LAPLACE — In 10 years of local operation, Advanced Marketing & Promotions of LaPlace has grown from a 700 square foot office space to a 5,000 square foot full service print shop servicing St. John the Baptist Parish and beyond.

A recent relocation to 75 Dominican Drive, Suite 102 in LaPlace doubled space for additional printing equipment, according to co-owner Wayne Vicknair.

“It changes the entire game,” Vicknair said. “When we were in our previous 2,300 square foot space on Cambridge, we were cramped. We’ve now added another printer, allowing us to grow.”

Advanced Marketing & Promotions has a strong reputation in St. John the Baptist Parish and is guided by the motto, “If you think it, we can ink it.”

The shop offers design, direct mail marketing and specialty printing for brochures, letterheads, T-shirts, posters and promotional products including pens, cups, koozies and more.

Local authors can print and market their novels without leaving the Parish, according to Vicknair.

Competitive pricing with big-box brands quickly adds up to large savings in bulk orders, he said, adding AMP services come with guaranteed quality control checks and stellar service.

“If you call during business hours, somebody will answer,” Vicknair said. “I am a big proponent of the Disney mentality. When an employee answers the phone, they are representing our company. That’s how I was raised, with the mentality that customers are very important and hard to come by.”

The business put down roots in 2008, after Vicknair, a LaPlace native, left a sales manager position in Harahan. He and office manager Erica Wright started outsourcing brochures, activity books and other print materials geared toward substance abuse prevention.

It didn’t take long for local business owners to contact Vicknair in search of promotional printing services.

Graphic design artists and a writer joined the team, and, in 2011, a partnership with co-owner Jeff Buras brought the print shop world to Advanced Marketing & Promotions.

Primo Prevention and sister company Elite Fire Prevention are still part of Vicknair’s business on a national scale, though local business is solely through AMP.

The long-term goals for AMP, according to Vicknair, are to increase revenue, double the staff and eventually own a building.

“It’s been a huge jump in the past 10 years, and sales have grown 30 to 40 percent in just the last five,” Vicknair said. “We’re right where we want to be to take it to the next level.”

Vicknair attributes business success to talented team members.

Buras, Wright, art director Dawn Folse, graphic designer/sales representative Taylor Graham, production manager/writer Elise Hemstad, sales representatives Ali Vicknair and Kristin Bybee and warehouse worker Steve Jones work together to guide clients from concept to creation.

According to Folse, customers are pleasantly surprised at the quick turnaround time, which generally ranges from one to five days.

“The amount of experience we have in printing and advertising sets us apart,” Folse said. “We’re really happy to work here. Our owners are very motivated and excellent at their jobs.”

Vicknair also gives kudos to St. John Parish government offices, the Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office for consistent support.

For more information, call 985-359-7848 or visit Advanced Marketing & Promotions on Facebook.