Brother-Sister Team John & Betty Strabley Celebrate One Year & Expand to Third Minuteman Press Franchise in Plainville, CT
February 28, 2025 // Franchising.com // In January of 2024, siblings John and Betty Strabley purchased two well-established Minuteman Press franchises in Enfield, CT and Springfield, MA. Then, in October of 2024, John and Betty expanded even further when they bought independent printing business Advanced Reprographics and opened Minuteman Press in Plainville, CT. As they celebrate one year in business, John and Betty share their insights on joining Minuteman Press and operating their three businesses.
Reflecting On One Year in Business in Enfield, CT & Springfield, MA
What was your background before Minuteman Press?
John: “I spent close to 25 years in management consulting, helping Fortune 500 companies improve their sales, marketing and customer experience. I used a combination of first-party data and primary research to inform who and how to engage customers and prospects in order to make their efforts more efficient and effective, thus improving the bottom line.”
Betty: “Before joining Minuteman Press, my background was in retail, specifically within the merchant organization. I worked closely with the buying team, managing their open-to-buy, ensuring that inventory levels aligned with sales forecasts and market demand. Most recently, I was with Christmas Tree Shops in Union, NJ, until the company closed last summer. This experience gave me strong skills in operations, inventory management, and understanding customer needs, which have translated well into running a business in the printing and marketing industry.”
What was the transition like for you after buying two established businesses?
Betty: “The transition was both exciting and challenging, as we worked to integrate ourselves into the businesses while maintaining the high level of service that customers had come to expect. One of the key advantages of purchasing these established locations was the built-in client base. Both locations had loyal customers who already trusted the Minuteman Press brand, providing a strong foundation for growth. This allowed us to hit the ground running.”
Another major benefit was retaining the existing staff. Their experience and knowledge of the business operations, as well as their relationships with customers, were invaluable in ensuring a smooth transition. Their support made it easier for us to learn the ropes and maintain continuity for our clients.
The guidance and support from Minuteman Press also played a significant role. From onboarding and training to ongoing assistance with systems like FLEX, the franchise provided the tools and resources we needed to succeed. Ray’s help during the setup process was particularly instrumental in making the transition seamless.”
What has the training and support been like for you?
John: “The initial corporate ‘boot camp’ with Tom and Pete was amazing! We were definitely drinking from the fire hose and a lot of what we learned didn’t fully sink in until we had taken over. They were great and I still refer back to the training materials from time to time. I have also reached out to them a few times since and they have been very helpful. When it came to the transition itself, Vinnie, Ray and Todd were a great team supporting us through the transition. I can’t imagine taking over a business without that level of support.”
Betty: “The training and support we’ve received from Todd Golberg and Minuteman Press have been outstanding and instrumental in our success. The local support from Todd has been a game-changer. His hands-on approach, accessibility, and willingness to guide us through challenges have been invaluable. Whether it’s brainstorming new ideas, navigating operational hurdles, or simply providing encouragement, Todd has been there every step of the way.”
What are your top 3 keys to growth and success during your first year in business?
- John & Betty – Customer Retention & Customer First Approach: “We made sure to specifically reassure customers that all of the staff, capabilities, their artwork and transaction history was being retained. That was their main concern. Given our backgrounds working in service and retail, we also understand that taking a customer first approach leads to success. We are big fans of the show Ted Lasso and I’ve put up a poster in our Enfield shop with key lessons from the show – one it ‘It’s Never Wrong to Do the Right Thing.’”
- Betty – Diverse Product Offerings: “In addition to traditional printing services, we now offer a wide range of products, including business cards, brochures, posters, safety apparel, and marketing materials. This diversification allows us to meet a broader set of customer needs, making us a one-stop solution for businesses.”
- John – Joining Networking Groups: “We’ve found the local Chambers of Commerce and other networking groups to be good sources of business leads. Also, it can be a bit lonely running your own business and many of these members are entrepreneurs as well and they have been a bit of a support group. I can’t say enough about getting involved in the right local groups.”
What are your high-demand products and key growth areas?
John: “We are quite fortunate that we have a very diverse customer base and revenue stream. Not one product makes up more than 12% of our annual revenue. That said, blueprints, apparel, booklets, envelopes, labels, forms, paper (mostly engineering) and signs made up about 60% of our annual revenue. Blueprints and engineering paper sales are very much a holdover from the prior ownership and it’s an area that we are looking to grow but also do more cross-selling into those customers. We have quite a few customers that just buy blueprints and paper from us but no doubt they need other business staples such as business cards and yard signs. Given Betty’s retail background, apparel is something that we made more of a conscientious effort to grow both from a sales standpoint as well as a capabilities standpoint. We added dye sublimation to our product and service offering while also investing in additional heat press capacity.”
What appealed to you about this business and expanding your footprint into Plainville?
John: “A third location wasn’t something we went out seeking but it was really just too good of an opportunity to pass up. The business had a very steady and profitable book of business but it was mostly selling blueprints and spec books. We immediately saw a great opportunity to cross-sell into these customers all of the other products and services we could offer by converting it into a Minuteman Press franchise.”
What was it like working with Todd Golberg and Minuteman Press on buying the business?
John & Betty: John shares, “Todd was great working with on this purchase. He developed a great rapport with the seller and Todd was the go between for both sides. I’ve always found Todd to be very transparent which I think both sides appreciated. In the end, Todd helped to broker a fair deal for both sides and he and Ray helped with the transition.” Betty adds, “Todd’s extensive experience and support made a potentially overwhelming process feel manageable and straightforward. It truly felt like a partnership, with Todd and Minuteman Press working alongside us to ensure the transition was smooth and our new venture was positioned for growth.”
What has the transition been like in Plainville?
Betty: “The transition has been both exciting and rewarding. The community response has been overwhelmingly positive, with both existing and new clients embracing the changes. We’ve worked hard to maintain the high standards that Advanced Reprographics was known for, while introducing the expanded range of services we now offer as part of Minuteman Press. This has allowed us to serve our customers even better and meet their evolving needs.”
What advice would you give to other owners?
John: “In real estate, they say it’s about location, location, location. For us, it’s network, network, and network! It’s a much more efficient way to get your name out there, gain brand recognition and awareness of your capabilities. You really want to be top of mind for as many people as possible and networking is a great way to do it.”
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Betty: “I’m incredibly proud of the journey we’ve been on so far and excited for what’s to come. This expansion has been a significant step in growing our business, and we’re grateful for the trust our community has shown us. We truly believe in the power of supporting local businesses, and we’re committed to providing top-tier service and solutions to help our clients succeed. As we continue to grow and evolve, we remain focused on delivering excellence and staying connected with our community. We look forward to the opportunities ahead and are excited to continue building lasting relationships with our clients.”
For more information on Minuteman Press in Enfield, CT, visit https://minuteman.com/us/locations/ct/enfield/.
For more information on Minuteman Press in Springfield, MA, visit https://minuteman.com/us/locations/ma/springfield/.
For more information on Minuteman Press in Plainville, CT, visit https://minuteman.com/us/locations/ct/plainville/.
Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com.
To learn about selling your printing business through Minuteman Press at no cost or broker fees to you, visit https://sellyourprintingbusiness.com.
SOURCE Minuteman Press
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