L to R: Ed Phipps, Dawn Langdon, Mark Langdon, Jack Phipps and Lisa Phipps
Editor's Note: Eastern Engineering is growing its footprint across the Midwest. In December the company acquired Phipps Reprographics. In this interview, Eastern Engineering CEO Mark Langdon discusses the acquisition.
Why did Eastern acquire Phipps? What advantages does Eastern get with the acquisition?
The decision to acquire two additional locations is a testament to Eastern Engineering’s commitment to expanding its market reach and to strengthen their position as a leading player in the printing industry and construction software market.
Cincinnati location of Phipps Reprographics
With an established presence in the Midwest, the acquisition of Phipps Reprographics' two locations extends our footprint to a total of nine locations spread across five states. This enables us to reach into new markets and broaden our customer base. Additionally having multiple locations enables us to enhance our responsiveness, leverage economies of scale, reduce costs and enhance overall competitiveness.
In essence, the acquisition of these two additional locations aligns with Eastern Engineering’s overarching strategy of sustained growth and we are blessed to be adding a team of amazing people into our Eastern Engineering family.
Interior of Covington location of Phipps Reprographics
The Phipps team brings high-quality printing experience and a strong reputation for great customer service. They care, are passionate, and have earned their customer’s loyalty through detailed care of their printing needs. This aligned perfectly with Eastern Engineering’s values, so it made this decision even easier.
Integrating the talents of the Phipps team into ours, we are confident that their contributions will enrich our capabilities and continue to expand our customer base.
Additionally, we are eager to offer sales, service, and supplies for wide-format printers and office copiers to the Cincinnati and Covington areas. We look forward to introducing our affordable rental plan and customers will also appreciate our local 5-STAR printer repair services.
What is the history of Phipps?
Phipps Reprographics is a family-owned printing business that was founded in 1965 by Bill Phipps. In 1995, Bill’s son Jack became President and Bill’s other son Ed became Vice-President of Phipps Reprographics. In 2013, they opened a second location in Covington, KY to better serve the Northern Kentucky region.
Original Phipps Blue Print Co. sign
Over the years, Phipps Reprographics has been serving the construction document printing and copying needs of architects, engineers, designers, and construction professionals.
Phipps Reprographics offers a variety of other services such as scanning, color printing (posters, banners, flyers and marketing materials), dry mounting and laminating.
What is happening with Phipps’ employees and owners? Are they remaining?
We are pleased to share that the entire Phipps team will join Eastern Engineering. They bring a wealth of experience and expertise to our company. Phipps has a strong reputation for great customer service, and this is largely what attracted us to this opportunity. They have earned their customer’s loyalty through detailed care of their printing needs. This aligns perfectly with Eastern Engineering’s high standards for delivering outstanding customer service.
The owner Jack Phipps will also remain on until March 2024. Jack Phipps, along with his wife Lisa, will begin their well-deserved retirement. We express our gratitude for their dedication and significant contributions to Phipps Reprographics. We appreciate the long-standing, trusting customer relationships that Jack has built over the years. We wish them all the best on their new adventures.
Ed Phipps, who is Jack's brother, will continue working with Eastern Engineering.
Will their locations be rebranded as Eastern Engineering?
Eastern Engineering recognized the importance of maintaining customer loyalty and fostering a positive transition. The rebranding process preserved the legacy of Phipps Reprographics while aligning it with the values and vision of Eastern Engineering. We took deliberate steps to communicate the benefits of the acquisition, emphasizing the enhanced capabilities, expanded product offerings, and added services including printer repair. Customers will appreciate the positive impact of the acquisition on overall value.
The rebranding will include updating signage, collateral materials, and integrating Phipps with Eastern Engineering’s online presence and website.
Furthermore, Eastern Engineering also created a new position titled Training Manager. Jamie Vaughn, who has been with Eastern Engineering for more than 25 years will be working at the Cincinnati location to ensure that staff members understand the shared values, processes, and service standards. This internal alignment has already played a crucial role in delivering a consistent customer experience and positive transition for the team.
Our commitment to delivering outstanding customer experiences remains unwavering. As we move forward into the coming year, we are dedicated to preserving the unique aspects that customers valued from Phipps Reprographics.