Printers merge into new firm
By GENE ZALESKI, T&D Staff WriterSaturday, May 17, 2008Orangeburg’s Bill Wise Printers announced it officially merged with Orangeburg’s Sir Speedy Printing to form Williamson Printing Inc. effective April 30.
Williamson Printing Inc. will be located at the former 5,500-square-foot Bill Wise Printers at 1156 Broughton St.
Owner George Williamson said with the exception of a name change, customers will be able to expect the same customer service they have experienced both at Bill Wise and Sir Speedy.
The merger will not impact the number of employees.
And history will also be preserved, Williamson said.
The Bill Wise mural on the Amelia Street side of the building will remain just as it is.
The prominent mural features several old Orangeburg scenes.
George’s son, James Wesley, will partner with him in the Orangeburg office.
“Wesley and I are extremely excited about our new venture in Orangeburg,” Williamson said. “We feel strongly that we can support this community with outstanding quality and service. We look forward to being a vital part of this community for a long time.”
The print shop kept the Bill Wise name as one that customers would recognize. Wise spent about 50 years in the printing business and the printer had in many ways become an Orangeburg landmark.
But Williamson said with the Williamson family presence in the community for the past three years, the time to change the name and to assume a name of their own arrived.
“We just thought better of it because as you traveled around this area, everybody knows Bill Wise,” Williamson said. “Since we are doing this merger and have been here three years ... why not put our name to it? So that 10 years down the road, hopefully, everybody will know who the Williamsons are. I think the timing is good now.”
Christine Hollar, the former owner of Sir Speedy, will become a sales associate at Williamson Printing Inc.
“We are hoping our valued customers will continue with us,” Hollar said. “I will be available as I have been for them in the past.”
The 8,000-square-foot John C. Calhoun Drive Sir Speedy building will be sold or leased.
The Williamsons are no strangers to the paper printing business.
Williamson’s mother and grandmother have been in the paper printing business for about 30 years in the Lumberton, N.C., area.
Williamson Printing will provide fax services, full-service copying (both black and white and color), wide-format printing posters and banners, graphic design and layout, single, multiple and four-color-process printing and high-volume printing.
Williamson Printing will create business cards, letterheads, envelopes, brochures, carbonless forms, souvenir booklets, church programs, funeral programs, medical forms, wedding announcements and programs.
The business also will design and screen print T-shirts and offer color transfer.
Williamson Printing will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, call 803-531-4999 or 531-1660 or 803-531-1661.
