Shutterfly, an e-commerce business that creates custom photo-centric cards, books, gift items and more, was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in California. There are three manufacturing facilities—one in Arizona, another in South Carolina and the most recently built 240,000-square-foot building in Plano that opened in 2020.
Shutterfly Plano Site Director Chris Mooney said each facility is equipped to manufacture different products, and the Plano location focuses on creating photo books, greeting cards and metal items.
One of Mooney’s favorite elements of this job is the tangible way Shutterfly touches peoples’ lives throughout milestones.
“The products we make, things like our metal prints, they last for generations,” Mooney said. “It’s things that can be passed down.”
The set up
Mooney said the majority of the 240,000-square-foot space is dedicated to manufacturing. Approximately 20,000 square feet is allocated to offices, conference rooms, break rooms and an employee gym.
The Plano site employs 330 people, of which approximately 255 are manufacturing operators. In November and December—Shutterfly’s peak season—the manufacturing department ramps up to 1,100 employees.
Mooney said when Shutterfly started considering a third manufacturing facility, Plano stood out for a variety of reasons.
“We have the Phoenix area, the Charlotte area—an East and West Coast presence. The middle of the country is good from a shipping perspective,” Mooney said. “Once we decided on Texas, [we chose] Plano specifically because there is fairly good access to the airport and good access to freeways. And the workforce here was ample. We did a lot of research, and that’s why we ended up here.”
The details
Products are created through a blend of mechanized processes and manual craftsmanship—what Mooney refers to as “high-touch” effort. One example is the sublimation process used to produce flat metal products.
A sublimation process includes automation and manual processes when making metal products. (Karen Chaney/Community Impact)“Metal ornaments are hugely popular and one of my favorite products because it’s metal, it lasts forever,” Mooney said. “You print the transfer sheet then apply heat and pressure that transfers the ink from the sheet to the substrate. After it cools, finishing touches are added … like applying the hardware for someone to hang it on their wall.”
Mooney said all three Shutterfly manufacturing facilities make cards and photo books but different size products are made at specific locations. However, in the event of a natural disaster, internet outage or other unexpected production halting occurrences, production can be rerouted to the other facilities.
What else?
The company also offers business-to-business services, providing printing and billing solutions primarily tailored to the health care industry.
The addition gives Shutterfly more business year-round.
“It allows us to carry more full-time [department] heads,” Mooney said. “Rather than mothball equipment for nine months out of the year and then try and start it up, we’re able to run the equipment and keep that equipment exercising. … It keeps our employees fresh from a training perspective and an execution perspective.”
Current situation
Mooney, who was the first employee at the Plano Shutterfly manufacturing facility, said they are currently hiring, and there are job openings in a variety of departments, including machine technicians and management.
“We take care of our employees. The entire building is climate controlled, including our manufacturing warehouse. We have a game room with ping-pong, foosball, air hockey, darts and video games,” Mooney said. “We do ping-pong tournaments. We have people say, ‘I don’t like ping-pong.’ So we actually did a rock-paper-scissors tournament. Literally, anybody can participate.”
Quote of note
Mooney began working for Shutterfly in 2008 when the company was 9 years old. He has enjoyed watching the brand recognition increase over the ensuing years.
“I remember traveling and I would have a Shutterfly shirt on, and people would say, ‘What is Shutterfly?’” Mooney said. “It has been interesting to see the evolution of the company from nobody knowing who we were to being the market leader. Now people say, ‘Oh, you work at Shutterfly, that’s so cool.’”