Hercules Press, which has been operating for 51 years, has been sold by retiring second-generation owner Michael Macrides to new Minuteman Press franchise owner Michael Campagnone.
Moving forward, the business is now operating as Minuteman Press in West Roxbury. The shop remains located at 91 Spring Street, West Roxbury, Massachusetts.
On buying the business, Campagnone said, “I was looking to buy a business for about a year. I came across an ad that Minuteman Press was running on BizBuySell and gave them a call. I was then connected with Todd Golberg, Minuteman Press New England regional VP. We met and clicked right away as he helped me weigh my options and see what was being offered. I chose to buy Hercules Press because I liked the idea of buying an established business and having that springboard to growth in the community. Working with Todd made this decision easier and he is one of the main reasons I bought Hercules Press and joined Minuteman Press.”
On selling the business, Macrides shared, “The last thing I expected to get out of the sale was a new friend but Michael C. and I have developed a great relationship. My staff is also very happy working for Michael and also my customers of 40+ years all seem to be very comfortable with the new regime. This has been a very smooth transition, and Todd Golberg was professional and genuine throughout this process of connecting me with Michael C. and getting the sale completed.”
History of Hercules Press
Hercules Press has a long history in West Roxbury and the Boston area. Macrides said, “Hercules Press was started in 1973 by my dad, George Macrides, who had been a press operator at Business Printing on Broad Street in Boston for 23 years before he was laid off. I joined him in 1984 as I had been a musician in need of a job to support a new family. In 1988, my dad retired and I bought the building where the business is currently located.”
Selling the business
40 years after joining his dad in the family business, Macrides has now sold Hercules Press to Campagnone, who has transitioned the business to Minuteman Press in West Roxbury while retaining the current staff.
The most important factor for Macrides was finding the right buyer who would continue operating the business in a way that best served his clients as well as his employees. He found the right fit with the Minuteman Press Conversion Program, which helps independent owners sell their businesses at no cost and zero commission fees.
Macrides shared, “When I began to think about exiting, two years before beginning the process with Minuteman Press, it was obvious that the franchises were going to be my best bet. I called a couple of other franchises before Minuteman but neither impressed me as entities that would care at all about my customers or myself. I put the sale on the backburner for a year or so and then received a mailer from Minuteman Press and called Todd Golberg. Todd was professional yet warm and sincere and it wasn’t long before I realized he was truly interested in a great outcome for everyone.”
I was in the hospitality field for 45 years as I grew up in the restaurant industry and have been around it my whole life. Making this transition to the printing industry that is B2B and Minuteman Press simply made sense for both my family and for me.
-Michael Campagnone, owner, Minuteman Press West Roxbury (formerly Hercules Press)
When asked his advice for others, Campagnone stated, “There’s always going to be a learning curve during the transition period. Don’t overthink it and trust the process. Looking back, I wish I would have bought the business even sooner.”
