Today’s Poll

Exciting news for 100-year-old Hall Printing business

Contributor
By Contributor
February 10th, 2020

Hall Printing is celebrating a centenary birthday this year with grand plans that include launching new branding and transferring ownership.

The West Kootenay mainstay has a rich history, providing print services to residents and professionals for 100 years. To extend the shop’s legacy, owner Ingrid Hope is pleased to announce co-ownership with her son Mackenzie.

“I’m super confident Mackenzie will do an excellent job,” said Ingrid Hope. “He already manages our second location in Nelson extremely well.”

Hall Printing, founded in 1920, experienced many transformations including moving into the Nelson market with a store location on 400 Block of Baker Street in Nelson as well as its Victoria Street operation in Trail.

To this day, windmill letterpress equipment is still used for numbering, scoring, and perforating. In the modern print shop, however, the heavy lead type has given way to a network cable that connects computerized production machines.

“I think it’s amazing that a small business can withstand so many changes,” adds Ingrid Hope. “In 2008, when the economy went kaput, the U.S. lost 2,000 print shops. We’re proud that we’ve kept up so well, especially technology-and-equipment-wise.”

When she started at Hall Printing as the front office receptionist in 1990, the shop didn’t even have a computer. Today the expanded operation continually modernizes equipment that also includes environmentally friendly components, such as chemical-free platemaking and vegetable oil-based ink. The company’s two locations employ a total of 13 staff, including Mackenzie, who began an after-school job at Hall Printing in 2006.

Ingrid Hope attributes their success to ongoing support from larger businesses in the resource sector. It’s allowed the company to upgrade service to both big customers and a diverse clientele of residents and smaller businesses in the Kootenay region.

“We really appreciate that the resource industry has maintained us as the region’s printing shop. In the city, a little print shop doesn’t always have that advantage. Small businesses have complemented our corporate clients to help keep us prospering over the years,” she adds. “We’re all in this together, and we’ve managed thanks to hard work and everyone’s support.”

Ingrid plans to gradually transition towards retirement and is happy to pass the business on to Mackenzie Hope, who shares her passion for the company.

“It’s common in the print industry for print shops to be passed down through family, so buying into Hall Printing was the natural step for me,” says Mackenzie Hope. “I’m excited for the challenge and opportunities owning a small business will bring, and I can’t wait to see how we’ll continue to grow, change, and thrive in our community.”

Ingrid purchased Hall Printing from Dave and Gail Chartres 15 years ago; as she looks back on her last 30 years, she feels lucky to have had a hand in helping customers tell their stories.

“This is an industry that touches on every business it interacts with, so I’ve had the pleasure of learning about so many people’s businesses or families,” she says. “I think that’s probably been the biggest motivator. I love the business-to-business or business-to-people part of the work we do.”

According to Ingrid, once you’re in the print business, the ink gets into your veins and becomes your lifeblood. Perhaps that’s why Hall Printing has a reputation for skilfully curating its services to bring clientele’s customized projects to fruition.

“It’s like any expert service; you hire an accountant to do your finances or a writer to produce your marketing copy. It’s important to lean on resident professionals to keep your local economy thriving,” she says. “We appreciate that people value our team. Quite frankly it’s an honour to communicate our customers’ visions and we’re very proud to still be here after 100 years.”

Hall Printing will be holding a celebration event this summer in commemoration of its 100th anniversary. Follow Hall Printing on Facebookand Instagramas it marks great impressions from the past 100 years.  

Categories: Business

Other News Stories

Opinion