From Small Print Shop to Leading Commercial Printer
Since it was founded in 1969, the journey of Olympus Press as a company has been a testament to innovation, dedication, and a commitment to quality. From a small Seattle print shop with just a single letterpress machine growing to an award-winning commercial print company, the legacy of our business is how a continued focus on quality can leave a lasting impact on your local community.
1969: A Letterpress and a Dream
Our story begins with a single letterpress machine in the backyard of a small West Seattle home in 1969. Frank Vertrees, the founder of Olympus Press, first learned the trade of printing from the White Center News office under a pressman there. From hand-setting type to plating to die-cutting, he was given a rapid education in everything it would take to run a print shop. He took quickly to learning not just the technical aspects of printing but the creativity involved in bringing everything together to make great designs shine and also at large scales and under deadlines.
The Early Days
Seeing a need in the local community, Frank took his new skills and set up a small letterpress with his friend John Moffat in a shed in his backyard. They started getting small batch jobs from friends and small local businesses. As they continued to show quality with each small project, word of mouth spread and their small client base began to grow as well as the variety of jobs they were able to tackle.
Rapid Expansion
As their reputation grew, they were able to rapidly expand from a single letterpress to two Davidson duplicators, a dark room setup, and a semi-automatic paper cutter. This increase in equipment gave them greater capacity to print for larger and larger clients. This also allowed them to expand the sophistication of the jobs they could undertake from basic note cards and business cards to brochures, advertising pads and stationery.
Building a Reputation
No matter the size of the work they secured, they made it a priority to leave a memorable impression with each project. The early days were filled with many of the printed items we still print today: business cards, custom stationary, advertising pads, and brochures. Frank recalled one of their first big jobs for the Block Steel company printing advertising pads: “What would take a larger operation a few hours, took us multiple days with our little duplicators but we just made it work and got it done.” That dedication and hand-crafted workmanship started spreading a reputation for Olympus Press as a dependable and high-quality print shop Seattle needed.
Outgrowing the Backyard
The success of the business meant the operation started to feel the constraints of their small location quickly. Large delivery trucks at all hours of day and night began to wear on the neighborhood’s patience, so it was clear they’d need to find a new location.
John, the original cofounder, also decided to move on from print and join the police department so Frank bought him out of the young business for a handsome $35.
Frank’s Good Friend Glenn Blue Joins Olympus Press as Co-owner
In 1976, Glenn Blue joined the Olympus Press team and would continue on to play a central role in the growth and expansion of the company over the many decades that followed. Frank and Glenn had originally met through competitive sports car rallies and Glenn had helped Frank out a few times with some long print runs. Growing tired of work in electronics and retail, his experience helping Frank on these projects peaked his interest. The two of them soon decided to partner as co-owners of Olympus Press in the promising business of print together.
1978: Expanding in West Seattle
As the demand for high-quality print solutions grew, so did Olympus Press. In 1978, they found a new location at 35th Ave SW and SW Webster St. The larger space, which previously housed a corner drug store and doctor’s office, gave them ample room to expand their services and add new, badly needed equipment. They moved everything from the previous location and were able to expand their equipment to accommodate the larger print projects.
Upgrading Equipment
Among the equipment they added was a single color Heidelberg KORD 64 as well as their first four color Heidelberg as well as a full bindery and expanded darkroom equipment. These additions allowed them to increase in production capacity and also to offer more refined and intricate print solutions. The many improvements put them on the map as a leading local print shop in Seattle.
1993: Facility Expansion to Tukwila WA
The mid-90s marked another significant milestone for our print shop. In 1993, we relocated to a larger facility in Tukwila where we are today. This expansion allowed us to upgrade to a six-color, Heidelberg press, a two color GTO offset press, and multiple digital presses.
In-House Finishing Services
Investing in a stitcher and bindery, along with an additional cutter, enabled us to provide comprehensive finishing services in-house. This made it possible to control the quality and timeline of our projects more effectively, ensuring our clients received their orders on time while maintaining our high standards.
