Ink's in our blood.
We live and breathe print. We've been doing it for close to a century now.
As a team of dedicated print specialists, we get really excited seeing blank, raw material become beautiful pieces of artful communication that go out to you and your customers, giving them your message in the best way possible.
Beneath our office floors is a print room thrumming with the latest printing technology. We won't bore you with model numbers and sheet outputs. But we will say that our incredible machines are a far cry from the hand-fed printing press Lt. Colonel Fred Soar operated from his Onehunga print shop back in 1920.
Every challenge that comes our way is solved from the positive energy and creative thinking of our team, who are constantly coming up with new ideas to improve the way we work. While we love our machines, our people are our greatest asset.
It would be fair to say that we like where we are. Big enough to do a great job, but small enough to keep things personal with our clients. In fact many of them say that once they have had the Soar experience, they'd never go back. We'll take that as a compliment.
Philosophy
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As a family-run business spanning three generations, we've seen a lot of printing trends come and go. So you think this would mean were stuck in our ways? Far from it. We thrive because we're future-focused, stay ahead of the pack and always find new ways to give our customers what they really need.
One example of our future-focused philosophy is Ebusiness, our online print management service. Our corporate customers reap all the benefits of speed and convenience with 24 hour access from any web-connected device.
Sustainability is another way we're focussing on the future, and it's not a word we take lightly. We've worked hard, extremely hard, to make our business as environmentally sound as possible. Our paper comes from responsibly-managed forestry schemes, we use inks that are 99% vegetable based, and we have a fully-certified environmental management system that maximises energy efficiency and greatly minimises waste.
Soar's sustainability initiatives have been recognised with a raft of accreditations and rewarded with the country's most prestigious awards, including becoming the first-ever 'Supreme Winner' in the Sustainable 60 awards. We were up against some of New Zealand's biggest corporate companies. For us this was an epic win.
We also believe that what goes around comes around. A well-worn phrase perhaps, but one that has seen us through over the decades. Our sponsorship programme invests in the future of local communities, with the active support and involvement of our entire staff.
Our Values
We won't stand still.We work with best-in-class technology and are welcoming and fast to adapt to future innovation and market trends.
This one's about not resting on our laurels, embracing new stuff and being prepared to change. As they say, only dead fish go with the flow.
Craft and pride.We may have flash machinery, but the team who run our shop are all craftspeople. Thanks to them, blank paper comes in and amazing things go out.
The machinery can't do it all. Printing still depends on skilled people who take pride in their work. Soar's people see themselves as part of a respected trade that started around 5000 years ago.
Details, details, details.Our world is measured in microns and dots of ink, so we pay attention to the details or else. We value our ever-evolving process and the discipline it gives us.
Close enough isn't good enough. Our reputation and the loyalty of our customers depends on our ability to get things right. We must sweat the small stuff.
Fair play. Fair price, fair wage. Live by the commit date. Mistakes get fixed fast and with no fuss. Straight shooters.
Being good is good for business. We ask our people to listen to their conscience, because it will guide them to do the right thing. New Zealand's a village and word gets around.
People matter. We will always take the extra step to serve our customers, our workmates and our community. No hospital passes.
This means slipping into our customers' shoes at every opportunity, so that we can appreciate their needs and point of view. Good karma.
Sustainability matters. No, really! We care about the world we live in. We do the right thing for our business, our community, our planet and for future generations. We don't just talk the talk, we walk the talk.
We've always been aware of the danger of green wash, which means saying you're eco, when you're really not. Our sustainability practices go deep down and they're backed up by certifications. Nobody in the print industry is doing sustainability better than us.
Our History
Meet the family: three generations of Soar
Soar Printing is one of Auckland's oldest family enterprises. Established in 1920, the business has been passed from generation to generation, all the while adapting to new printing technology and changing customer requirements.
1st generation Fred and Edna Soar
After serving in Europe in World War 1, Lt. Colonel Fred Soar returned to New Zealand and married Edna. They bought a small printing business in Onehunga and commenced trading as FC Soar Printer.
