The seeds of Communicorp, Inc. started over fifty years ago as a vehicle to provide Aflac headquarters and field force offices with business cards, letterhead, and brochures. The concept quickly grew to an internal print shop chartered in 1981 to the Georgia-based corporation it is today with locations in Columbus and Atlanta, with a presence throughout Georgia.

“Today, Communicorp has nearly 200 employees, operating out of three locations in Columbus and Atlanta, GA, and provides a variety of solutions-based marketing and promotional services to Aflac and many other Fortune 500 companies,” says Eric Seldon, President and CEO of Communicorp and Senior Vice President of Aflac.

Being named a Best Workplace in the Americas in a 2013 competition means that those 200+ employees are happy employees—something Seldon remarks is a top priority of Communicorp. “Our commitment to our team members continues to be, ‘Providing a great place to work.’ Our leadership team knows and understands the value of taking care of our employees, as the employees inevitably take care of the business,” Seldon shares. 

Taking care of their employees translates to quality service for their customers, which comprises of not only Aflac but several other FORTUNE 500 brands. Seldon says, “Being a wholly owned subsidiary of Aflac means that when customers work with Communicorp, they are backed by the stability and track record of a company that is No. 118 on the FORTUNE 500, enabling more tools and resources to get things done, more buying power in sourcing products, and one of the most respected names in business today. 

So how did Communicorp reach this level of success? Seldon credits the forethought of Aflac with laying the groundwork. “In 1967, Aflac saw what was possible,” Seldon says, and since incorporation, “We have grown steadily and smartly over three decades to become an industry leader with design-to-delivery capabilities, ISO certification, and some of the most impressive tools. We are at the forefront of new technologies, able to deliver everything from eCommerce storefronts to augmented reality. We are rapidly adding new capabilities–-especially in the emerging and high demand arena of marketing automation. We have taken a lead in our industry, and we are committed to extending it even further.”

That growth led to a banner 2013 with the Best Workplace recognition along with the opening of their newest facility, the Communicorp Customer Experience Center. They combined two bulk fulfillment centers to streamline and add more space for their ever-growing company. Seldon shares another noteworthy milestone, stating, “We successfully implemented our most innovative pieces of equipment, the HP W7250 (digital web press), into production. This new press enabled an increase of capacity potential by 75 to 100% to support our consistent, double-digit growth in the digital print area, while increasing efficiencies and reducing costs, which we can pass on to our customers. It also helped improve quality beyond a near perfect rate, with the equipment’s in-line folding and finishing capabilities.”

This innovation is what helps set them apart from their competitors large or small, summed up by their slogan, ‘See What More You Can Do,’ which drives their customer service philosophy. “Our team members don’t just take orders—they proactively bring fresh ideas, smart insights, and critical thinking to any project. We conduct a possibilities review for every job that comes through the door and bring in a creative strategist on all the major projects. Our clients appreciate this approach,” Seldon says.

Of course, a successful 2013 doesn’t guarantee results in 2014, so Communicorp’s commitment for this year is “Focus. Our mantra is ‘Focus on You’—whether ‘you’ are the customer, the employee, or another party of interest,” says Seldon.

Part of this focus will be to evaluate their IT infrastructure and determine if an enterprise solution is the right fit for their business. To address this area, Seldon explains, “We brought new talent to the organization that is now spearheading efforts to evaluate the infrastructure and develop the strategy for an integrated, enterprise-level system to take our operation to the next level.”

In addition, Communicorp has spent the past few years refining and progressing their long-term strategy to become a fully integrated Marketing Solutions Provider (MSP). “This is a pivotal year in the strategy—one which we’ve deemed as our ‘year of arrival’—so we’ve focused all efforts on our internal strategic pillars that will enable us to concentrate on what matters most to accomplish our organizational goals,” Seldon says.

Seldon also shares advice for marketing concepts that helped Communicorp become—and remain—successful. “Know your audience and target your message to specific segments whenever you can. It doesn’t matter if you are sending a message to prospects, existing customers, or even your employees—you have to target your message to the respective audience. It may seem like common sense to a marketer because it is such a fundamental component; to everyone else it can be easily overlooked,” he advises.

To find out more, visit communicorp.com.

Communicorp is a premier full-service provider of print and marketing services. Based in Columbus, Georgia and a wholly owned subsidiary of Aflac Incorporated, the company provides solutions in creative development, commercial printing, digital printing, merchandise, fulfillment, digital photography, Giclée prints, digital asset management and e-commerce to numerous Fortune 500 companies and others, both in the United States and abroad. Clients have come to fully rely on Communicorp’s scale, scope and expertise through a comprehensive range of variable printing services and market-specific solutions.

Shawndra Russell is a writer and social media educator for businesses, professionals and college students with the intent of stopping outdated me! me! me! marketing. Her latest works are 51 Ways to Help Your Social Media Manager Crush It! And How to Become a Freelance Writer in 30 Days. Read about her services and projects at shawndrarussell.com and connect with her on Twitter and Google+.