Minuteman Press Owner Says ‘Personal Touch’ Matters

Celebrating five years in business and overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic with 20% year-over-year sales growth to date in 2021, Joseph Lee has grown his Minuteman Press franchise in San Bernardino by providing essential printing and marketing services with a personal touch. He tries to put himself in his customer’s shoes and asks every customer, “What are you trying to accomplish?”

Lee adds, “The reason I am growing and operating is because of them. No matter how many clients I have, I try to know them by their first names and what they do for a living. Providing a personal touch and showing you care, then proving it time and again, means everything.”

He gets to know his clients as people first rather than just customers, which he says has been the most significant factor in the print shop’s growth.

At the beginning of the pandemic, print services were classified as an essential business, and one of the first things Lee did was let his customers know he was available and operating.

“This included providing printing for other essential businesses like doctor’s offices, hospitals, and city organizations,” he explains. “I was following guidelines and told everyone I reached out to that we are open, and I am here if there’s anything they needed. We printed everything from custom embroidered masks to help keep people safe to critical COVID-19 safety posters, and more.”

Pictured above (L-R): Joseph Lee, owner, and Jeremy Hinson, operations manager (Image courtesy Minuteman Press International)

Business recovery trending upward

Today, the San Bernardino print shop sees more and more local businesses reopening and ordering more printing products and marketing services.

Lee adds, “Our current growth has been a case of providing a little bit of everything that has worked together. We’ve upgraded in all areas of printing, finishing, and bindery. This speeds up the process for us and meets our clients’ needs quicker. Ultimately, by investing in equipment, I am solidifying my base. My business has grown and is growing today. Even during the pandemic, we remained steady, and now we are already 20% ahead of last year.”

He adds that by listening and seeing what clients need, he knows he can continue to help San Bernardino businesses. Whether it’s a new banner or thousands of mailers, Lee’s shop is in a position where he never has to turn a client down due to capabilities.

“I want to take care of everything no matter the industry. Local businesses, hospitals, engineers, we can do it all,” he says.

Advice for business owners

When asked what advice he would give to other aspiring business owners, Lee answers, “For me, there are three keys to building a successful business:

1. Provide the highest quality.
2. Build rapport and develop personal relationships with clients while providing personal service.
3. Have competitive pricing but don’t operate on price alone.

Focus on those three things, and that will really help spark long-term growth.”