Steve Bright comes to the party for an old mate and fellow apprentice, Richard Cambridge, bringing his business into BART n PRINt when it came time for him to exit the industry.
In the tightly knit printing community of Bendigo it’s not uncommon for graphic arts professionals to work closely together. Bright served his apprenticeship in the long-established local Cambridge Printers, under Warren Cambridge – who sadly passed away some weeks ago – yet competed with son Richard Cambridge in the general commercial printing market.
He knew the family and he knew the business. He was also aware that Richard wanted to exit the industry, so it took very little consideration when the opportunity was offered to him in conversation.
The two businesses were a mere 500 metres apart in Bendigo so the Cambridge premises were sold and the three remaining employees, under manager Mark Lower, came to bART n PRINt. It is Bright’s intention to retain the individual identities of the two operations, valuing the long tradition and client loyalty of his former employer.
Taking on new business is nothing new to the switched on Bendigo printer. Over the years he has bolted on a number of printing operations: Golden Banner Printing Service in Castlemaine came first in 2004 followed by Digitype, a large format business in 2008 from Colin Barr.
“Colin and I were in art school together in 1973. He is still working for bART n PRINt. We also took over Creative Rural Printers in St Arnaud north east of Bendigo in November 2011. I went to see them about selling their antique wooden letterpress type and printing equipment and ended up buying the company, “ said Bright.
Creative Rural Printers services the fruit and vegetable markets with general commercial printing and like the others was relocated to the Bart n Print factory in Bendigo.
“It’s a pretty exciting time for me with everyone fitting in quite well. We now have 16 staff and we’re looking around, growing and developing the signage business,” he said.
Bright has a strong traditional attitude and affection for the printing industry where he’s worked all his life. Apart from looking at upgrading his offset and digital production capabilities, he is looking to develop a letterpress studio to pass on the craft of printing to students. “I love type and I’ve been collecting typefaces for 20 years. It’s something I’d like to do,” he said.
He also has a willingness to experiment and move beyond conventional commercial printing. Bart n Print boasts an Agfa Anapurna wide format inkjet as well as a Multicam router for signage work. It is expanding into such products as engraving. There is some ‘for trade’ work for local printers especially in laminating. This is reciprocated by sending out work Bart n Print requires to have done.
There are at least five serious printing enterprises in Bendigo and surrounds, down from the 24 some years ago. Steve Bright is aware that the demand for printing is shrinking and will continue to do so. While business is relatively stable at present he believes it is important to continue a long-term engagement and support of local organisations. It seems to be part of this local printer’s DNA.
And the secret of his success? “Hard work and persistence. I don’t look back but keep an eye for the next opportunity,” he said.