Creps United Publications: Fire Kindles Insert Printer's Spirit to Rebuild

Fast forward to 2014 when, due to the commitment by ownership to rebuild and with the help of local government and the outpouring of community love and support, Creps United Publications is back in business. "It's been like Christmas every day, with something new in here," Howard Creps enthuses. "Seventeen months from the fire, and here we are, completely rebuilt."

Between the first sight of the fireball that might have brought Creps United Publications to its knees, and the final touches on the new 100,000-square-foot facility with modern amenities, not to mention newer and highly efficient web offset presses that allow the company to do more with less, lies a tale of hope, determination and focus. It's a reminder to any business owner that the Phoenix can rise from ashes, sometimes stronger than ever before.

The one aspect that just might have kept Creps United Publications from drawing its last breath is that its business offices and various functions (prepress, graphic/creative design, photography, sign printing) were located at the company's Water Street facility. The main printing facility lay in ashes, but it was critical that Creps could maintain its headquarters and begin down the path of rebuilding.

"The first thing we did was call our customers and other printers, in order to get their jobs placed," Jake Creps says.

Just one small issue...a week later, Hurricane Sandy struck and, suddenly, printers by the dozen were looking to get their own work placed elsewhere. And, since November and the holidays were just around the corner, capacity was at a premium. But with the help of some coldset newspaper printers, they were able to place the work, even if it meant Creps had to pay a little more for the printing or postage. As far as Creps' customers were concerned, their deliveries were still seamless, and as-promised.