Afton business foresees their services evolving and expanding in the future.
For more decades than anyone would care to admit, the building that housed local printing business, Printstar, was nearly bursting at the seams.  Providing a large percentage of the area’s printing needs, the process of creating products that citizens may take for granted aren’t just intensive, but require space.

Now with a new modern facility located on Doc Perkes Lane just south of their previous location, owner Larry Chavez not only sees the fruits of his labor in the present, but sees a bright future for Printstar and their 12 employees.

“The business of going through the previous location was just more than it could handle,” he stated.  “Especially with the acquisition of Thrifty Print and the office supplies it just spurred the need for more space.  In addition it just gives us so much more flexibility to own our building.  Besides that, in the next 12 to 18 months, we’re working towards securing an exclusive partnership with some companies like HP [Hulett Packard] or Canon and offer their products at a very competitive price.”

Other expansions include moving materials such as boxes and packinging.  Chavez is also looking at the feasibility of utilizing their FedEx drop off point to offer an expanded packaging service.    Another business that has joined in with Printstar is Lasting Impressions photography.

“With the addition of Lasting Impressions, it moves along with our aim of offering diversity to the customer,” Chavez replied. “Anything that has to do with print to paper, we want to be able to offer it in an efficient manner.”

Much of the building is dedicated to production which includes single and two-color printing presses which expands Printstar’s ability to offer  their full color products.  Expansion of their wide-format printing and banners is also underway, but it’s the office supplies that appears to be the most pressing.

“One of my goals for the office supply department, is that we want to get to the point where we’re competitively priced with the items that people feel that they have to go out of the valley to purchase,” Chavez added. “We’re trying to keep those dollars local.”

Chavez admits that perhaps the biggest challenge of the printing business is keeping up with advancements in the industry.

“Technology has taken the printing business along faster than I’ve ever seen,” he added.  “It’s a challenge to keep up.  The biggest obstacle is making that transition from the way we’re currently doing things, and making them more streamlined and digital.”

Another additional program will cater to the many scrapbook enthusiasts around the area which will include a supply of specialty paper, scrapbook kits, tools and items such as vinyl rolls cutting masks and items customer’s Cricket.   In addition the scrapbooking department will include many designs of stickers and much more. Scrapbooking classes are in the planning stage and should be ready to get started in the next 30-60 days

Chavez sees possible satellite stores outside of Afton and providing service to those stores using efficient methods.  Printstar and their staff invites Star Valley residents to drop by on April 24, which will be Printstar’s Grand Opening Fiesta to kick off their new facility and their next wave of in-house specials and marketing.  In addition, Printstar will be having giveaways and prizes as part of the festivities.

For more information on Printstar or the services they offer, call 885-9000.