Ink to paper
The invention of the printing press is attributed to Johannes Gutenberg, a German goldsmith and inventor, in the 1400s. His invention revolutionized mass book production and the dissemination of information. Many books and newspapers have moved to the digital format, but ink to paper is not a lost form – just ask longtime Colorado residents Greg and Mary Anderson.
The Andersons believe “print transforms the landscape of businesses. It is a supplement to your digital presence. It is a broader segment to your current business and marketing efforts. When people recall a signage or pick up a brochure, that’s ink. That’s print.”
Actively engaging in their community, Greg and Mary Anderson are board members of the Chamber of Commerce for Castle Pines and Castle Rock, respectively.
The Andersons live in the Winter Berry neighborhood of the City of Castle Pines, and eight years ago after researching various industries, they decided to purchase a printing franchise, Minuteman Press. Initially, they opened two locations, one in Parker and one in Castle Rock. Wanting to preserve their personal time, they decided to close the Parker location and focus mainly on the Castle Rock store, which is located at 1263 Park Street.
The love of print runs in the family; their daughter worked for McMillian publishing in New York before moving back to Castle Rock in 2019. Minuteman Press caters not only to individual needs and small businesses, but also to the Douglas County School District, the City of Castle Pines, the Town of Castle Rock, as well as several other city agencies and municipalities.
Greg says they pride themselves on offering excellent customer service – helping customers from start to finish on their print jobs. Minuteman Press has a staff of three, two who are both graphic designers and involved in production. Greg said, “You will always reach a human at the store, unlike most online printing stores.”
When the Andersons first moved to Colorado Springs from Iowa in 2000, Greg worked in software, handling worldwide marketing, and Mary was a vice president at Travelers Insurance. With Greg accruing more than 230,000 miles per year in international travel, the Andersons decided their second career chapter would be self-employment.
“It is hard and you are solely responsible for the success of your business, but it is so rewarding,” added Mary. The shift from corporate to self-employment offered flexibility and allowed the Andersons to feed their passion of volunteering and being engaged in their community.
Greg sits on the board for the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce and Mary is a board member of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce. When they are not networking or meeting community needs, Greg is buried in reading books, while Mary gardens. They also spoil their grand fur baby, a 180-pound Great Dane.
To learn more about Minuteman Press, visit www.printingcastlerockco.com.
Mary Anderson dotes on her grand fur baby, Peri, also known as Ms. P, a 180-pound Great Dane.
By ViVi Somphon, photos courtesy of Greg Anderson
