By Kate Titus

Gary and Loretta Daubenmire are the proud owners of Daubenmire's Printing, a full service printing company that has been a downtown staple for decades and boasts clients in Butler, Warren, Hamilton and Montgomery counties.

Gary began his printing career out of high school, as an in-house printer for Big Four Industries in Mainville, Ohio. After three years of hands on training in the printing business, he left Big Four in 1966 to serve a four year tour with the Air Force, which included experience on the maintenance crew for Air Force One.

After his return from service, Gary sold printing equipment for A.B.Dick Company, where he met Jim Burke. The two became business partners and purchased the already existing Consolidated Printing Company in 1976. The business at that time was located on First Ave. and included the sale of office supplies, equipment and furniture. Gary eventually decided to separate the printing service from the rest of the company and formed Daubenmire's Printing with his wife Loretta in 1982.

Operation was held in the building that is now home to the Chamber of Commerce from 1982-99 before moving to its current location at 1527 Central Ave. Gary runs daily production while Loretta oversees the administrative and financial aspects of the business. With only four employees, including themselves, the husband and wife team create a warm, inviting atmosphere through friendly conversation and excellent customer service.

Daubenmire's offers digital color prints, wide format, four color process printing and professional graphic design for use on brochures, letterhead, envelopes, business cards and more. Binding services include folding, collating, perforating and laminating, as well as mailing items for the customer.

The company has changed drastically in recent years to include digital services. The Daubenmires pride themselves on keeping up with changing formats when many companies do not. These changes have allowed them to continue serving existing customers while adding new clients such as Cincinnati State students (who receive discounts on copies and color printing).

Moving forward with technology and new clients has not changed their small business mindset, however. Gary states, "we like being small. We have a lot of great clients and are very close with many of them. Some clients we've had for 25 years." Whether a printing job is big or small, the Daubenmires assure their customers, "we can handle it!"

Daubenmire's Printing is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Source: www.downtownmiddletown.org