All good things must come to an end, but luckily, endings often mean new beginnings, as well. On Tuesday, Bob Sanders sold his business, Sanders Printing Co., to Preferred Printing, a sale that came about after several months of discussion.
"Sanders Printing Co., Garretson's oldest main street business, and perhaps South Dakota's oldest non-agriculture family business, has been sold to a Sioux Falls printing firm," Sanders announced.
"The Sanders Printing Co. was formed in 1906 when J. G. (John) Sanders bought the Garretson News," Sanders said. "He was one of seven brothers who were raised in a homestead near Nemaha, NE, a small Missouri River town a few miles north of the Kansas border. All of them would be associated with news papering throughout the Midwest and Great Plains."
John had been mentored by his oldest brother, Benjamin Franklin Sanders.
"He [B.F.] started the tradition when he was a "printers devil" at the neighboring Brownsville, NE paper. As each brother turned 14 or 15, B.F. would pull them into the paper, train them for a year or two, then send them on their way when the next brother came of age," Sanders said.
After 115 years of ownership by one family, everything will officially be transferred on February 1. At that time, order entry, invoicing, and payroll, will transfer. Over the next month and as space is opened up at the Sioux Falls plant, machinery such as printing presses and bindery equipment will be moved. Production will continue throughout.
"Our production manager, Al Hinz, will now be part of the Preferred Printing staff," Sanders explained. "Over the past 15 years Al has laid down almost every ounce of ink on every sheet of paper that has gone through our operation. He knows every job of every customer and can make sure everything flows through production and delivery smoothly."
Sanders himself isn't quite done, however. He noted to the Gazette that he's likely to retire three days after he's laid in the ground. He plans to continue working on a part-time basis with Preferred Printing for the next year, and will retain the rights to his company and the Sanders Printing building.
"I plan on being available to all of our customers," Sanders said. "Hopefully, all they will notice is my cell phone number and a new email address." The current phone number will be automatically forwarded to Preferred Printing.
"Sanders Printing began when John G acquired the Garretson News from two men listed in the paper's masthead only as "Swift & Ham," Sanders said. "The paper itself started as the 'Palisades Progress', and moved to Garretson when the new town was formed. It went through many hands in its early years, with one gentleman buying and selling it three different times. And since coming into the Sanders' possession, eight different family members have owned all or been a partner in the company over the past 115 years." Sanders noted that ownership passed from his great-grandfather William Wesly, to William Franklin, to Clifford DeWitt, and finally to Bob and his brother, Bill. Bill's stock was bought out several years ago, leaving Bob as sole owner and operator.
Connie Tiensvold Atwood is the owner of Preferred Printing, and discussions began several months ago.
"Connie's operation is very similar to ours," said Sanders, "with much the same product mix and equipment. We will be making the transition over the next couple months and hope to make it entirely seamless for our customers."
"Preferred Printing is a full-service printing company dedicated to exceptional customer service, superior products, and competitive pricing," Atwood said. She noted that they also specialize in commercial printing, digital printing, mailing services, graphic design, large format printing, and printed signage. They have been serving the Sioux Falls area since 1993.
"We look forward to serving you with the same exceptional printing services as you are accustomed to with Sanders Printing, including free delivery service to locations in Sioux Falls and the surrounding communities," Atwood said.
"As you might imagine, after having worked in this plant for nearly 70 years, I have mixed emotions about ending the Sanders' four generations of ownership, but the time has come and I believe this will prove the perfect solution," Sanders wrote in a letter to customers. "In the past Connie and I have had several occasions to help each other out when one of our projects needed outside assistance, such as when our own equipment couldn't handle a particular job. She has bailed me out more than once.
"Speaking for the entire line of Sanders who have been part of this company, I want you to know how much having you as a customer has been appreciated, and we thank you for your trust in us for over a century."
