PIP Printing and Marketing Services-Iowa City

What PIP Printing and Marketing Services-Iowa City does

PIP Printing and Marketing Services-Iowa City is an independently owned and operated franchise print shop and sign company headquartered at 2650 Mormon Trek Boulevard in Iowa City, Iowa, serving the Iowa City and Johnson County area. The business provides a comprehensive suite of visual communication services including digital printing, screen printing, large-format signage, direct mail, marketing services, promotional products, and fulfillment/warehousing. Its core technology stack spans conventional print production (digital and screen printing) and large-format signage production, supplemented by an easyDOCS online customer portal for digital order and document management.

The company's go-to-market is local sales-led B2B, with direct customer engagement via phone, email, walk-in consultations, and online quote requests. Pricing is quote-based per project with no public pricing disclosure. Revenue derives from one-time project fees for printing and signage work, plus professional services revenue from direct mail campaign management, marketing consultation, and graphic design. The customer base is heavily skewed toward small and local businesses across multiple verticals including real estate, healthcare, education, nonprofits, government, restaurants, retail, and manufacturing. Named customers include Coe College's literary magazine The Pearl, All God's Creatures Animal Shelter, Clear Creek Lions Club, Iowa City Downtown District, Johnson County, City of Iowa City, Ardon Creek Vineyard & Winery, and Iowa Hearing.

The business leverages the broader PIP franchise brand for national marketing infrastructure, while operating locally with a 4.9/5 Google rating and word-of-mouth referrals as primary demand drivers. The franchise model provides brand recognition and operational templates, but the Iowa City location is independently owned with its own P&L. No revenue figures, headcount, or capital structure details are disclosed in the source data.

Name

PIP Printing and Marketing Services-Iowa City

Legal name

PIP Printing and Marketing Services

Website

https://pipic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PIP Printing and Marketing Services-Iowa City is an independently owned franchise print shop and sign company in Iowa City, IA, offering printing, signage, direct mail, marketing services, promotional products, and fulfillment to local small businesses across multiple verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Printing Services

NAICS

Printing (32311), Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Support Activities for Printing (32312)

SIC

Service Industries For The Printing Trade (2790), Services-Direct Mail Advertising Services (7331)

akta.pro primary industry

Printing & Copy Services Retail (CRALABAD)

Keywords

• Commercial printing services
• Sign production
• Direct mail marketing
• Promotional products
• Marketing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Iowa City, Iowa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Printing Services: One-time printing services for business cards, brochures, postcards, newsletters, manuals, flyers, and various printed materials. Revenue generated per job/project.
2. Sign Production: Custom sign design, production, and installation services including banners, vehicle graphics, ADA signs, digital LED signs, and building signage.
3. Direct Mail Services: Mailing services including standard direct mail, targeted direct mail, EDDM, list management, kitting, and fulfillment services.
4. Marketing Services: Marketing consultation, campaign management, social media services, video production, and website design services.
5. Promotional Products: Branded merchandise including apparel, uniforms, pens, bags, mugs, and promotional giveaways.
6. Fulfillment Services: Pick and pack, product fulfillment, inventory management, warehousing, and storage services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PIP Printing and Marketing Services-Iowa City is a local print shop and sign company providing commercial printing, custom sign design and installation, direct mail and mailing services, marketing consultation, promotional products, and order fulfillment. It serves businesses in the Iowa City and Johnson County area through a physical storefront, phone/email orders, and an online customer portal, handling projects from concept and design through production, mailing, and delivery.