Improved Logistics
The warehouse expansion included a larger inventory space, which improved our logistics, shipping and fulfillment capabilities. With more space, we could manage larger print runs and store more materials, enabling complex kitting and inventory management services for our clients.
Digital Transformation
Transitioning the plating process from developing negatives in an analog process to a full digital workflow was a major shift and it revolutionized our production line. This change not only streamlined our operations but also reduced waste and improved the accuracy of our prints. The digital plates provided sharper images and faster turnaround times as well.
New digital equipment at the Tukwila location
Office Expansion
In 1999, Olympus Press expanded its office space on the existing property, adding a conference room, more offices, and a new entrance to the growing company. These additions improved our client interactions and provided a more comfortable working environment for our employees and is what you see today when you visit us.
The Digital Revolution
Innovating in Print with Technology
We began work on a new print innovation called HDOP which stands for High Definition On Press in the late 90s that would dramatically change the quality of print we were able to produce. We brought together technologies from Kodak, Creo and Heidelberg to allow us to manufacture a dot size smaller than a strand of hair with special screening. This eliminated many print issues including screen moirés, lack of color saturation and limited object detail. We introduced this technology for full time use at a summit at the Tower Club in downtown Seattle in 2000. HDOP technology also helped us print on a wider spectrum of materials with excellent results.
On-Demand Printing
The inclusion of digital technology revolutionized our operations, enabling us to provide faster turnaround times without compromising on quality. Our clients benefited from a wider range of services, including complex print jobs that required a blend of offset and digital techniques.
Digital printing allowed us to offer on-demand printing, which significantly reduced waste and lowered costs for our clients. This was particularly beneficial for small businesses and individuals who needed high-quality prints in smaller quantities.
The Print Green Initiative
In the mid 2000’s, our focus shifted to recycled papers and encouraging the print industry to move to environmentally responsible production. Olympus Press was the leader in the field with the Print Green summits during this time. This was a large gathering of print and paper designers that heard from many of Seattle’s largest industry leaders on how they planned to use recycled paper products in their businesses. The paper manufacturing industry responded at that time with an explosion of environmentally responsible products that we continue to enjoy today.
Matt Vertrees Joins the Olympus Press Team
Matt Vertrees, Frank’s son, began working at the company in January 2005 while studying at Green River College. Initially starting in shipping, Matt steadily grew in experience within the business before heading off to study at Rochester Institute of Technology. In 2010, after graduating with a degree in New Media Publishing and Print Production, Matt jumped into project management before heading up digital printing operations and overseeing prepress and then production. His hands-on experience and leadership in production and project management played a key role in modernizing Olympus Press while continuing the high standards of quality his father had established.
Web-To-Print with MyProject
The integration of digital technology enhanced our ability to customize print jobs. Variable data printing became a key service, allowing us to personalize each piece of print for our clients. Everything came together with the launch of MyProject a web-to-print solution for easily reordering personalized printed items online in the mid 2010s. This new system completely automated the order process, allowed for easy reordering from large companies and organizations and rapid turnaround times.
One philosophy Glenn learned from his days in retail was not to cheapen a product for the sake of the almighty dollar. The goal was always to provide a high-quality service at a reasonable price. Olympus Press might not be the cheapest, but we deliver a quality product that performs precisely to the vision of our clients. We strive for excellent communication and take the time to get it right. The right employees, the right equipment and the right approach can only end up as an excellent result.
2023: The Next Generation of Print
Continuing the values of tradition and innovation, in 2023, Frank Vertrees’ son, Matt Vertrees, took over the operations. Matt brings a fresh perspective while staying true to the legacy of hard work and ingenuity laid down by our founders. Under Matt’s leadership, we continue to evolve, embracing new technologies and methodologies to serve our clients better.
Looking to the Future
As we reflect on our history of hard work and innovation, we are excited about the future of Olympus Press, poised to solve business problems with the latest print technology and sustainable solutions. With a focus on growth and continually improving the customer experience, we are dedicated to expanding our services, exploring new markets, and providing exceptional print solutions for many years to come.