JOHN McBride can’t believe the last 25 years has gone so quickly.
It’s quarter of a century this year since John started Seville Printing and Design.
He had been in the printing business for more than 20 years then, but he said getting a start in small but adequate premises behind Pace Motors gave him the start he needed to branch out into his own business in the Yarra Valley.
He started in 1964 as an apprentice at Victoria Printing Works and ran his own business in Coburg for three years before taking on the job of production manager at two printing companies.
Printing has been his life work and he still loves the craft, and working in the small Yarra Valley community.
Now located in larger premises in Woori Yallock, Seville Printing provides a broad range of off-set printing services to an established customer base including Yarra Ranges Council and the Yarra Valley and Mountain District Football League as well as local businesses including fruit and vegetable farmers, tradespeople and retailers, as well as many local clubs and community organisations.
He believes maintaining a personal approach, and being able to offer a reliable, quality product at competitive prices, and being part of the local community, is the key to a successful 25 years in business.
“I know my customers personally and over the years I have sponsored the local football clubs, CFA and SES,” he said.
Being adaptable is also important.
“Some of my customers still come in with hand written copy, and while more and more of the art work is computer generated, I am happy to work with my customers to get the job done,” John said.
Seville Printing can accommodate small and large print runs, collating and binding and has good contacts, if needed, to provide computer generated design work.
With the help of his wife Jacky, who does the bookwork and helps with collating and binding, John said he is looking forward to continuing to provide a personal printing service in the Yarra Valley.
Seville Printing and Design is at Unit 2/7-9 Symes Road, Woori Yallock.
Phone 5961 5814.