The decision to re-name an established company is not one that any business owner takes lightly. But for FUEL client Gamut Productions, it was a natural outcome of the company’s determination to keep a sharp focus on the evolving photo reproduction industry it has served for the past 10 years.
Doug and Julie Blumer, co-owners of the company formerly known as Color Pro Digital, have anticipated and reacted to their industry’s changing nature throughout their careers. “Both of us came from photo lab backgrounds,” says Julie. “When the industry began to show signs that traditional photo printing was going to be replaced with digital, we decided to move forward and start our own digital imaging business.” Doug started the business in their home in 1998, and they officially launched Color Pro Digital in Hiawatha, Iowa, in 1999. “At the time there were no other photo labs in the area that were strictly digital,” Julie recalls.
With the company’s emphasis on personal service, attention to every aspect of its reproduction projects, and willingness to embrace the latest innovations in media and technology, Doug and Julie built a loyal and varied clientele. Today the business prints photos or other graphic digital files ranging in size from 4×5 inches to the mammoth 100-foot pieces that are used primarily for event exhibits or corporate trade shows. “We also work in the art community producing high-quality Giclée prints that artists are able to sell,” explains Julie. “The original art is digitally scanned and then printed on watercolor paper or canvas. We work mainly with artists on this service, but we also have publishers and corporate clients who use this.” The firm also offers high-quality photo retouching and restoration services.
The descriptive name Color Pro Digital served the upstart company well for many years, says Julie. “But as the company grew we wanted a name and look that represented what we had become and also could incorporate whatever the future might bring. We knew we needed professional help to accomplish what we were looking for,” she continues, “and we were very familiar with FUEL and their work, as they were a client of ours and we had seen what they had accomplished for other businesses.” Realizing the importance of making an impact at this critical juncture in the life of their company, the Blumers asked FUEL’s team of designers to create a forward-looking new name and visual identity for Color Pro Digital.