Keith Dreier (top right) with St. Johns Printing and Cartridge World staff Credit: The St Augustine Record
Florida-based St. Johns Printing, which also tied with Cartridge World in 2007, celebrates 36 years in business as it continues to diversify its services.
In an article from The St. Augustine Record, Keith Dreier, who bought the company amid the economic downturn in 2011 discussed his reasons for taking on the business and the progress it has made since; with the company recently expanding its graphic design department and planning to add website design to its offerings. It also rents out space to an art supplies shop and an art gallery.
St. Johns Printing was founded by John Roundtree in 1978 as a basic copy shop, adding the Cartridge World franchise in 2007 to offer inkjet and toner cartridge refilling. 60-year-old Dreier decided to take it on after his sign company was bought out four years ago, noting that “all the businesses that were available were really too late [to save them]” but St. Johns Printing and Cartridge World “still had a heartbeat, and it had a wonderful story”.
The business has “developed a partnership with the city” of St. Augustine, and was the printer for its 450th celebration, working with the city to print banners for events.
Commenting on how the business has continued to diversify and “move into the digital world”, Dreier said: “You’re always looking for the next good mousetrap to stay competitive without having to reinvent the wheel […] we’re still growing incrementally and keep reinforcing our commercial base.”
Dreier added: “You can’t start a business like this today, but Mr. Roundtree built a really nice business […] we run like a little engine. It’s great.”