Print veteran Peter Hutchinson's choice to close up shop and walk away from his 37-year-old Brisbane printing business Colony Printing was the hardest decision because it was his life, according to his son, Paul.
"It has been an extremely long and hard road for Peter, trying to run an already high pressure business, and dealing with his health issues as well," said Paul Hutchinson, via email.
“Something had to give, so It was his health he chose. Walking away after 37 years was the hardest decision because it was his life and it ruined whatever retirement there was supposed to be. Now, it is a battle to try to save what’s left for his life to come.”
A meeting earlier this month of the owners of Darnick Company – trustee for the Hutchinson Family Trust, trading as Colony Printing and Colony Stationery – decided to wind up the company.
Liquidators Jonathan McLeod and Bill Karageozis of McLeod & Partners told a creditors’ meeting last week that the landlord had taken possession of the premises. Machinery and other assets will now go to auction.
“It’s a pity because they were a good company to deal with,” one creditor told Print21.
Peter Hutchinson established Colony Printing in 1979 and it evolved into a well-established print shop offering a full range of digital and offset services, including small to very large print runs, single colour to multicolour, as well as direct mail, design, binding and distribution.
“It has been a testing time for myself and my family, and would like to say thank-you for the understanding and genuine people out there, that have helped my father over the past 3 decades,” says Paul Hutchinson, who will continue to run CP Digital, a separate company.
“I am just a small operator, offering Signs, Banners, POS, and the odd small print run. What I couldn’t do, Colony did; what Colony couldn’t do, CP Digital did.
“CP Digital is a separate entity and was a creation of myself to try to help out in the ever-changing industry. This is my passion and has always been my passion, the digital sector of the printing industry. It is not a big operation, it is a husband and wife business, where we can offer the good old service, with low overheads.
“After the closure of Colony, I had put my hand-up to take calls from creditors and debtors to give them the respect they deserve and to steer them where they needed to go.”
The main Colony creditors are the banks and a handful of suppliers, says Hutchinson.
Auctioneer O’Maras says a webcast onsite auction of printing equipment at the Darnick Street, Underwood premises will open in the next few days and end on Tuesday, 4 April.
Machinery up for sale will include:
Fuji Xerox Versant 2100
Roland 4 colour A2
Sakuarai 5 colour A2
GTO 52
Die-cutter
Pre-press gear
Bindery department – folders/guillotines/binding line/pad printers etc.
A detailed list is expected to be posted online shortly, with an-site inspection times also being organised. More details available from graeme@omaras.com.au