Graphic Expressions is a women-owned family business and has been part of the community since 1981. We serve many companies both locally and throughout the West Coast. Our focus is on helping clients find the best solution for any printing or mailing project. Services begin at design conception and include all phases of production, packaging and delivery methods.
Why would two women quit their jobs and start their own printing company in their garage? Because they had a desire to meet their customers' needs, they knew they could make good decisions, and they had a willingness to work hard.
Louann Richards, President of Graphic Expressions, is a graduate of the MHCC Graphic Technology Program. She has extensive printing and design knowledge and has sold printing in the Portland area since 1981. You can contact Louann at louann@graphic-expressions.net.
Cindy Richards Duyck, Louann's daughter, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Portland State University. After college, Cindy entered the printing industry working for a local printing company with Louann. You can contact Cindy at cindy@graphic-expressions.net.
Realizing that computers were changing the printing environment and feeling an urge to meet customers' needs, they started their own business (R Printing Services, Inc.) in Louann's garage in January 17 of 1994.
Just a few months later (August 1994) Louann and Cindy purchased Graphic Expressions, a Tigard printing company struggling through bankruptcy. Louann and Cindy made many equipment and management changes, focusing on service and quality. Within two months a profit was seen.
In 1998, a very significant customer encouraged Louann to expand the business to include fulfillment services. Louann's other daughter, Kim Spickerman, joined the company.
To accommodate this expansion, a large warehouse in the Tualatin area was purchased. The building was just the right size and price but it was still in foreclosure and had been abandoned for over a year. With a lot of hard work, Louann’s family changed it into what it is today: a bustling printing and fulfillment business.
Testimonial
Graphic Expressions’ staff are creative, friendly, and a joy to work with.
With just our product information, the staff at Graphic Expressions developed brochures for our small manufacturing company that portray our products in a way that really intrigues our customers. We found the staff creative, friendly, and a joy to work with. In addition, we were provided ideas for cost savings, so our marketing material looked great, and came in under budget!
Brenda Fitzgerald
BBF Custom Products Inc.
Read More