Bradenton Printing Franchise Helps Community During COVID-19

Bradenton FL

10 November, 2020

10:46 AM

Description

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, local Minuteman Press Bradenton franchise owners Justin and Christy Phillips have remained open to lend a helping hand to the business community of Bradenton, Florida. Justin says, “As an essential printing business, we never closed our Minuteman Press center during COVID-19, even when we experienced disruption in the first few weeks. April and May showed improvement and we made smart moves very quickly.” When the pandemic first hit, Christy and Justin sat down and evaluated the situation. As local business owners providing critical printing and marketing services to other local organizations and businesses, they saw just how empowered they were to stay open and make a difference. Their particular industry, combined with expert training and personal faith, granted them the power to adapt and serve their clients. Justin says, “The good news already was that June and July brought us double-digit positive sales numbers. We used our proprietary software to review past economic downturns like the 2008 financial crisis, noting how long it took for the recovery.” The team in Bradenton worked well in the past, propelled by the couple’s faith and anchored by their expertise. The approach breeds new pathways. “We feel fortunate for a lot of reasons. We have faith in God, so we have hope, no matter what. Also, before I bought my franchise, I worked in retail implementing change management initiatives to the stores. I know how to respond to change, even when it’s hard. Here, we find new and better ways to do things to help people get through this.” Justin started picking up the phone to check in on the well-being of his clients. “We started with our top customers and continued, making sure everyone was well and getting to the crux of their urgent needs. Some were working from home, some on premises, still. Over a few weeks, no matter how severely they were impacted by restrictions, we were consultants helping answer any questions. “For example, we provide design and print for a local chain of restaurants and they needed disposable menus, fast. Without delay, we created exactly the menus they needed for that window of time. Then, as the regulations lifted, we printed new, plastic paper menus at a reasonable cost that helped result in thousands of dollars in sales for them. They were happy they trusted us.” Justin is pleased to explore new territory for growth. Their center has developed deep loyalty over the years and is creating a cycle of sincerity that enriches the economy around them. “I am humbled by the outpouring of customers calling, wanting to give us business because we have done well by them and they value the relationship. A manufacturing company that once worked with us sent us an order for branded placards, telling us they used another printer before, but now wanted us to do the work.” In addition, the police department turned to Justin’s center for a mutual benefit, wanting to overstock on critical items because they needed them anyway and wanted to support them. Justin paused and added, “They told us ‘We love all of you at Minuteman Press and want to work with you from now on.’ This is the result of our relationship built over time, grounded with a mixture of faith and industry expertise.” Justin was also pleased to print high school graduation signs for local schools. “Printing graduation signs was good for the graduates and a saving grace for us, too, but we also created templates for all the local schools and used email, social media and our local Chamber of Commerce to promote them. We were shocked but so happy when they went viral!” Justin concludes, “We were warned about buying a printing franchise by people who thought it wouldn’t work. Now we can say, ‘Hey, it works really well for us and allows us to honor our faith in that we can help others.’ We see people struggling and we are the right people to turn to because we help them rise during adversity. It’s happening. We are rising.” For more information on Minuteman Press Bradenton, visit https://www.bradenton.minutemanpress.com. Learn more about Entrepreneur’s #1 rated printing franchise and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com.