In 1927 Grandpa Charlie started up a printing business. I never get tired of hearing stories about my grandpa, especially because I was so young when he died. I only have one memory of seeing him in his house, leaning against the fireplace. Who knows, it has been so long, maybe it's just a picture that I saw once that made an impression - but I'm hoping it's my memory.
KSL Radio recently called us up for an interview about the print shop. This is what aired on the radio last week.
This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
KSL Radio recently called us up for an interview about the print shop. This is what aired on the radio last week.
This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
I've made some interesting observations as I've met business owners for this program. One of those observations involves garages. However, while many of those structures shelter our vehicles and tools, others have housed the beginnings of very successful businesses.
Take Jaffa Printing for example. This Salt Lake City-based company that started in Charlie Jaffa'sgarage in 1927 has successfully made it into the second generation of family ownership, with Charlie's son Bob. They're quickly involving the third generation, with all six of Bob's adult kids now involved.
Interestingly enough, family-based companies like Jaffa are a major contributor to our U.S. economy. They're now responsible for 60 percent of the nation's employment and 78 percent of the new jobs created.
The best part of this story is that Charlie started his business without any printing experience. He needed a way to support his family and was interested in printing. . . so he started creating business cards and flyers for other companies in his Avenues neighborhood. It didn't take long for him to outgrow his garage and move to a bigger space. He put his company on hold for a number of years while he fought in World War II. This did not stop Charlie from coming home and continuing to grow his business.
Today, Jaffa Printing has found its niche in providing beautiful wedding invitations. Bob, the current company president, said they also do four-color printing for everything from brochures and booklets to product sheets and mailers. In the last few years, the company has acquired digital process that have has kept them up to date with current trends in technology. A growing number of orders come over the Internet. This is a far cry from Bob's start as a small child when he helped his dad handset each letter.
So, what's been Jaffa Printing's secret for success over the years? Bob says it's their love for the work they do and ability to go the extra mile for clients. They've also avoided any major debt while developing a strong and loyal customer base.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
