38-Year Printing Business Converts to Minute Press Franchise

For nearly 38 years, Carl Denti and his family operated an independent print shop Avante Print Center. In February 2022, Denti sold the business to new owners Devin and John Weiss via Minuteman Press International’s conversion program, which connects sellers with qualified buyers.

“It was time for me to join my wife Patricia in retirement, and I think the transition to International Minute Press has gone very well. I needed to like the people who bought the business, and Devin and John are great,” Denti says. “My daughter Renee has stayed working in the business, and we also have employees with 25 years of tenure, so it was important for us to be comfortable with everything.”

Since buying Avante Print Center, the Weisses have rebranded as International Minute Press in Mesa, Arizona. They operate out of the same location at 218 West Hampton Avenue, Unit 13, and offer everything from branding services and graphics design to custom apparel and promotional products.

History of Avante Print Center

On March 27, 1984, Denti and his wife Patricia opened Avante Print Center in Mesa. Denti shares that his wife had a big influence on the pair getting into the printing industry, Patricia having worked for Hallmark doing calligraphy.

“She wanted something we could do together. In our first full year in business together, we made a 39.8% profit,” Denti adds. While printing proved to be a viable business for the husband-wife duo, he also valued the freedom it gave him to pursue other passions.

He says, “Printing was an easy business to market and sell, and I felt it had easier customer acquisition than other industries.”

Selling the business

While Denti had retirement on his mind, he wasn’t actively pursuing a sale of his business. He explains, “I did not have the business listed for sale, but I’ve known Jack Panzer (Minuteman Press International regional VP) for approximately eight years. When I received a letter and flyer in the mail that Jack could help sell my business, I thought that was very smart of Minuteman Press International to reach out.”

At the beginning of 2021, the timing felt right for Denti. “In January 2021, Jack approached me with a qualified buyer that he thought could be a fit for my shop. I told him what it would cost if someone wants to buy our business. I also consulted with my daughter Renee, who decided she didn’t want to take over the business. We started the sales process in March 2021, and it was finished by February 2022.”

Entering the printing industry

When the opportunity came to buy an established print shop, it was a no-brainer for the Weisses, who are no strangers to owning a business. They originally wanted to buy a Minute Press franchise in 2020 before the pandemic hit, so they knew they couldn’t pass it up when this opportunity presented itself.

Now that they’re up and running, they’re excited to continue Denti’s legacy. Devin says, “We believe owning a business gives you a sense of pride. By purchasing an established business, we strive to honor our clients, our community, and our staff with continued outstanding service and support.”

As a full-service printing and marketing services provider, Devin and John look forward to helping other businesses promote themselves. Devin adds, “Wide-format printing is especially exciting right now. There is such a wide variety of custom printed products that we can provide to our clients – we haven’t found anything we can’t do yet in-house or with the help of our franchisor and vendors.”

As she reflects on owning a business versus having a job, one word comes to mind for Devin: “Freedom!” Similar to Denti’s point, she says owning and operating a print shop allows for a flexible schedule and room to prioritize wants and needs.

She adds, “You decide what your life entails every day, and we wouldn’t trade that for the world! We love to travel, and the freedom makes that possible.”

When it comes to advice for others looking to buy an already-established business, Devin says, “Do your due diligence. Survey other business owners about their experiences, both good and bad. There is a lot of preparation that goes into buying a business, and having a successful franchise to guide you is a great option. Ultimately, no matter how prepared you are, it is a learning experience!”