps demo Scodix to excited customers
- 2:33 Raised surfaces, multiple foils, metallic texture in action
- 3:06 Case study: the 3M product launch
- 3:56 Case study: a jewelry client's direct mail piece
- 4:18 Direct mail response rates on the rise
- 5:36 New markets, better ROI, technology leadership
- 6:00 The Scodix partnership philosophy
Scodix Customer Story - Visions Inc.
Otto of Visions Inc. describes a rapid transformation: a year earlier, he was a purchaser being courted by both HP and Scodix, each hoping his company would choose their equipment and worried the budget wouldn’t stretch to both. Visions Inc. found a way to do both, installing an HP 12000 and a Scodix Ultra in the same year and building what Otto calls one of the most sophisticated digital press rooms in the Upper Midwest. Founded in 1985, Visions Inc. is a Native American owned, diverse supplier delivering across the United States and Canada, with a footprint that reaches further internationally than the company always realizes.
The Solution
Visions Inc. branded its digital embellishment work as “extrasensory print,” capturing the idea that Scodix brings images to life and creates a new kind of connection with customers. Otto describes watching sales reps return from client demos excited because customers reacted so strongly to raised surfaces, layered foils, and metallic textures they could see and feel, not just look at.
Two examples anchor the pitch. When 3M needed to make a splash for a new product launch and didn’t know how, Visions Inc. happened to have its Scodix machine freshly installed, with the install team still on-site, and used it to produce a diamond-pattern textured sample. That sample won the project outright, leading to an order for 250 sales kits. Separately, a jewelry client asked for something to differentiate their direct mail; Visions Inc. added texture and dropped in flecks of foil so the piece glimmered when the page turned. The client’s response, quoted directly: “You have our business from now on.”
The Result
Otto reports that direct mail enhanced with Scodix is driving measurably higher response rates for clients, evidence, in his framing, that an enhanced piece delivers real added value compared to a flat, unenhanced one. Beyond individual wins, Scodix has opened new markets for Visions Inc., improved their ROI, and brought in business that wouldn’t have come to them otherwise, positioning the company as a technology leader in their market. Otto also credits Scodix’s own support philosophy, describing a partner invested in customer success after the sale, quick to respond if equipment goes down, rather than a vendor that disappears once the purchase is made.
The Result: From Flat Print to "Extrasensory" Experience
Texture and foil turned a flat printed piece into a direct mail win, and a client relationship that started with “we love this” and ended with “you have our business from now on.”
“Direct mail has got life. It’s opening up markets, and it’s getting people excited about print again.”
FAQs
What does "extrasensory print" mean?
It’s a term coined by Visions Inc. to describe digital enhancement with Scodix, print that goes beyond the visual, incorporating raised texture, multiple foils, and tactile effects so customers can feel the piece, not just see it.
Can Scodix enhancement improve direct mail response rates?
According to Visions Inc., yes. They report that enhancing direct mail with texture and foil delivers added value over a flat, unenhanced piece, contributing to rising response rates for their clients.
Does Scodix work well for short print runs?
Yes. Visions Inc. notes that foil and texture effects don’t require long runs, foil in particular is described as taking on new life for short-run applications, making Scodix flexible even for smaller, targeted print jobs.
What kind of support can print businesses expect after purchasing Scodix equipment?
Visions Inc. describes Scodix’s approach as partnership-driven: the company works to ensure customers succeed after the sale, responding quickly if equipment issues arise so operations can keep running.