The story of how I mastered my first 'lion’. And then there were more…
Nothing is given to us from the beginning. As thinking beings, humans are compelled to learn on their own. We possess cognitive abilities, so we should be capable of acquiring new skills. We learn from mistakes, often at the expense of others, but therein lies the learning process. To truly excel at something, we must learn it… through practical examples. Well, it all started with that first lion. I mention him today with a smile on my face, but back then, there was nothing to laugh about…
I was very fortunate with the first lion.
The first major „lion” I was able to win over was today’s basketball team Anwil from Włocławek, back then still known as „Zakłady Azotowe Włocławek”. That was a long time ago, in 1998, but I remember the details of this project as if it were yesterday.
The work was urgent and demanding as usual, with the printing job practically needing to be completed „yesterday.” Creativity was especially sought after. We printed materials for an outdoor event including flyers, brochures, cardboard hats, posters and more. In addition to these items the customer also ordered flags. At that time we did not yet have the appropriate machinery for flag production, so we subcontracted the task to an external contractor. It was a certain risk, as we had only recently met the company at a trade show. Nonetheless, we had to trust them.
Everything seemed to be going according to plan until it started to rain. The lettering on the flags began to smear. Fortunately, by that time, the event was already over, but it still tested my nerves.
That was the beginning of my long-standing acquaintance with Mrs. Anna. Initially, I hadn’t anticipated it evolving beyond a one-time collaborative project, but the future unfolded in a different manner. Mrs. Anna from the marketing department of „Zakłady Azotowe” highly appreciated our commitment and suggested further collaboration.
The Second lion and lifelong learning
Mrs. Anna moved to Warsaw after some time and started working at Ferrero. Obviously, she trusted me because she began placing printing orders with me. This was already the second lion, and it was even more demanding. Can you imagine how difficult it is to print a specific color like that of Nutella?
I was lucky to work closely with Mrs. Anna. She was an extremely ambitious woman who held herself to high standards and expected the same from others. I learned a lot from her. I learned how important it is to get the job done on time, but even more importantly to do it well.
I remember struggling greatly to meet the deadline because I received the production files late. Not everything was within my control, but ultimately I was responsible for the project’s outcomes. It was crucial for me to complete the production of the advertising banners on time since the promotion in stores was set to start on Monday. During the laminating process, I didn’t wait for the appropriate amount of time, contrary to the recommended technique and it resulted in a disaster. The advertising banners warped like baroque sculptures. Even though I managed to finish on time, the product wasn’t suitable for display in the store. It dawned on me that I had missed my chance.
I wanted to be honest and showed Mrs. Agnieszka what had happened. I was rightfully criticized. Then I heard:
Remember, if you’re a day late, I’ll know it, just like my boss will. The boss will call me, and I’ll get into trouble. The advertising banners will be used in stores for the promotion for two weeks. But if you mess up, like you did now, the whole company will find out, and you’ll be in trouble.
And that’s exactly how it turned out. But after some time, there were new orders and as an experienced specialist I was in demand once again.
I learned to think like my customer.
That may sound funny, but with Mrs. Anna I literally went hand in hand into business. When she started at Johnson & Johnson, she took me along. Mastering my third lion. For this company, we printed stands, toppers, discount boxes, wobblers, displays, and so on. That was the moment when I learned how crucial it is to precisely understand what my customer wants. Therefore, I decided to approach the topic differently. I learned which O.B. tampons are best for the beginning of the womens period and which ones are suitable for the end and why. I knew the answer to why wings are on Carefree liners and could highlight them on the display as well. I felt like thinking as my customer did.
Third time’s the charm… then it gets easier.
And so it was. Mrs. Anna changed her employer and started at GlaxoSmithKline. That’s when I mastered my fourth lion. I was already trained to meet high expectations and knew how to take care of them. For GSK, we introduced print materials with many embellishments like selective UV varnish and hot foil stamping. We also produced BMI wheels, bookmarks, and similar items. After working for Ferrero, J&J, and GSK, it wasn’t as difficult to gain the trust of other challenges like Lorenz, PoloMarket, Atlas, Polfarmex, and others.
They say I’m the 'King of Static’.
Currently, we’ve introduced LED-UV printing and are printing the majority of electrostatic stickers in Poland.
Almost all pharmaceutical companies order these through advertising agencies or print brokers directly from us. They call me the King of Static, and I’m very proud of it. It all started with mastering the first lion, and the others followed as if it were entirely natural.
Therefore, I can say, like Steve Kaplan:
I know how lions think, what they feel, how they behave…, because I’ve been working with them for many years.
Janusz Józef Kunke
Do you have any questions?
Jakub Różański
jakub@kunkeprinting.com
+48 723 244 407
Anna Dzieł
anna.dziel@kunke.pl
+48 665 505 556
Kunke Poligrafia Sp. z o.o.
ul. Magazynowa 27
88-100 Inowrocław
POLAND
NIP PL 556 272 99 67