Steve Dunn Leaves Corporate World to Own a Minuteman Franchise

Steven Dunn poses at his Minuteman Press franchise in Beaverton, Ore.

BEAVERTON, Ore. - October 23, 2017 - Steve Dunn and his family have lived in Beaverton for 13 years. Always wanting to own his own business, he decided the time was right for him to leave the corporate world, quit his job, and become his own boss. So he took over the Minuteman Press design, marketing, and printing franchise located at 8374 SW Nimbus Avenue and is excited to provide his clients with the best customer experience to go along with the high-quality products and services Minuteman Press provides.

Dunn explains, "Customer satisfaction is truly our greatest compliment and our team does our best to earn the business of our clients. During our transition, we are pleased to share that our customer service is already being noted in positive Minuteman Press franchise reviews. In short order, we have optimized our day-to-day operations, making us nimble and responsive to the immediate printing and promotional needs of our client base. We have also redone our retail space and invite business professionals in the area to stop by and see how Minuteman Press of Beaverton can support your promotional needs. Other local businesses do such great work and we believe it is our job to help them shine and grow."

From Chief Information Officer to Minuteman Press Franchise Owner

A display of the print shop's promotional products.

Dunn has more than 30 years of experience in information systems and spent 13 years as chief information officer (CIO) for the Portland-based corporate office of children's clothing company Hanna Andersson.

Steve continues, "My wife is the executive director of FACT Oregon, a nonprofit that empowers Oregon families experiencing disabilities. We have aspired to be owner operators of a community-anchored business for years and with the purchase of Minuteman Press of Beaverton we have made that dream come true."

Why Minuteman Press? Dunn answers, "I have considered buying my own business for years and have looked at many opportunities, both private sale and franchise. Minuteman Press International was one of several franchise business opportunities I was looking at around that time. I like the support from the franchise, the intensive training program and how they structured the business to expand into other areas. When looking at this particular franchise location available for sale in Beaverton, it looked like the previous owner had not taken advantage of all of the possibilities so I saw room for growth and expansion."

When agreeing to join the #1 rated printing and marketing franchise by Entrepreneur, Dunn was also entering a larger community of Minuteman Press franchise owners and executives that have been nothing but supportive. Dunn says, "The ongoing local and corporate support from the Minuteman Press team is great as they are available and always there with answers to your questions. I have also found the support from other owners in the area to be tremendous. They are always willing to take your call, point you in the right direction and give you contact information on vendors they have used in the past."

Most Rewarding Thing

When asked about the most rewarding thing about being a business owner versus working in the corporate world, Dunn has already developed an appreciation for being the decision-maker as well as working closer to home. He says, "Running a business, you are responsible for yourself and the staff that works for you. You make the decisions and if they are wrong then you move on and figure it out. The one thing I can do now is walk to work instead of sitting in traffic for an hour each way."

As a new business owner, Dunn and his team are focused on growing the business. He explains, "Right now we are looking at expanding the products and services that we market and see how they can benefit our new and existing customers." When he does have a chance to relax, Dunn and his wife both enjoy the outdoors: "I enjoy a lot of activities and regularly complete in triathlons with my wife. We train together and enjoy competing when we can."

What is Dunn's advice for other entrepreneurs who are looking into owning their own business? He concludes, "As the new owner of any business, there is so much going on the first month or two. This is natural, so do not get overwhelmed. Also, the key is to have a good staff in place that can execute your plans, provide stellar customer service, and ultimately bring your vision to life."

Source: Minuteman Press.

The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with Printing Impressions. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of Printing Impressions.