The Colad Group
The Colad Group, founded in 1947 in Buffalo, NY, designs and manufactures custom binders, folders, boxes, mailers, sales kits, and POP displays for Fortune 500 companies, advertising agencies, universities, and professional sports teams across four East Coast facilities using offset and digital printing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1947
- HeadquartersBuffalo, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What The Colad Group does
The Colad Group, founded in 1947 and headquartered in Buffalo, New York, is a custom presentation and promotional packaging manufacturer operating as a division of Scott Lithographing. The company designs and produces custom binders (vinyl, Organic® recycled, reinforced paperboard, turned edge), folders, boxes and totes, mailers, sales kits, tabs and dividers, and point-of-purchase easels for Fortune 500 corporations, advertising agencies, publishers, professional sports teams, retailers, and the nation's top colleges and universities. Manufacturing is conducted across four East Coast facilities and combines offset and digital printing — most notably via a Xeikon 6000 digital press at 600 dpi with variable-data and versioning capabilities — alongside film lamination, die-cutting, embossing, foil stamping, UV coating, folding/gluing, turned edge case making, automated rigid packaging, and hand finishing. Patented construction styles and the trademarked Dynamic Digital Packaging™ platform underpin its personalization and on-demand manufacturing capability, with no minimum order quantity on digital production runs.
The business model is primarily project-based custom manufacturing with quote-based pricing and multi-year enterprise contracts; ancillary revenue includes Digital Design Services (websites, landing pages, PURL and QR campaigns) and unit-priced Raw Organic Binders® ($5.99 standard, $2.29 bulk). Go-to-market is consultative direct sales supported by dedicated account executives, production coordinators, and an in-house team of five full-time structural packaging engineers (multiple RIT alumni). Distribution channels are dual: direct enterprise sales for large custom programs and ThePaperWorker.com, a self-serve e-commerce storefront with 2-day production turnaround for smaller orders. Sustainable credentials (FSC and SFI chain-of-custody certifications, EPA Green Power Partner status via wind power, 900+ tons of paper scrap recycled in 2015) are positioned as a meaningful differentiator in environmentally-procured enterprise RFPs. The company is privately held, has between 101 and 250 employees, and does not disclose revenue or financial metrics.
The Colad Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Colad Group
- Legal name
- The Colad Group – A Division of Scott Lithographing
- Website
- https://thecoladgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1947
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Colad Group, founded in 1947 in Buffalo, NY, designs and manufactures custom binders, folders, boxes, mailers, sales kits, and POP displays for Fortune 500 companies, advertising agencies, universities, and professional sports teams across four East Coast facilities using offset and digital printing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Colad Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Custom Packaging Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing (322212), Printing and Related Support Activities (3231), Packaging and Labeling Services (561910)
- SIC
- Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Converted Paper & Paperboard Prods (No Contaners/Boxes) (2670)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Folding Carton & Paperboard Packaging Printing (IMALAKAH)
Keywords
Where The Colad Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Buffalo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Colad Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Binders and Presentation Packaging: One-time custom manufacturing of binders, folders, boxes, totes, mailers, sales kits, and POP displays. Products are custom-designed and manufactured to customer specifications with no minimum quantity requirements. Revenue generated from per-project orders for enterprise and corporate customers.
- Digital Design Services: Website design, landing pages, PURL campaign development, and QR code creation services that extend print messaging to digital platforms. These services complement the physical packaging products.
- Eco-Friendly Stock Binders: Pre-manufactured Raw Organic Binders sold at standard and bulk pricing ($5.99 standard, $2.29 bulk), offering faster turnaround for smaller quantity orders with no minimum quantity requirements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Raw Organic Binders - Standard pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Raw Organic Binders - Bulk pricing |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom Binders and Packaging - Project-based |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Colad Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Colad Group designs and manufactures custom presentation and promotional packaging — including custom binders, folders, boxes, totes, mailers, sales kits, tabs/dividers, POP easels, and CD/DVD/USB packaging — using offset and digital printing for enterprise customers with personalized and variable-data options. The company provides end-to-end project management from in-house structural design and prototyping through printing, post-press finishing, fulfillment, and USPS mailing, with no minimum order quantities.
Product overview
The Colad Group is a custom presentation and promotional packaging manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of customizable products. The core offerings include Custom Binders (in Vinyl, Organic®, Reinforced Paperboard, and Turned Edge varieties), Custom Folders, Custom Packaging, Custom Boxes & Totes, CD/DVD/USB Packaging, Custom Mailers, Custom Sales Kits, Custom POP Easels, and Custom Tabs & Dividers. These products are supported by Dynamic Digital Packaging™ technology enabling personalization, variable data, and versioning in printing. Complementary services include Digital Design Services (website design, landing pages, PURL campaigns, QR codes) and Client-Art FTP access. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Buffalo NY, Baltimore MD, and Atlanta, combining offset and digital printing capabilities with paperboard, corrugated, and rigid packaging mediums.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Dynamic Digital Packaging™: Digital packaging solutions enabling personalization of custom printed 3 ring binders, presentation folders, boxes, marketing kits, dimensional mailers, and a variety of packaging in paperboard, corrugated and rigid formats.
- Organic Binders®
- ThePaperWorker
Products and services
- Custom Vinyl 3 Ring Binders Versatile and economical custom vinyl ring binders personalized with logos, graphics, and text in any quantity with quick turnaround, manufactured for enterprise customers needing branded presentation materials.
- Custom Organic Binders® Eco-friendly binders made from 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard, available in Raw or Labeled variants with full-color printed eco-labels, FSC certified and manufactured using wind power.
