Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Having a local printer at your disposal is of great value to a small community, and a rural area in general. It means instant service and faster turnaround times for your printing and office supply needs.
Print 5 has been taking care of those needs in the North Central Kansas area for almost 40 years. The business was opened by Mike LeClair in 1987 in his garage. He eventually relocated his shop to Concordia's Main Street.
In early 1999, the Blade-Empire Publishing Co. bought Print 5. In February of 2024, Sweet Tea Media purchased the Blade-Empire Publishing Co. With that purchase, Print 5 is now partnered with Sweet Tea Media's state-of-the-art printing capabilities, and has more than doubled the other services it can provide to customers.
"The new partnership with Sweet Tea Media and their printing house in Nebraska means that we have expanded the printed items our customers are able to purchase," said Craig Finlayson, the manager of Print 5. "We have a state-of-the-art Xante UV printer that can print on just about any type of media. We have printed corrugated yard signs, large-format picture panels, USB flash drives, and more. We've even printed on golf balls. You name it, and the chances are, we can print on it."
On January 27 of this year, Print 5 moved to its new address at 510 Washington Street, Suite B, next door to the Blade-Empire. "It’s a newly renovated space, and the fresh look gives Print 5 a facelift that works for the customers in viewing the selections offered,” said Finlayson.
Finlayson has been at Print 5 for 18 years and developed long-standing relationships with a plethora of clients. "I enjoy my customers and have developed many personal friendships with quite a few of them over those years,” he said. “That is what makes my job rewarding. We provide something here that a lot of small towns don’t have access to, and I feel that their appreciation gives me the motivation to do the best job possible for them.”
Quality products and services have always been the number-one priority of the Print 5 business. The store offers color printing, business cards, special order jobs, a variety of signs, envelopes, folders, brochures, flyers, carbonless forms, apparel, magazines, booklets, yard signs, pens, mugs, stickers, banners, office supplies, shredding service, fax service, stamps, computer repair, office furniture, table and chair rentals, wedding invitations, and free local deliveries.
Sweet Tea Media also owns the Beloit Call newspaper. Its office, located at 111 E. South Street in Beloit, provides a drop-off service for jobs from that area which are delivered to Concordia for a quick turnaround. They offer a pick-up service, as well.
Most jobs can be done on the same day. Even very large or unique orders that would require the specialties of Sweet Tea Media's printing house usually have a one-day turnaround.
"Cloud County Community College appreciates the relationship we have with our local business Print 5," said Carleen Nordell, the Director of Community Relations, Special Events, College Projects & Student Activities at the college. "When we need supplies for the college, they are always willing to get it ordered and delivered to us in a timely fashion."
Dan Farha, the owner of F&A Food Sales, Inc. said, "We have used Print 5 for many years for a variety of things. They provide good service, good products and are easy to work with. And purchasing locally has always been important to our company."
Print 5 is also high on the list for Ryan Swenson, the Co-Owner of Duis Meat Processing & Smoky River Meats. "I love the fact that I can get just about anything I need for my office at Print 5," Swenson said. "Craig is absolutely great to work with in figuring out exactly what I need. I try to keep as much of my business as local as possible and Print 5 is one of the places I choose to do business with and will continue to do so."
For all your printing and office supply needs - and so much more! - come visit the best printing shop in North Central Kansas.
Print 5 can be reached at 785-243-1520, and is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
