Located at 595 W. Main St., Minuteman Press in Norwich first opened nearly 30 years ago, in August 1992. Owner Steve Weber reflected recently on the milestone.

“I guess looking at it from the outside 30 years is quite an accomplishment, especially when you realize I was 40 years old when we started,” he says. “I think that this milestone means it is almost time to retire.”

He continues, “For the first 25 years, my wife and partner Gail helped grow the business and keep me on track. Since she has retired, I think our continued success can be attributed to surrounding myself with the best people as well as giving excellent customer service and evolving our business to meet the times.

He says the business’s equipment and services have evolved over time.

“Several years ago, we became an all-digital shop. We have invested in the equipment needed to provide excellent quality with the quick turnaround time our customers expect. We also have great suppliers who can provide old school offset printing when the job calls for it.”

The local shop has expanded into the ad specialty market and got into selling clothing. “We have also invested in mailing equipment. This has been an excellent complement to our printing. We never sell a large printing job without asking, ‘What are you doing with this printing?’ Often, the answer has been ‘We are mailing it.’ Providing mailing has earned us many new customers.”

Without a trade bindery in the area, Weber decided to invest in his own bindery.

“We have a collator / booklet maker, as well as a perfect binder and a small die cutting unit. To complement the mailing services, we also have a folder inserter.”

Averaging over over 100,000 business cards a month, Minuteman added a slitter cutter to automate that service.

“The machine is relatively slow but we have nicknamed it ‘set it and forget it.’ The person in bindery can set it up and do another job while it is running.

We are proof that ‘print is dead’ is not truthful. Our customers still want business cards to hand out and annual reports to distribute.”

He adds that nonprofits have learned that the best return on fundraising is by mailing the information.

“Email just does not work to this end,” he said.

Minuteman has expanded over the years by buying out other printing businesses.

“We did a mailing a number of years ago to the printers in our area. We have been able to acquire four different independent businesses who were competitors. It creates a win/win because the owners are typically retiring and they know their clients will be left in good hands.”

Weber said his 30 years as part of the Minuteman Press franchise has been rewarding.

“We have been fortunate over the years to introduce more than a few other people into the Minuteman Press system. Our son Michael and his wife Lindsey now have three Minuteman Press locations of their own in Enfield, Springfield, Mass, and Brattleboro, Vt.”

Chris Biscuiti works in public relations for Minuteman Press.

Times of our Lives is a regular feature. To submit, email times@theday.com.