Product overview

PIP Printing and Marketing Services-Iowa City is a local print shop and sign company offering a comprehensive suite of visual communication and marketing services. The portfolio includes core offerings in Signs (banners, vehicle wraps, ADA signs, digital LED, channel letter, and monument signs), Printing & Copying (brochures, business cards, direct mail, presentations, manuals, booklets, screen printing, and apparel printing), Direct Mail & Mailing Services (standard/targeted mail, EDDM, list management, kitting, fulfillment), and Marketing Services (campaigns, graphic design, social media, video production, website design). Additional offerings span Tradeshows & Events, Labels & Packaging, Promotional Products, and Fulfillment Services. The company also provides an easyDOCS online customer portal for order and document management. Industry-specific solutions are available for real estate, finance, healthcare, education, political, legal, restaurants, retail, and manufacturing sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Signs Sign design, production, and installation services for indoor and outdoor business visibility, including banners, vehicle graphics, ADA/window/wall/floor graphics, wayfinding, monument signs, digital LED signs, and channel letter signs. Targeted at local businesses needing physical signage.
• Printing & Copying Full-service commercial printing and copying including brochures, postcards, business cards, newsletters, flyers, presentations, manuals, catalogs, booklets, business forms, labels, decals, screen printing, poster printing, legal copying, and apparel printing. Targeted at local businesses and organizations that need professional printed materials.
• Direct Mail & Mailing Services Comprehensive mailing services including standard and targeted direct mail, Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM), list management, advanced mailing, kitting, and fulfillment. Targeted at local businesses and nonprofits running outreach or fundraising campaigns.
• Marketing Services Marketing consultation and campaign services including campaign management, social media services, video production, and website design. Targeted at local small and medium businesses seeking end-to-end marketing support beyond print.
• Graphic Design Professional graphic design services to turn a customer vision into final art files for print, signage, and digital use. Targeted at local businesses that need creative support for their projects.
• Tradeshows & Events End-to-end tradeshow and event support including booth graphics, banners, displays, promotional giveaways, signage, and booth storage/rental. Targeted at businesses exhibiting at or hosting local events.
• Labels & Packaging Label and packaging solutions including premium and private labels, product labels, stickers, decals, safety labels, short-run packaging, custom packaging, and corrugated shipping packaging. Targeted at manufacturers and businesses that need product labeling and packaging runs.
• Promotional Products Branded promotional items including apparel, uniforms, pens, bags, desk accessories, drinkware, gifts, awards, and related fulfillment and warehousing services. Targeted at businesses seeking branded merchandise for marketing, events, or employee use.
• Fulfillment Services Order fulfillment including pick and pack, product fulfillment, inventory management, marketing and sales kits, warehousing, storage, and promotional product distribution. Targeted at businesses that need outsourced kitting, storage, and distribution for marketing campaigns or product shipments.
• Industry Specific Solutions Specialized bundled solutions tailored for specific industries including real estate, finance, healthcare, education, political, legal, restaurants, retail, and manufacturing sectors. Targeted at local businesses in those verticals that need sector-specific print, signage, and marketing packages.

Named customers8 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Emerging players

• MOO: Online premium printing brand known for business cards, postcards, and marketing materials. Competes for design-conscious SMB orders that PIP might otherwise capture locally.
• Vistaprint (Cimpress): Leading online-only commercial printing platform offering business cards, signs, direct mail, and promotional products at scale. Competes with PIP on standard print jobs where customers prioritize price over local service.
• SignNow / Signs.com: Online custom sign and banner printing platform. Direct vertical competitor to PIP's sign production product line for SMBs willing to order online rather than through a local provider.

Broad incumbents

• The UPS Store: National franchise retail chain offering printing, copying, and document services alongside shipping. Competes for the small business and consumer print job that PIP also serves.
• Staples Print & Marketing Services: Major office superstore offering business printing, signs, banners, and marketing services. Competes on convenience and price for SMB printing demand in overlapping geographies.
• FedEx Office (formerly Kinko's): National printing and document services retailer owned by FedEx. Offers printing, copying, signage, and direct mail through company-owned retail locations, competing with PIP for the same walk-in SMB and consumer print volume.

Direct peers

• Minuteman Press: Large national franchise network of local print shops offering commercial printing, direct mail, signage, and marketing services to SMBs. Closest direct competitor in scale and franchise model.
• Sir Speedy: Sister franchise brand under the same parent (PIP/Sir Speedy/PEP) offering nearly identical printing, signs, and marketing services. Direct franchise competitor with the same franchisor infrastructure and overlapping SMB customers.
• Allegra Marketing Print Mail: National franchise network combining printing, marketing services, and direct mail under one roof. Directly comparable service mix and SMB target customer to PIP Iowa City.
• AlphaGraphics: National franchise printing and marketing services network targeting SMBs with print, signage, and direct mail. Direct franchise competitor in the same local-service segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/pipiowacity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSM_HxKzEqCwuU-0LLkHS5w/videos?view=0&sort=da&flow=grid
• Facebookfacebook.com/PIPIowaCity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pip-printing-and-marketing-services-iowa-city

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 PIP Printing and Marketing Services-Iowa City