Print Solutions Magazine, May 2005 -- Off Hours

This year, Shipman Print Solutions has a sense of pride, achievement and purpose. The Niagara Falls, N.Y.-based manufacturer has had that feeling in previous years, but it's enhanced in 2005: The company is celebrating its 100th anniversary in business.

"It feels pretty special because there aren't too many companies that can make a claim to this position," says Michael Fiore, Shipman Print Solutions' vice president of sales and marketing.

In 1906, Jacob Wahl and two partners started the Wahl Printing & Binding Co. in downtown Niagara Falls. They had two hand-fed presses, 50 fonts of type, a small paper cutter, a few hundred sheets of stock paper and a bicycle for transportation between sales calls. Business flourished.

In 1966, Frank W. Shipman decided he wanted to have his own business. He moved from Ohio, joined the Byron Human Printing Co., and learned all aspects of the printing business while earning $125 per week. A year later, the Shipman family purchased the company and renamed it Human Printing Co. Inc. Two years later, they purchased the Wahl Printing Company and changed its name to Human Wahl Printing.

In 1981, Shipman decided to make a move that turned out to be critical to the company's success, Fiore says. It switched from operating as a direct-selling commercial printer to selling through the independent channel and added Shipman Envelope Co. It expanded further in 1984, adding cut sheets and more envelope and commercial print capabilities under Shipman Printing Industries. Shipman retired, and Gary Blum, a multi-business owner who shares Shipman's aspiration to see the manufacturer thrive and expand, joined as president. Today, the company employs 34 people and offers envelopes, cut sheets, saddle-stitched books, note pads, padded forms and commercial printing.

Fiore says the company's success results from a solid management team and knowledgeable staff. Some team members have 20-35 years of experience working for the manufacturer, he says.

"For its entire history, Shipman Print Solutions and its founding companies have been privately owned and operated by only four families," said Blum recently in an anniversary letter to customers. "In addition, I am joined by the same top management team that has been in place continuously for 23 years. I give you my personal assurance this ownership stability will continue to provide dependability and predictability in all your future business dealing with Shipman Print Solutions."

To ensure best quality and service to customers, the manufacturer adopted Total Quality Management (TQM) in 1995. TQM activities include meeting customer requirements, reducing development cycle times, forming improvement teams, reducing product and service costs, and improving systems training.

In his letter, Blum said the company will continue to offer excellent quality, on-time and early deliveries, superior customer service and competitive pricing. Fiore says the firm is considering hiring more employees, increasing the number of production shifts and expanding geographically.