Possibly by the end of the year, the changing landscape of graphic arts businesses locally will have another adjustment.
Professional Printing of Kansas is merging with Coffelt Signs, and the process actually started several months ago. Coffelt co-owner Rick Hamman says the conversation from the Coffelt side began with wanting to handle some of the digital print work Pro Printing has been offering.
Pro Printing owner Bill Henry says it’s time to wind things down after better than 30 years in the business and nearly 20 years owning the company. He tells KVOE News the graphic arts business has changed “dramatically” over the past decade.
Press operator Ryan Higgins, one of three people coming over from Pro Printing, says he was looking for an adjustment with Henry’s upcoming retirement.
As the integration process revs up, Coffelt co-owner Staci Hamman says there is an adjustment period underway for all involved.
Besides Higgins, Coffelt is bringing Isaac Rangel and Kate Murphy on board and it’s renovating its business space at 18 South Commercial to accommodate for the printing business.
The merged business will be under the Coffelt sign — pun fully intended. It comes with business leadership eager to expand its regional or even national base. It also comes with local graphic arts companies looking to expand their business after Staples announced its closure in March and ultimately left Emporia in May.