When WW II arrived, Fred worked as a full-time soldier in charge of military camps in the Central North Island. In his absence, Edna ran the printing business. She rode to work on a bike, sometimes with her youngest child sitting on the back. At the end of the war, Fred returned home to family and business. He worked until he was well into his seventies.
2nd generation Harry Soar
Fred and Edna's son Harry started his printing apprenticeship as a compositor before joining the New Zealand Army in 1942. After the war, he completed his apprenticeship at Wright and Jacques then joined the night shift at the NZ Herald. When his father passed away in 1965, Harry Soar took over the family business. He ran Soar Printing during the day and set headlines for the morning paper at night. His hard work enabled him to invest in new offset printing technology from Germany.
In 1972 Harry quit the Herald and moved Soar Printing to a new purpose-built factory. In the late 1980s, just as the age of digital print was dawning, Harry decided it was time to bring in the third generation of Soars Fred, Vicky and Jenny.
3rd Generation Fred, Vicky and Jenny Soar
Fred and Jenny arrived from chartered accountancy, Vicky from the legal sector. All three had business skills and experience that could be applied in the print world. Between 1993 and 2006, Soar Printing bought up a number of Auckland smaller print businesses and relocated to New North Road, formerly the site of Impex Press, which merged with Soar. Harry Soar passed away in 2002, after working alongside his children for 12 years. The company now has a staff of 70 and is looking ahead to 100 years in business in 2020. Will the 4th generation of Soars come on board? Its a little too early to tell, but were keeping our fingers crossed!
Key People
Fred Soar
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Before joining the family business in the late 1980s, Fred worked as Financial Controller at Johnson & Johnson and as an accountant at the ANZ. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Auckland) in Management, Accounting and Economics, and is a member of the New Zealand Society of Chartered Accountants. Fred is a great believer in blazing a trail, rather than walking the predictable path.
Mob:021 932 186
Email:fred@soarprint.co.nz
Jenny Carter
FINANCIAL DIRECTOR
Prior to joining Soar in 1990, Jenny worked as a chartered accountant with Arthur Young (now Ernst & Young) for 10 years, including a four year stint in Canada specialising in audit and systems work. In addition to her role as financial director, Jenny has responsibilities in the area of quality control and environmental management. She's passionate about protecting New Zealand's kauri trees..
Mob:021 901 464
Email:jenny@soarprint.co.nz
Vicky Soar
DIRECTOR
Vicky is an essential member of the Soar management team because she has a holistic view of the business and understands the many factors that drive our success. On a daily basis she helps with sales and administration tasks. She also has sole responsibility for team engagement, which includes organising fundraising events, planning social club occasions and generally keeping Soars company culture in good shape.
Mob:021 999 579
Email:vicky@soarprint.co.nz
Brian Landry
GENERAL MANAGER
Originally a photolithographer, Brian draws on a wealth of knowledge gained in production management roles in a leading New Zealand design agency, general management of two large printing companies, and a stint in the signage industry. Brian is very hands on and enjoys technological adventures that take Soar Printing where no NZ printing company has gone before.
Mob:021 980 036
Email:brianl@soarprint.co.nz
Peter Lloyd
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Peter has more than 15 years experience in sales and management within the printing industry. He's famous for going above and beyond what is needed to get the job done. Peter is a Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing UK and in 2013 successfully completed a Certificate in Marketing Management at the Marketing Association of New Zealand.
Mob:021 45 71 99
Email:peter@soarprint.co.nz
2016 Awards
To see our 2016 Pride in Print Awards please click here
2015 Awards
To see our 2015 Pride in Print Awards please click here
2014 Awards
Books
Laura Faire Recipe Book
Gold: Soar Printing
Dennis Turner Art Book
Gold: Soar Printing
Annual reports/prospectuses
ATEED 2014 Planner
Gold: Soar Printing
Packaging
Villa Maria Schott Zwiesel Wine Glass Carton
Gold: Soar Printing
Limited editions/fine art prints
Laura Faire Recipe Book
Gold: Soar Printing Ltd
Environmental
Laura Faire Recipe Book
Gold: Soar Printing Ltd
Stationery
Long Black Business Card
Gold: Rocket Print
Labels
Altezano Coffee Labels
Gold: Rocket Print
