Bonneville Blueprint's Idaho Falls location, before the transition to Topcon
By Ed Avis
Bonneville Blueprint Supply was a long-time IRgA member, founded in 1970 by Cal Powell and led in recent years by his sons, Chad and Chris Powell. The company had locations in Idaho Falls and Boise, Idaho.
As with many reprographics firms of that age, ownership transition was inevitable. Cal started easing into retirement about 20 years ago, and Chad followed him into retirement in 2022.
“So it was kind of, now what do we do?” says Chris Powell.
Topcon, a provider of technology for positioning and guidance, offered a solution. Bonneville Blue sold a lot of Topcon equipment.
Topcon laser scanners
“We sold Topcon products heavily,” says Chris Powell. “It was a big part of our business.”
Topcon is primarily a manufacturer, but they also have a growing bricks-and-mortar retail presence. This is where Bonneville Blue fit in. Topcon decided they wanted to acquire Bonneville’s two locations to expand their retail presence and continue to serve the many customers Bonneville had brought in.
“Topcon was pursuing us, and we decided that we would [accept their offer],” Chris says. “We decided it would work out good for my father and my brother.”
The deal closed in September 2023. Bonneville Blue’s employees, including Chris and his sons, stayed on after the acquisition. Chris is the sales manager for the former Bonneville locations; his son Josh is the manager for service, installation, training and support; and his son Brennan runs the office and administration.
But there was one complication: Topcon is not a printer.
“Topcon tried to keep our print room for a year, and they were thinking of implementing it throughout all of their 14 stores, but it was foreign to them,” Chris explains. “They decided to focus on their core, so they said, ‘We’re closing it down.’ The print room had been running for 50-plus years, so it was a tough to see it go.”
Chris arranged for his print customers to transition to other printers near Bonneville’s locations, but what about all the equipment they had acquired over the years? He is hoping some IRgA members may be interested in it. Here is a list of equipment available:
Boise Location:
- Kip 2300 color scanner w/stand
- Kip 2300 color scanner w/stand
- Kip 970 color printer
- HP designjet Z6200 60”
- DK 38” laminator
- Kip 7170 printer
Idaho Falls Location:
- Kip 2300 color scanner
- Kip 660 color printer
- HP designjet Z6200 60”
- 2 Kip 7100 printers
Chris says anyone interested should contact him at 208-376-5710 or cpowell@topconsolutions.com.
The former locations of Bonneville Blue no longer make prints or carry the old name, but Chris says the change of ownership has gone smoothly.
“Topcon is a great company, and we knew them forever because we worked with them as a supplier,” he says. “So it was a good transition.”