Sprecher Brewing unveils award-winning digital office

Sprecher Brewing unveils award-winning digital office

Glendale, Wis. – Randy Sprecher can now enjoy an award-winning office as he oversees the manufacturing of his company’s award-winning beers and sodas.

“The Before” – As appealing as a warm, flat pint of ale, Sprecher Brewing Co.’s offices were in dire need of new document technology and a fresh, bright look. Before the team from Xerox Corporation and Entrepreneur magazine’s “Most Deserving Small Business” makeover contest began their work, the office was dark, dingy and desperate for organization and a design facelift.

A complete office redesign, including installation of the latest digital office technology, has been completed for his Sprecher Brewing Co. – a redesign he earned for winning the dubious honor of “Most Deserving Small Business” for an office makeover.
The makeover was part of Xerox Corp.’s and Entrepreneur magazine’s office makeover contest.
The makeover let Sprecher Brewing ditch its dark-paneled walls, unproductive printers and shabby chairs at its suburban Milwaukee facility. It now boasts state-of-the-art Xerox document systems, colorful and comfortable interiors designed by Thom Filicia of NBC/Bravo’s Emmy Award-winning show Queer Eye, and all new office furniture from The HON Co.
Sprecher Brewing earned the “Most Deserving Small Business” title in July. While the company has been focused on giving back to its community and succeeding as a microbrewery and maker of gourmet sodas, the company’s office environment was largely left behind. In just two weeks, crews transformed the dark, dreary office into a productive, inviting and exciting workspace. The newly renovated office was revealed Wednesday morning on NBC’s Today Show.

A boost for morale, productivity

“As a small-business owner, I don’t have time to focus on our office space and work processes,” said Sprecher, founder and president of the company. “Winning this contest and seeing the change in our environment, I realize what an impact it will have. This is really going to increase morale in the office, and the new technology from Xerox will help us communicate better and work more productively.”
After evaluating the brewery’s office work processes, Xerox provided a combination of color and black-and-white printers and multifunction systems, Xerox flat-panel computer monitors, a Xerox digital projector and various software and content management programs. Among the products installed are a Xerox WorkCentre Pro 128 advanced multifunction system that prints, copies, faxes and scans, and a WorkCentre M20i basic multifunction system.
Previously, Sprecher’s employees designed bottle labels, packaging, advertising and signage using a slow, expensive inkjet printer to proof the artwork. With a new 35 ppm Xerox Phaser 7750 color laser printer, the design team can proof their color creations immediately and inexpensively, right in their office.
“By uncovering bottlenecks in Sprecher’s work processes and bringing multifunction capabilities and color into their office, we can help them save time, cut costs and grow their business,” said Michael C. Mac Donald, Xerox’s chief global marketing officer.
To help the brewery digitally file all of the existing mismanaged paperwork, Xerox installed its DocuShare software, a secure, Web-based document and content management system used by small-to-medium sized businesses like Sprecher, as well as larger enterprises. DocuShare will help Sprecher organize and archive files such as the company’s charitable contribution records; track document versions for artwork and marketing materials; and boost collaboration among office employees and sales people in the field, Sprecher said.

Office gets a facelift, too

“The After” – In addition to the Xerox Phaser 7750 color laser printer and the Xerox flat-screen monitors, a digital projector and DocuShare software, the office also received a design overhaul from Thom Filicia, interior design specialist from the hit show “Queer Eye,” and new office furniture from The HON Company.

In addition to the technology boost, interior design specialist Filicia and a team from his design firm, Thom Filicia Inc., gave the office a facelift.
Incorporating Sprecher’s logo colors, the office now has light-yellow walls and red carpet that make the office brighter and livelier, complemented by softer overhead lighting and more natural light. The design also incorporates pieces of Sprecher’s heritage. Vintage Milwaukee artwork adorns the walls, and bowls of malted barley decorate employees’ desks.
Filicia’s team created an executive suite area, complete with raised 12-foot ceilings, a conference room and three executive offices.
And throughout the entire office, a mish-mash of furniture has been replaced with new furniture from The HON Co.
“Working with Thom Filicia, we focused on providing Sprecher with a comfortable yet efficient work space,” said Dave Burdakin, president of The HON Co. ”
Additional support for the office makeover was provided by Digital Office Solutions Inc., InterfaceFLOR, Omtool Ltd. and Room & Board.