What Nicholas Earth Printing does

Nicholas Earth Printing is a privately held, Houston-based B2B commercial printing company founded in 2003 by Marvin (Bob) Nicholas, a veteran and minority business owner who transitioned into print from a broadcast journalism career. The firm operates an integrated press platform spanning web, sheetfed, and digital production with full bindery, finishing, fulfillment, and mailing services, supported by multiple facilities linked through a high-speed virtual private network for redundancy and capacity flexibility.

Its product set covers commercial printing and marketing collateral (brochures, sell sheets, annual reports, postcards, posters, point-of-purchase displays), direct-mail production and mailing, packaging and inserts (including plastics/clings and shelf talkers), publication printing (newsletters, magazines, catalogs, magalogs), and specialty items (pocket folders, starter kits, countercards, notepads). Process technology emphasizes closed-loop color systems, GRACoL color management, virtual proofing claimed to reduce hardcopy proofing material usage by 80%, and Lean Sigma methodologies aimed at reducing paper, plate, and ink consumption. Sustainability credentials include FSC, SFI, and PEFC certifications and a LEED EB certified building.

The business model is a direct, consultative B2B sales motion targeting companies with recurring marketing, branding, and communications needs; pricing is custom quote-based per project on volume, paper, finishing, and mailing specifications. A 2020 strategic partnership with Mittera extends the offering into direct mail, data analytics, application development, design, photography, videography, strategic analysis, and digital/social marketing, positioning the firm as a multi-channel brand-execution partner rather than a pure print vendor. The company is family-operated, with Bob Nicholas as President and CEO and his four daughters involved in operations, with no disclosed institutional capital and a headcount in the 11–50 range.

Name

Nicholas Earth Printing

Legal name

Nicholas Earth Printing

Website

https://nicholasearth.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nicholas Earth Printing is a privately held, Houston-based B2B commercial printer founded in 2003, serving companies with marketing collateral, direct mail, packaging, and publication needs via web, sheetfed, and digital presses plus bindery and mailing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Printing Services

NAICS

Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111)

SIC

Commercial Printing (2750)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial & Offset Printing (Sheetfed/Web) (MPAJALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mailing, Inserting & Distribution Services (Addressing, Direct Mail, Kitting) (MPAJALAH)

Keywords

• Commercial printing services
• Digital press printing
• Direct mail services
• Bindery and finishing
• Packaging printing

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Commercial Printing Services: One-time transactional commercial printing services including annual reports, brochures, direct mail, envelopes, packaging, and various marketing materials. Full production capabilities with web, sheetfed, and digital presses, bindery, finishing, fulfillment, and mailing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nicholas Earth Printing provides comprehensive commercial printing services through an advanced network of web, sheetfed, and digital presses supported by full bindery, finishing, fulfillment, and mailing operations. The company produces marketing collateral (brochures, annual reports, postcards, posters), direct mail pieces, packaging and inserts, publications (newsletters, magazines, catalogs), and specialty printed items (folders, counter cards, notepads) for business customers across multiple Houston-area facilities linked by a high-speed virtual private network.

Product overview

Nicholas Earth Printing offers a unified commercial printing platform combining web, sheetfed, and digital press technologies with full bindery and finishing capabilities, fulfillment, and mailing services. Their core products fall into several categories: Commercial Printing Services (the foundational platform), Marketing Collateral Printing (brochures, sell sheets, annual reports, postcards, posters, point-of-purchase displays), Direct Mail Services (envelopes, business reply cards, mailing), Packaging and Insert Services (packaging, package inserts, plastics/clings, shelf talkers), Publication Printing (newsletters, magazines, catalogs, magalogs), and Specialty Printing (pocket folders, riser cards, starter kits, countercards, notepads). The company operates multiple facilities linked by a high-speed virtual private network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Printing Services Full-service commercial printing platform combining web, sheetfed, and digital presses with bindery, finishing, fulfillment, and mailing operations for business clients needing production of marketing and communication materials.
• Marketing Collateral Printing

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• MitteracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020This ongoing strategic partnership enhances Nicholas Earth's great service and expands the capabilities available to its customers. Nicholas Earth customers have access to a larger manufacturing platform, as well as services in direct mail; data analytics and reporting; application development; design; photography; videography; strategic analysis; and social and digital marketing. Mittera is a national leader in providing integrated services with print, creative, technology and data.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• DataPoint Media: Mid-market direct mail and integrated marketing services provider producing commercial print, direct mail, and digital marketing solutions for B2B customers. Comparable scale and direct-mail/print integration model.

Broad incumbents

• R.R. Donnelley: Major global commercial printer offering commercial printing, labels, packaging, and communications services. Same product categories (commercial printing, direct mail, fulfillment) at significantly greater scale and geographic reach.
• Xerox: Provider of digital printing equipment, production print services, and managed document services to enterprise customers. Comparable in digital production printing, document production, and B2B services, though at much larger scale.
• Deluxe Corporation: Established provider of marketing services, print, and financial packaging including direct mail, business forms, and promotional products. Comparable B2B commercial printing and direct mail capabilities.
• Cimpress / Vistaprint: Large-scale mass-customization printing platform serving small businesses and consumers with marketing materials, signage, and promotional products. Comparable product category but vastly larger scale, technology investment, and broader customer base spanning both B2B and B2C.
• LSC Communications: Commercial printing and publishing services company serving publishers, retailers, and merchandisers with magazines, catalogs, books, and direct mail. Comparable product categories and B2B commercial focus.
• Quad/Graphics: One of the largest commercial printing companies in North America, producing magazines, catalogs, retail inserts, direct mail, packaging, and marketing materials. Directly comparable products at national scale.

Direct peers

• Cenveo: Commercial printing company producing envelopes, business forms, labels, and commercial print products for B2B customers. Closely comparable mid-market commercial printing focus.
• Mittera: National integrated print, creative, technology and data services provider and Nicholas Earth's explicit strategic partner. Directly comparable as a commercial printer, but at significantly larger scale with broader capabilities including direct mail, data analytics, and digital marketing.

Others

• Heidelberg Druckmaschinen: Global manufacturer of printing presses, postpress equipment, and software for the commercial printing industry. Adjacent as the equipment supplier whose technology Nicholas Earth operates, providing ecosystem context for the printing trade.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nicholas Earth Printing