Minuteman Press Franchisee Talks Business Growth and Expansion

Minuteman Press franchise, Medford, Oregon - Sean Byrne (left) and Dave Greenhalgh (right).

For 24 years and counting, Minuteman Press franchise owner Dave Greenhalgh has served the Medford business community with pride. He says, “Minuteman Press in Medford, Oregon is family owned and operated and has been in business since 1995. We provide a full array of printing, copy, design, mailing, signs and banners, and promotional services to large and small businesses throughout the Rogue Valley and beyond. We are fortunate to have a skilled service-oriented staff that works well together to provide the highest quality products and excellent service to every customer on every job.”

Recently, Dave and his team have expanded their business to increase production and benefit his Minuteman Press clients. He explains, “We completed a major renovation that doubled our production area from 3600 sq. ft. to 7200 sq. ft. The entire remodel was designed to improve our workflow and to provide even better working conditions for our staff. We also remodeled our lobby. These renovations and streamlined workflow have made a big difference in our production capacity, which helps us do everything we need to do to serve our clients well.”

From Medical Sales to Minuteman Press: “I was tired of traveling…”

There are many different paths to entrepreneurship and yet there are some common threads as well. Like many others, Dave had a solid career but was simply looking for a change. He explains, “My background was in medical sales. Prior to starting Minuteman Press in 1995, I was the national sales manager for the vascular division of an international diagnostic ultrasound company where I worked for 12 years.”

Dave continues, “Starting my own business was a long-time consideration before it became a reality in 1995. I was tired of traveling and wanted to put my energy into a business that would eventually work for me. A franchise provided the support to start a new business that I was looking for and I went to a franchise trade fair in San Francisco. I actually went to visit another company, but lost interest in that company after visiting with the people from Minuteman Press, which in my opinion was by far the best opportunity for me. They scheduled visits to several Minuteman Press shops in the Bay area where I had the opportunity to talk to the owners directly about their experiences and that sold me on this franchise and my own store.”

The ongoing support that Dave has received for nearly 25 years is something that he appreciates about being a long-time member of the Minuteman Press franchise family. He states, “Minuteman Press support, starting with my Regional Vice President Chris Jutt, has been exceptional. Their World Expo is a must attend for us. It provides valuable training seminars on current business opportunities, vendors showing new product lines, and most importantly for me is talking business with other owners. The home office’s support in evaluating equipment is an excellent resource before making a purchase. Talking with another franchise owner who has the equipment in his shop that we are considering is also invaluable.”

Rewards of Owning a Business and Being Active in the Community

Dave is very clear about what it takes to reap the rewards of being a business owner, saying, “There are risks and rewards that are specific to running one’s own business and it is not for everyone to be sure. An owner that waits for customers to come to them will find few rewards before his business fails. My greatest reward is a completely satisfied customer that pays his or her bill on time. Secondly, I feel rewarded by a staff that has the same priority for service, quality, and on time delivery. Nothing is more gratifying than delivering a high-quality job on time to a customer that appreciates good service. The ultimate reward that comes as a result of putting in the work is a profit at the end of every month.”

“Putting in the work” means building authentic relationships with customers and community members. Dave adds, “We work with large and small companies from a large variety of industries. Medical, manufacturing, real estate, and service companies make up a large percentage of our business. When I started Minuteman Press, I joined the Chamber of Commerce, a professional leads club, and a Rotary organization. I remained active in these and other organizations for many years. We currently provide financial support to a number of local non-profit organizations and participate in numerous community events throughout the year.”

All of that hard work has paid off for Minuteman Press in Medford. Dave says, “We have grown our business by continually improving our service, adding new services and participating in all of the digital marketing programs that are offered by Minuteman Press.” Acquisitions and equipment upgrades are also ways Dave has reinforced his customer base and enhanced products and services. Long-term, Dave notes, “Our five-year plan includes large format equipment and to increase our sales by 15% each year.”

Advice to Others

With so many years of experience to draw from, Dave Greenhalgh is a great resource for aspiring business owners and franchisees. He has the following words of advice for entrepreneurs looking to grow: “My advice is talk to other business owners, seek the advice of your regional manager, and don’t be timid in changing things that aren’t working. Concentrate on meeting your customers’ needs and make excellent service the number one priority.”

Source: Minuteman Press.

The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with Wide-Format Impressions. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of Wide-Format Impressions.