The core operations of the Hirt & Carter group are focused around the origination, production and distribution of printed material - but appearances can be deceptive.
Although the company looks and sounds like a printer, it has a completely different offering to everyone else.
It looks at the entire system in order to reduce costs, work faster and enhance effectiveness; its core competency is the use of unique systems and processes to manage the entire print communication process, from origination to final distribution, while adding value at every stage.
The operating units use state-of-the-art systems, processes and technology to provide end-to-end service offering that is unique in South Africa.
The Hirt & Carter group:
- Uses market innovation, technology and trend monitoring;
- Is active at every link in the production chain;
- Makes it easy for clients to select from among our offerings;
- And solves problems to build client loyalty.
Some “Firsts”
The company was founded in 1964 in Cape Town, now has offices in Durban and Johannesburg, has a long history of technology innovation and “firsts”, and for many years has dominated premedia and digital printing in South Africa.
- It has been at the forefront in SA on every major technological change in our industry;
- It wrote and developed the country’s first truly integrated retail control system (used by two of South Africa’s three major retail chains);
- It has a history of forging major long-term partnerships – it has worked with Spar for 30 years, Shoprite for 17 years, Clicks for 16 years, and Mr. Price for 13 years;
- It led the way in the switch from analog to digital premedia;
- It led the way in a major switch to digital printing;
- It is moving to capitalise on the world trend towards outsourcing to key partner suppliers.
What We Do – Originate
- We write specialised software control systems that help manage print communications for key, large clients;
- We have digital photography facilities in all three major urban centres;
- We have unrivalled pre-media expertise
- We own and operate the country’s biggest and best national retail image libraries – QuickCut and DDS;
- We are specialists in the design and production of Point Of Purchase material;
- We offer a unique retail tracking facility called Digital Advertising Service (DAS), which offers a daily analysis of retail advertising.
What We Do – Produce
- Printed products in many categories – catalogs, flyers, billboards, signage, mall dressing, point of sale material using many different print technologies;
- In-store electronic messaging and signage;
- Video and radio production via Red Pepper.
What We Do – Deliver
- We handle national and international distribution for retailers, both physical and electronic;
- We manage a national electronic print advertising delivery system called PageStore;
- We provide direct digital links to major publishers, offering better speed and lower costs;
- We offer national and international electronic delivery;
- We have our own IT staff to maintain national networks, and develop and maintain our specialized and niched software.
What We Do – Outsource
- We act as print “ombudsman” for clients who require print solutions we cannot provide in-house;
- Provide in-store/in-house software control solutions, particularly for large retail clients;
- We provide account management by experts in our particular niches;
- We link with “Best of breed” supplier partners;
- We manage outsourced work to provide a complete solution for clients as part of our systems approach.