- Reinforced Paperboard Binders SFI-certified eco-friendly custom paperboard binders with reinforced edges for superior durability, customizable with CD slots, business card pockets, and other features.
- Custom Turned Edge Binders Sturdy custom binders featuring film-laminated sheet wrapped around chipboard for smooth edges and high-end appearance, described as Colad's most popular binder style.
- Custom Tabs & Dividers Full-color custom printed tabs and dividers available in standard 'S' cut extensions or custom shapes, with variable data, versioning, or personalization capabilities and compatible with gloss, matte, or satin finishes.
- Custom Folders Custom presentation folders, including the reinforced '1100' model holding 8.5x11 inserts with two inside pockets, available with foil stamping, embossing, debossing, spot UV coating, and personalization options.
- Custom Packaging Custom dimensional promotional packaging including custom binders, folders, mailers, totes, boxes, and sales kits in paperboard, corrugated, and rigid formats.
- Custom Boxes & Totes Custom boxes and totes combining paperboard, corrugated, and rigid packaging mediums with offset and digital printing capabilities for special delivery presentations.
- CD, DVD & USB Packaging Creative custom boxes and packaging for CDs, DVDs, USB thumb drives, flash drives, software, and media, with branding opportunities and personalization via Dynamic Digital Packaging™.
- Custom Mailers Custom dimensional mailers with personalization options, supported by complete USPS mailing capabilities from Buffalo, NY and Baltimore, MD facilities.
- Custom Sales Kits Custom sales kits combining offset and digital capabilities with paperboard, corrugated, and rigid packaging, enhanced with personalization, variable data, and versioning.
- Custom POP Easels Professional freestanding custom point-of-purchase displays providing continued exposure for sales and marketing messages, with options for foil stamping, embossing, spot UV coating, and unique materials.
- Digital Design Services Digital services including website design, landing pages, PURL campaign development for personalized printed pieces integrated with web, and QR coding/links for mobile engagement.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 99% of customers would recommend Colad to a colleague
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Colad Group
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Colad Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The Colad Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Scott LithographingcoreThe Colad Group operates as A Division of Scott Lithographing. This parent company relationship provides additional manufacturing capabilities and resources for the custom packaging business.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Colad Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- 4over: Trade-only commercial printing marketplace offering broad print products to resellers and agencies. Competes with Colad on price-sensitive print and packaging orders via a digital-first, instant-quoting model.
- Taylor Corporation: Large diversified printing and marketing services conglomerate with custom packaging, direct mail, and personalization capabilities. Broader and larger player; competes with Colad on enterprise custom print and packaging contracts.
- Toppan Merrill: Large-scale printing, packaging, and communications solutions provider serving regulated and enterprise markets. Overlaps with Colad on custom packaging production for large national accounts at significantly greater scale.
- Allegra Network (Marketing Solutions Group): Franchise network of independent marketing and printing service providers producing custom print, signage, and packaging for SMB and mid-market customers. Competes with Colad at the smaller-order end of the market.
- Cenveo: Diversified printing, packaging, and label manufacturer with custom and promotional product lines. Operates at significantly larger scale than Colad and overlaps in custom packaging and printed marketing materials for enterprise customers.
Direct peers
- Bind-Rite Solutions (Curtis 1000): Custom binders, presentation products, and printed packaging for enterprise and institutional customers. Closest like-for-like competitor to Colad in custom binders, folders, and sales kits with overlapping Fortune 500 customer base.
- Walsworth: Family-owned printing and custom products company with binder and presentation packaging offerings alongside yearbooks and commercial print. Overlaps with Colad in custom binder manufacturing for institutional and corporate customers.
- American Solutions for Business: Distributor and custom producer of print, signage, promo, and packaging materials for enterprise accounts. Competes with Colad for custom printed marketing materials, sales kits, and branded presentation packaging.
- Lahlouh: Full-service printing, packaging, and fulfillment company offering custom boxes, mailers, kits, and marketing collateral. Comparable in-house design-to-fulfillment model serving enterprise marketing departments in the same niche Colad targets.
- Cushing & Company: Custom manufacturer of binders, portfolios, and presentation packaging for corporate, education, and association markets. Direct competitor to Colad's binder, folder, and presentation packaging lines with comparable custom-engineered product positioning.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Colad Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Colad Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
The Colad Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Colad Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Colad Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Colad Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Colad Group
What does The Colad Group do?
The Colad Group designs and manufactures custom presentation and promotional packaging — including custom binders, folders, boxes, totes, mailers, sales kits, tabs/dividers, POP easels, and CD/DVD/USB packaging — using offset and digital printing for enterprise customers with personalized and variable-data options. The company provides end-to-end project management from in-house structural design and prototyping through printing, post-press finishing, fulfillment, and USPS mailing, with no minimum order quantities.
Is The Colad Group a public or private company?
The Colad Group is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Colad Group founded?
The Colad Group was founded in 1947. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The Colad Group based?
The Colad Group is headquartered in Buffalo, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Colad Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom Binders and Presentation Packaging is the primary driver. The others are digital Design Services and eco-Friendly Stock Binders.
Who are The Colad Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are 4over, Taylor Corporation, Toppan Merrill, Allegra Network (Marketing Solutions Group) and Cenveo. Direct peers are Bind-Rite Solutions (Curtis 1000), Walsworth, American Solutions for Business, Lahlouh and Cushing & Company.
Does The Colad Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Colad Group.
What industry is The Colad Group in?
The Colad Group's product category is Custom Packaging Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAKAH, Folding Carton & Paperboard Packaging Printing. Its NAICS code is 322212 and its SIC code is 2650.