Editor’s Note: IRgA member Crisp Imaging has grown from one shop to 31 locations in the past quarter century. We have written about many of the company’s acquisitions over the years – click here to read those articles – and below is an article Gary Crisp wrote about his family’s company in celebration of their birthday.
What an honor it is for Julie and me to celebrate Crisp Imaging’s 25th Anniversary this past March. We are truly grateful for all the people over the years who made this possible, including our employees, customers, partners, and our community. The success of our company was built by its people and supported by a strong group of investors who believed in our vision from the very beginning, our customers, without them, we wouldn’t have a business, and of course, our community, which we are proud to serve. A little bit about our path...
Crisp Imaging began in March 2001 as a single Copy Club franchise in Orange, California. After 22 years and eleven moves in the corporate world, Julie and I decided it was time to move back home and build our life in Southern California, raise our three children, and create an alternative in our core reprographics market by providing exceptional service, fair pricing, and a great environment for our employees to grow and thrive. Just months after opening, customers began asking for reprographics services, which our franchise model was unable to serve, so we decided to de franchise, create our own brand, and launch C2 Reprographics, named for the two Crisps behind the vision. We were fortunate in that Southern California is one of the best markets for the construction industry, where so many architects, engineers, and contractors work and live. As the industry evolved, so did the company. In 2014, C2 Reprographics became C2 Imaging, reflecting a broader suite of digital and technology driven solutions, including expanded color offerings and digital solutions. The business expanded from a single shop in Orange to seven locations across Southern California, with headquarters in Costa Mesa.
In 2017, the company embraced its next chapter with a new name: Crisp Imaging — a return to the family identity and a renewed commitment to personalized service. In addition, Crisp Imaging started a more aggressive acquisition strategy, which helped us to propel to our current level of 31 locations across the West with several more in our pipeline. Due to our strong reputation of caring for our employees and customers, many potential acquisition targets have actually contacted us to acquire them, which is quite humbling.
From the very beginning community service has been a core value of Crisp Imaging, and we are grateful we have been able to support numerous charities throughout our history. Most notably, we celebrated our 15th Annual Crisp Family Super Bowl in February, which brings in 500 Marines and Veterans to honor them each Super Bowl Sunday at the American Legion in Newport Beach. As we begin the next chapter of our story, Julie and I couldn’t be more excited about our future and look forward to the next chapter of growth, serving customers, and providing opportunities for our employees.
A Decade of Acceleration: Expansion Across the West
Over the past decade, Crisp Imaging has entered a period of rapid expansion, acquiring leading firms across California, Nevada, and the Pacific Northwest. Since 2021 alone, Crisp has completed eleven acquisitions, strengthening its footprint and capabilities across the West.
A&I Reprographics — Inland Empire Leadership
A&I Reprographics, founded in 1971 and led by industry veteran Kathy Moylan, became the premier reprographics and color firm in the Inland Empire. With locations in Ontario and Colton, A&I brought a deep customer service culture and a robust color and directional sign offering. Kathy now joins Crisp in a sales leadership role.
Piedmont Directional Signs — Pacific Northwest Dominance
For more than 30 years, Piedmont Directional Signs has been the leader in A boards, coroplast, and directional signage in the Pacific Northwest. As Crisp’s largest client in the region, Piedmont’s integration allows Crisp to expand directional signage services throughout the West under the continued leadership of Dennis Fagen.
RGS ReproGraphic Solutions — Las Vegas Expansion
Founded in 2005, RGS has been a trusted reprographics and digital archiving partner for the Las Vegas construction sector. RGS CEO Billy Hamilton praised Crisp’s vision and momentum, noting that joining the Crisp family benefits both customers and employees. RGS continues operating from its Eastern Avenue location.
Central Coast Growth — Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria
The acquisition of Coastal Reprographic Services expanded Crisp’s reach into the Central Coast, bringing enhanced technology, print on demand capabilities, and new opportunities for employees and clients in Paso Robles, SLO, and Santa Maria.
Additional Acquisitions
Crisp Imaging has also acquired Rancho Reprographics in Temecula and several other firms across California, contributing to a rapidly growing network of 31 locations across four Western states.
Innovation at the Core: Docu Dock
Crisp Imaging is not only expanding geographically — it is innovating technologically. Docu Dock, Crisp’s proprietary archiving and retrieval platform, streamlines the storage and access of architectural plans, drawings, and specifications for schools, universities, hospitals, and facilities teams. Originally launched in 2016 and now fully modernized, Docu Dock offers:
- Fast, intuitive search
- Secure digital access
- Scalable document management
- Industry leading scanning quality
The platform has been widely adopted, with an “unlimited market,” according to CEO Gary Crisp, and is now positioned for national and global deployment.
A West Coast Leader — And Still Family Driven
Today, Crisp Imaging is an independent digital printing and document solutions provider serving construction, real estate, education, healthcare, corporate, and public sector clients. Its services include:
- Reprographics
- Display graphics
- Marketing materials
- Scanning and archiving
- Document management
- On site digital imaging services
The company has grown to 31 locations, over 200 employees, and continues to expand its footprint and capabilities.