Local printer is considering new facility to house merged operation
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff Writer
Since 1933, the Bulletin has served printing and office supply needs for the Burlington area.
Now, it is time for owners Lynn and Gordy Gruenke to – in Lynn’s words – start the next phase of their lives.
“My son is grown and gone,” Lynn Gruenke said Friday in explaining why she and her husband have sold The Bulletin to Minuteman Press. “I just want to slow down.
The Bulletin and Minuteman Press sent out correspondence to its customers last week, explaining the sale – on letterhead showing both companies’ graphics and the statement, “Together We CAN.”
The letter explains the details of the change, which include the following:
• Bulletin designer Tracey Isler and pressman Rick Smith have both accepted positions with Minuteman Press as of June 1. They will join Minuteman owner Jim Little and his staff designers – Michelle Kreft and Laura Lois – as well as pressman Steve Vrees.
• In order to accommodate what is expected to be a larger business, Minuteman Press will be relocating to a larger facility. Little is fairly sure where the new location will be, but didn’t want to announce it until plans were finalized.
• During the month of June, printing orders will still be processed at the Bulletin office. Those with established open accounts will be offered terms for an open account at Minuteman Press.
• A liquidation of office supplies and existing items at the Bulletin office will take place through the month of June.
Lynn Gruenke bought 50 percent of the Bulletin in 1984, along with partners Jack and Susan Stardy. She bought out both partners in 1996, and her husband joined the company at that time.
However, Lynn said, it is time to start a new chapter, and she is pleased with the sale of the business to Minuteman.
“It was very important to me that our customers were going to be well taken care of,” she explained, thanking the community for its support. “And we wanted it, preferably, to stay local.”
In looking for a potential buyer for the Bulletin, Lynn Gruenke spoke with Joe Busch at Bear Realty, who in turned connected them with Little.
“Joe Busch had the perfect solution, basically,” Lynn said.
Little said the two companies have existed with “friendly competition” since 2004 when he took over Minuteman, and he’s looking forward to the transition.
“It’s a merger that’s a buyout,” said Little. “(I’m) absolutely ecstatic. One, the ease of how everything worked out, and, two, just to be able to have enough that we can go into a larger facility and still be the one printer in town, helps locals out.
“There’s something to be said about 30 years of goodwill in the community,” Little added about Lynn and Gordy Gruenke’s work. “That’s truly what I purchased.”
For more information, contact the Bulletin at 763-3501 or Minuteman Press at 763-3000.
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