THE VCE PRINT SHOP at the Powhatan Correctional Center has 70 inmate employees, and 25 printing presses. "But until you've won the customer's trust," cautions manager Steven Palmese, "you don't have anything."

Lately Palmese has been on a personal mission to please. He tries to turn jobs around in record time. He and salesman Dewain Hammond visit clients and introduce themselves. They phone after many deliveries to make sure every aspect of the job went well--because, says Palmese, "if a customer doesn't like something, he may never say anything to you about it, but then you won't hear from him again either."

So far the personal touch seems to be working. Quality is consistent, business has increased--and equally important to Palmese and his staff--the inmates take pride in what they do. Print shop jobs are much in demand within the VCE system because the skills the inmates learn translate easily into well-paying careers outside the prison walls. Palmese says an average of ten men compete for each available job that comes open.

Inmates are not the only ones to benefit. "A lot of our customers are not knowledgeable about buying printing," he says, "so I try to help explain." Palmese must have a lot of good customers, judging from VCE's rapidly increasing volume of orders: custom-printed letterheads and envelopes, Kraft envelopes and brochures, and of course, dozens of different government forms. Other good clients include the ABC Board, State Police, Department of Taxation, and numerous colleges and universities. 

Meanwhile, Palmese is out scouting new clients with his three-step ticket to success: quality, service and cost control. So if you are looking for a better print job at a lower cost, he wishes you'd call him. 

The Print Shop number is 804-598-4251 extension 4415 or 4417.