From Speedy Print to PaperGraphics and FastSigns: 48 years of service

By JANNA ZEPP | Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR

In the 1970s, Elwood Smith traveled the state for work and, occasionally, he needed handouts. He went to the local printer for 200 copies and was told that the minimum order was 2,000 and it took two weeks to get it.

“Xerox copiers had not been invented yet, there were very few fax machines, no personal computers, no laptops, no internet, and no cell phones,” Elwood says. “If you were a schoolteacher and needed 30 copies of a lesson plan, your choices were limited. You could use a smelly spirit duplicator, or you could retype a matrix and put it on a messy mimeograph. Both required time and patience, and they were prone to mistakes.”

Most printers in the mid-20th century required a minimum of at least 1,000 copies — sometimes more — because making the printing plate was a complicated procedure and it took anywhere from half a day or longer to complete.

First you must have a camera large enough to make a full size negative, let it dry, then use the negative to burn a metal plate. It was not profitable to do short run printing. And it was not practical to offer printing quickly.

“Early in 1972, I happened to be in San Antonio for a meeting and came across a new business called Quick Printing. I went inside and asked for 200 copies and inquired as to how long it would take. To my amazement, they said I could wait for it. Not only that, I was privileged to watch them do it, and voila! In about five minutes, it was printed, wrapped and sold to me at an extremely competitive price. As I walked out the door, I remember thinking, ‘This is the future,’” Elwood says.

The new technology that revolutionized this procedure was the five-minute platemaker. The customer submitted the original to be copied, it went into the new machine and one minute later, out came the plate. The printer put the plate on a printing press and in five minutes or so, out came the finished product. This is what created “instant printing.” In March 1972, Elwood opened his first instant printing shop, Speedy Print, in Temple.

“Later, I purchased an offset press and rented a small room approximately 12′ x 12′ at the old SPJST Building and set up the first Speedy Print. I got the manuals out and started reading. In one weekend I learned how to make a plate and how to put the plate on the tabletop offset press and start printing. And in March of 1972, we opened our first Speedy Print. We made 100 copies for $3.95 ‘while you wait.’ And, luckily, it was an idea whose time had come. It was successful from day one,” he says.

In the early years it was a lot of hard work and sacrifice for both Elwood and his wife, Ann. Their first employee was their oldest daughter Darla. Today, he and his sons, Dennis and Doug are partners.

The business model was “short run” fast turn-around duplicates. Later, customers wanted Speedy Print to prepare documents. They wanted all kinds printing like commercial printers did, but faster. Elwood felt the name Speedy Print no longer communicated what the actual business did. The name was changed to PaperGraphics to better communicate to customers what services the business offered them.

In 2016, the company added FastSigns, which allowed the Smiths to do banners, floor graphics and all kinds of outdoor and indoor signs.

“Our slogan is ‘more than fast; more than signs,’” Elwood says. Both PaperGraphics and FastSigns are in the same location for customer convenience.

“I won’t say that working with your family doesn’t have its challenges but, overall, it is great,” Doug Smith says. “Dennis and his wife, Gena, and my wife, Lisa, have all worked here at some point and most of our kids have had to come down and help get jobs done.”

Doug says his favorite part of the job is the flexibility that comes with owning the business. He says that although he must be at the shop a lot, he can still be involved in the community and have time to be with his family.

“I do like the challenges and opportunities that it brings. Starting FastSigns brought a whole new adventure with learning a somewhat new industry for us but it has been great,” he says. “We can offer signs and printing, so you do not have to use two different companies. We can print your business cards and do your outdoor signage.”

The Smith family loves to embrace new technology. They enthusiastically look for new ways accomplish tasks. All printing started as analog and now almost everything PaperGraphics and FastSigns does is digital.

“We have always tried to put the customer first. If buyer customer service representatives are busy and a new customer walks through the door, they are taught to speak to that customer and acknowledge their presence,” Elwood says. “I know this is a little thing, but it is a big thing to me. Also, if we locked the door at 5:00 PM and someone comes at 5:10 PM and we are still inside, we let them in.”

“We strive to make a good product for a fair price. I want to provide for my family, and for my employees and their families. I also want you to be happy with the product that you receive from us,” Doug adds.