188 Front Street • Berea, OH 44017 ph: 440.243.1080 • fx: 440.234.1080
Berea Printing Company was started in January 1967 as a part-time printing business by father and son, Dick and Jim Dettmer. Dick had a printing background and was currently working for a paper company. Air Force veteran and newly-married (to his high school sweetheart Linda) Jim was about to receive a business degree from Baldwin-Wallace. With a $400 initial investment, they purchased their first press, a used Multilith 1250. After moving the press to the basement of Dick’s home on Eastland Road and purchasing necessary supplies, Berea Printing was in business! Their first customers included Berea Kiwanis Club, Dickey-Grabler Company (where Jim worked), Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea Methodist Church and Russell Realtors and all continue to be customers. New customers continued to be discovered through word of mouth and during the next several years, equipment was added slowly on an “as needed” and “as funds were available” basis including a hand-fed letterpress with many type trays, one of which is on display at the shop. By 1971, it became apparent that it was going to be necessary to either curtail continued growth or embark in the printing business on a full-time basis. At this time, the business was incorporated and Jim became the sole stockholder.
After a good deal of deliberation, the decision was made for Jim to pursue the printing business on a full-time basis in December 1971 and Dick decided to retire. Jim’s last day at his full-time purchasing job was the day his son, Jeff, was born (yes, the same Jeff who is running Berea Printing today!). Linda took on the “casual labor” duties of collating, folding, etc. as well as typesetting. She worked at home or in the evening until their 2 children were in school. She joined Jim and several others working full-time and retired in 1997 after 30 years. In the Spring of 1974, more room was needed and Berea Printing Company moved into approximately 1000 square feet in the rear portion of 50 Front Street (Arnold’s Dime Store) and was the first of three Front Street locations we have had. Each subsequent Front Street move provided additional space. The subsequent purchase of two small typesetting/printing businesses resulted in an ever-increasing amount of business. Additional offset presses as well as a letterpress, and other specialized equipment have been added and as a result, capacity and volume increased as well as the number of customers. At the present time, there are 9 employees including 2 who have been with the company since 1979. Our employees have contributed to the success of Berea Printing Company and we value their contributions to the success of Berea Printing Company. The third generation is now running the company. Jeff Dettmer joined the company in 1995 after graduating with a business degree from Baldwin-Wallace. The graphic arts business has changed over the last 40 years and we are proud that we have kept pace with the rapidly changing technology. Our computer to plate system was recently upgraded to become the most environmentally friendly platemaking system available. And speaking of ‘green’, Berea Printing has been recycling and being environmentally friendly long before it was trendy.
We're not just printers… we're problem solvers!

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