Area printers’ sucess remains poetic Justus

Three generations and 20 years of hard work make Springdale business a successful one

For Springdale’s Justus family, there’s at least a little printing ink flowing through their veins. Various members of the family have worked with all aspects of the printing process during the past 60 years, and the family business has grown from a small venture into a successful enterprise.

Twenty years ago, Tom and Thelma Justus and their son Bob started Just-Us Printers Inc. in Springdale. Tom Justus, a lifelong printing veteran, had decided to start his own venture.

He and Thelma left California for Springdale after Tom’s sister convinced him that Northwest Arkansas was a good area for new business. The couple began their business in a small 1,100-SF building.

This November marks 20 years for Just-Us Printers, located at 555 North Old Missouri Road in Springdale.

Bob Justus abandoned plans of moving to Utah and moved to Springdale to help his parents. A year later, Mike Justus, the couple’s other son, left his job selling mobile homes in Phoenix and joined the family.

In the beginning, just the four family members ran the business. Thelma managed the financial end, pinching pennies to get the business off the ground. Extra supplies like tissues and paper towels were brought by a different person each time to avoid excess spending.

Taking turns cleaning the office restrooms and minding other chores helped the Justus family eliminate the need for extra help.

“You just didn’t hire people for that kind of thing back then,” Mike Justus says. “There was a lot of sacrifice.”

Now, low rumbling of heavy machinery can be heard throughout the maze of departments, and 29 people are on the business’ payroll. Designers, press operators, plate makers and binders all participate to assemble a finished copy from the printers.

“We were fortunate to be in Northwest Arkansas because it is such a good growth area,” Mike Justus says.

Growing from a meager 1,100 SF-facility in 1979 to 18,000 SF in 1999, Just-Us Printers has thrived. Printing fliers and magazines for agencies or individuals make up the majority of orders for Just-Us Printers. Business cards and letterheads also contribute to the work load.

A commercial printer using flat-sheet printing, the business has a customer base of about a thousand clients, Mike Justus says. Flat-sheet printing allows the press to print one sheet at a time unlike the large continuous rolls used for newspaper printing.

Overcoming financial strain is one of the challenges faced by young businesses. However, existing also as a family business can pose trouble because relatives have to work together.

“It takes a special chemistry,” Mike Justus says. Keeping business separate from personal issues is important for his family’s relationship, Mike Justus says.

Meeting the challenges it was faced with as a young business, the printing company graduated to a new realm of decisions.

New technology forces constant upkeep in printing. Buying new equipment each year as older models break down or technology advances, Just-Us Printers must work to stay modern. Macintosh computers make up the design department in the company.

“You wouldn’t believe the money that goes into these things,” Mike Justus says.

Another factor to be considered by a business surviving 20 years is future management.

Just-Us Printers is a gift handed down from father to son through the family but not until the son has paid his proper dues. Having trained in every department of the business, Mike Justus stepped into his father’s position as president of the corporation five years ago.

Originally, Mike Justus did not expect to become president at an early age, but his brother, Bob, died of cancer at age 44. Because Bob Justus was the older brother, he had been expected to step up first.

Although Mike Justus does fill the president’s chair, his father, Tom, still visits the office every day to check on things and work on personal projects, despite his retirement, Mike Justus says.

“We love this business,” Mike Justus says. Although they all work together daily, business still comes up at family dinners with the Justus’.

“I grew up around printing,” Mike Justus says. At eight years old, Justus began helping his father print. Working with a camera, shooting a designed piece to use for making a metal plate, got Mike Justus started. Although most of the camera work has now been replaced by computers, Justus says, he will always be partial to that particular portion of the process.

“My true love is camera work,” Mike Justus says.

Just as Mike Justus trained in the printing processes, his son, Brett, has also begun working through the departments. Brett Justus stands as the prospective management for the family business.

“I’ve always known I would come into the business,” Brett Justus says. Watching the large machines print is Brett’s favorite part of the process.

Working summers in the print shop between attending semesters at the University of Central Arkansas as a business major, Brett started learning the ropes in each of the departments. A senior this fall, Brett expects to join Just-Us Printers full-time in May 2000.

This summer, Brett continues to become familiar with the departments by working in the binding department. In a few weeks, he will move to another area.

Brett will continue his training by handling some accounts and purchasing after graduation, Mike Justus says. Eventually, Brett will take over his father’s place as president of the corporation.

“He’s got to learn from the ground up,” Mike Justus says about his son.

In addition to Mike Justus’ job of dealing with daily trials, the business is spearheaded by a board of directors of family members. Tom Justus is chairman of the board; Thelma is vice-president; Mike is president and his wife, Sandy, is secretary and treasurer. Brett will join the board after graduation.

Calling attention to problems in the business is easier when working with family members, Brett Justus says.

“It is easier to approach family about the business because you are closer to them,” Brett says. “I usually know how they will react.”

Managing major decisions such as expansion falls to the board’s responsibility. An example of a board decision happened a year ago when the business acquired a $250,000 press to print four colors.

Because only family members are allowed to sit on the board, the business stays true to its traditional roots.

One tradition of Just-Us Printers is dependence on customer satisfaction, Mike Justus says. The printers use no advertising, relying instead on customer referral and word-of-mouth.

Although some problems are specialized for young or experienced businesses, all ventures face some similar problems. Employee turnover remains a concern for most businesses.

Staff turnover doesn’t trouble Just-Us Printers the way it once did, Mike Justus says. Only two employees left the business during the last six months, and Mike Justus says he thinks the staff members enjoy their positions.

Another concern for most businesses is hiring the right employees. Although he works daily with family members, Mike Justus says he’s still sometimes wary of hiring people into the same department if they are related. Currently, two families of husband, wife and son work for the Justus family. The families work in different departments but still see each other through the day. Mike Justus says that by making sure one spouse doesn’t answer to another, workplace harmony is usually preserved.

Overall, Mike Justus says, he is glad his family started a business together. Working in an office only one door down from his wife’s office is a big benefit, Justus says.

“It’s wonderful. You get to work around people you are close to and love,” Mike Justus says. “You work side by side.”

Although cancer claimed his brother’s life unexpectedly, Mike Justus is thankful to have worked with his brother in the family business for 12 years. Working closely with his brother daily, Mike Justus says, he believes they had a better relationship than if they had worked separately or in different towns.

“I had a lifetime with him by working with him,” Mike Justus says.

For Mike Justus, the only drawback to working in a family business is vacation scheduling. When Mike and Sandy go on vacation, they are careful not to leave over a payroll day.