This article is to explain the Dackor color matching policies on how we develop prints and colors. As most people know, we offer 600 yard minimums on board matches that are in distribution as well as leathers however we require 1200 yard minimums at the time of this post for non board matches, pantone solid colors and most other items. We typically produce 2,000 yards our first production and then stock the remaining quantity thereafter. When we work with board producers we often stock with very little to zero requirement from our membrane pressing customers.

How do you match woodgrain designs?: There are two ways we match woodgrain designs, the first is via proprietary prints that we develop or that the paper company develop. The vast majority of Dackor woodgrains are items developed by paper companies such as Schattdecor, as an example. The second type of woodgrain is one in which we own the cylinder for that is similar enough the target match and have had for many years. We can determine within 48 hours if we have a print cylinder close enough or we need to seek the original design from the paper company.

What would constitute a cylinder being close enough to match? For prints such as oaks, maples, cherries as well as linear woodgrain prints we have an extremely large availability to choose from. It is very common that if the design is not unique that we already have a cylinder close enough to match. Sometimes we can even remove one of the cylinders from a three cylinder set to make it work or add a new cylinder to combine with the series.

Are there woodgrains you will not match? Yes. There are woodgrains we will not match. For example, if your woodgrain target has very specific sap marks or knots that are proprietary to the design we would need to reach out to the original paper producer to see if the PVC rights were available. If the rights are not available we then direct our clients to the competitor.

Are woodgrains patentable? In most of the world,  woodgrains designs are protectable however this has been extremely difficult in the US. We encourage our customers to purchase only original designs from us or our competitors however we recognize that alternative cylinders that give a close match in a Hard Rock Maple or basic Oak design, are completely acceptable.

Why are edgebanding companies able to match all? The reason edgebanding producers are able to match most items is because so little of the print is revealed.

How do you analyze if a print cylinder is close enough? We can look at a design and determine if the 3 cylinder set will work or can be complimented with an emboss that will help that color match. Through experience we know quickly if we are able to make a match for a project or specific client who is looking for better stock, more scratch resistance or whatever the reason. However, typically, we have a budget available to purchase rights and develop tooling with the original design, especially if the match is being done in cooperation with the board producer.

Do you do custom embosses? Yes , we will do custom embosses to match the board company's emboss but in a PVC emboss using emboss cylinders, not press plates.

I'm a board company, why should I partner with Dackor? Dackor has one of the largest inventories in the world of 3D forming laminate. Over 95% of our sales are done through warehouse and shipped within 3 days of the Purchase Order. In addition, we sample aggressively, market the designs to the market place and we do not sell paper which competes with the board companies.

I hope that the above was helpful and informative, please inquire with Dackor at 407-654-5013 for further questions.

We all want to grow business and sales management is one of the difficult tasks we all face. How do you communicate to your sales team how to reach their goals?

Although there are many aspects to success in sales , one of the most important is in organized activity. Many sales people spend a lot of time preparing, on their computers or in meetings yet fail to make enough touches with customers.  I'd like to propose you administrate a point system.

If we are talking about outside sales, imagine that you have a point system such as:
1 visit=10 points
1 successful call= 1 point
1 email= 0.25 points

The above point system means that just to maintain a basic, average day a person would need 30 points. To be above average they'd need 40 points, to be a sales winner they'd need 50 points and to be a sales whale they'd need 60 points per day. Below are some examples of successful sales days:

Monday:  paperwork, planning week, 10 calls, 8 emails: 12 points
Tuesday: 4 visits, 24 emails, 10 calls=  56 points
Wednesday: in office: 50 calls, 96 form emails, 12 personalized emails =78
Thursday: at tradeshow: 4 visits, 24 emails, 10 calls=  56 points
Friday: 3 visits, 12 emails, 10 calls = 45 points
Average 49

As you see from the above example, the person averages 49 points which makes them just shy of being a sales winner. Does this mean that the person cannot create success? No... But what it means is that they are active and digging for sales.

As sales professionals our goal is to combine quality with quantity the best we can. If you are only averaging 20 points to 30 points a week what are your changes to become a sales winner? However if you are averaging 60 points a week and working nights to organize your next day and weekends to catch up on emails imagine how much further ahead you can get. This doesn't mean that you must work so many hours but it does mean that if you go home at the end of the day and you look at a call volume of 10 calls and 12 email that you simply are not creating overwhelming action that will create success.

I hope that this post helps to motivate you and keep in mind that the points aren't exact, they are just representative of a bigger point.