40 years to celebrate for Creative Print All

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/04/2015 (3301 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It took a few years and a lot of dedication to grow a home-based business into the successful company that is now named Creative Print All. As the Davies family celebrates the 40th anniversary of their business, Ross and his sons, Glen and Pat, are reflecting on the early years that started with Ross launching his first sign business, Ross’ Sign Company, in 1975.

That business operated out of the basement in the family home in Niverville. After a year in operation, the entrepreneur welcomed his son Pat into the business. The two men worked together, in search of making the business profitable as well as enjoyable.

“My mind wasn’t on the money,” Ross said. “It was on the business; I knew the money would come if we focused on the jobs.”

It did not take long for the business to move out of the family home and into a new community where there were hopes of growth and success.

“We wanted to move to try and get more exposure and create more business,” Pat explained. “So we opened a shop in Morris.”

The father-son team felt Morris might be a good place to grow their business because of the high volume of traffic flowing through the community along Highway 75.

After four years in Morris, the company was moved to its first Steinbach location; the old sewing factory building. That was located at the corner of Barkman Avenue and First Street. The building had been purchased by Frank Broesky, Ross said.

“Frank took over the building and I went with him and we put in a pool room. Then he opened the back part of the building as a fabric shop. Also, the bus depot was looking for a place and there was an area available in the back for a sign shop. We started doing signs back there,” he explained.

“And then Elvis died,” Ross added, using world events to relay a timeline with accuracy and detail.

The almost-90-year-old man has handed over the reigns to his sons Pat and Glen. However, both men are quick to recognize the past and present contributions of their father in making the business a successful endeavor.

It was in 1981 that the company name changed to Creative Print All, reflecting the expanded service of screen printing. Glen joined his dad and brother the following year and became the main screen printing person.

The company continued to acquire more equipment that allowed more of the work to stay within the building rather than being outsourced. After several moves in Steinbach, the company has now settled in a building at 285 Highway 12 North.

What started with a man who wanted to be his own boss and doing what he loved, has now become a family business with 15 dedicated staff. For the most part, production is kept in house with Pat and Glen staying very active in the everyday details to keep growing the business.

“We’re very much a hands-on team, since day one,” Glen said. “I’ll fix the embroidery machines and sell you a shirt. Pat will print a sign for you and do the art work. Dad will critique everything we do.”

“Which is a very good thing,” Pat quickly added. “I keeps us on our toes.”

The family business started with the Davies working together; it has now grown to include many other people to create a new type of family. This is something the owners are exceptionally proud of.

“We have staff here that say they like working here because it’s like family,” Ross said. “Then you know you’re doing something right.”

Although the father did not start out the business with a vision of it growing into something this big and successful, he was determined to be his own boss. The rest has become the cherry on top.

“I never had money in mind and making money. I just wanted to be my own boss and do what I wanted to do. I knew that if I got enough work, the money would come.”

Though hard work, quality products and dedicated service, the work came in and word quickly spread to other people and businesses. Being able to offer embroidery with apparel, fishing lodges and golf courses found the Creative Print All to have what they were looking for.

While Pat and Glen continue to be very involved with the daily operations at the business, Ross still checks in with them quite frequently and enjoys giving ideas and advice where he sees fit. Just the same, this man is happy to hand over the business to his children.

“I’m very proud of them,” Ross said.