Seckman Printing — Keeping the Faith

FAITH, ESPECIALLY in regards to religion, is a very personal thing for many people. Not surprisingly, it’s often kept under wraps and not afforded the chance to commingle with daily business interactions. After all, religion—along with politics and sex—is among the big three of conversational taboos.

That the owners of Seckman Printing in Forest, VA, based just outside of Lynchburg, derive much of their inspiration and purpose from God is not unusual. After all, most printers probably would not describe themselves as secular humanists (though no statistics exist on the question).

In fact, some would credit Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority, with its ministry located down the road in Lynchburg, as being the catalyst behind the booming direct mail market that blossomed here during the 1970s and 1980s. Mail America and Direct Mail Holding’s mailing operation are both based nearby.

But what is fascinating about the Seckmans’ faith is its apparent influence on the way Seckman Printing does business. This is not to say that the Seckman family holds religion in the same regard as business; but their application of faith to entities other than God is nonetheless consistent, and likely refreshing to those who work for, and do business with, the commercial and direct mail specialist.

The Seckman family doesn’t wear their religious faith on their sleeves, but one can tell it’s steeped deeply in their souls.

“What we’re doing here is nothing that hasn’t been done before or won’t be produced in the future,” points out Mike Seckman, company president and founder. “But what’s gotten us to this point is being able to trust in the fact that we know there is a higher calling—that God has a plan for us and our company, and that it will all work out in the end.”

Faith, intended or not, permeates Seckman Printing’s relationships in a positive way. Though the company is 28 years old, many customers have stuck with Seckman Printing for more than 20 years. A good deal of the employees have been with the firm for a number of years; turnover is extremely low. And, when it comes to equipment vendor relationships, Seckman Printing does virtually all of its shopping with Heidelberg, a trusted name and brand over the years for the Seckman family.