Meagan Foote Joins Minuteman Press Franchise in Olympia, Washington as Second-Generation Co-Owner
November 04, 2021 // FranchiseMarketingSolutions // OLYMPIA, Wash. – For over 31 years, Minuteman Press in Olympia, Washington has been owned and operated by Clo and Jim Foote. Their daughter Meagan, who was 13 years-old when Clo and Jim bought the business, has now joined her parents as co-owner. Everything has certainly come full circle for Meagan, and she shares her insights everything from growing up in the business all those years ago to helping her parents grow their Minuteman Press franchise today.
Meagan says, “Growing up in the family business was an experience I hold dear to my heart. My parents purchased Minuteman Press when I was 13 years-old and I rode the city bus after school to join them at the shop, usually for some collating, typesetting, or binding…dinner included. Friday nights were extra special because we were involved with my school’s football program and of course, we did the printing for that as well.”
She continues, “Back in those days, we hand collated and saddle stitched, so you’d find my family walking in circles around the table with the old fashioned collating trees. Wow, times have changed. Thankfully we’re blessed with equipment that can handle that sort of job now!”
She adds, “I’m forever grateful for the life lessons I was able to learn through watching my parents and their dedication they put forth in becoming successful business owners. I continued working for my parents throughout high school and managed their second location until I was 25, and at that point, I switched gears and married into a landscaping business.”
Prior to joining the family business as co-owner, Meagan owned and operated a landscaping business. As Clo and Jim slowly make their way to retirement, Meagan said now was the time to join them. She explains, “It’s my time to give back to them and continue growing our family business as they have done for me. Not only do we work well together, we have had a substantial increase in sales, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to join the best team. We have an incredible staff and we wouldn’t have been able to achieve our goals without them. Jim & Clo, my super supporters and parents; Shane, our back of the house manager and press operator; Chloe, our magical graphic designer; and Kevin, the finisher, are amazing to work with and have all stepped up to help, support, and guide me as I grow into the business. Times have changed and the industry has changed, and I’ve had a lot to learn to get back in the game and I couldn’t ask for a better team.”
Already, Meagan’s involvement has paid off. She says, “Minuteman Press in Olympia has opened up the floodgates of communication with our clients. Offering them quicker turnaround times, increasing social media access, online capabilities, and impeccable customer service are the things that have been setting us apart from the rest. We’ve had to achieve a higher level of flexibility to meet customers’ needs during the pandemic and have continued on that mission. We focus on really bringing back the importance of community, and value of supporting local businesses to gain more business and that has been the key to our success. Every Door Direct Mail has been huge, as well as label-making and wide format & digital printing.”
Print remains vital in helping local businesses increase their brand awareness and visibility, especially right now. Meagan says, “Before coming back to Minuteman Press, I often wondered if printing would still be a thing…and trust me, it is definitely still booming. Businesses still need visibility & creative marketing, now more than ever with our hope for a full economic recovery. It’s items like signage, disposable menus, promotional products, brochures, and business cards, just to name a few, that have been and will remain essential to our clients. There are more walk-ins and Internet hits of new clients as things have progressively improved in our community and it’s exciting to see regrowth and we are here to help in any way possible.”
Meagan credits increased marketing and flexibility for their sales growth, saying, “Marketing has been one thing that has really changed for us. It used to be cold calling and driving to local businesses to reach out. Now, we’re concentrating on social media and our website to gain more visibility and receiving outstanding reviews. Our clients have utilized our online services, which has been a win-win for all, as more people have adapted to working from home. This has been a wild ride for the last couple of years, but again, flexibility has been the key to success and growth.”
In addition, Meagan appreciates the support from Minuteman Press International. “We couldn’t ask for better support within a franchise! The team at Minuteman Press locally and corporate are always there when you need them…just an email, text, or call away. They’ve always got our back with whatever we need including printing suppliers and equipment, new product information, and continued support for Minuteman Press FLEX software. Through it all, we know we always have the support and help we need to move forward.”
When asked about the future, Meagan answers, “If I could look into a crystal ball, I’d like to keep growing and see my parents join the Minuteman Press President’s Million-Dollar Circle! After more than 30 years and counting, I’d love to have them slowly retire with excitement and happiness. That’s what it’s all about, right? If you don’t wake up and look forward to your day, you’re doing something wrong.”
She concludes, “My plans for the future are to continue my parents’ legacy through Minuteman Press. I love what I do, and I believe that helping our clients reach their goals will be the key to our own success. Continuing the family business is a dream come true and I will strive to keep the relationships with the community that my family has worked hard to create.”
Minuteman Press in Olympia is located at 1025 Black Lake Blvd., Olympia, WA 98502. For more information, call 360-754-8779 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/wa/olympia20
SOURCE Minuteman Press International
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