Daniel's Printing Stays Local, Loyal to Customers

One of the consequences of living in the age of big businesses and the Internet is that customers sometimes overlook the specialized, personal service that small businesses can provide.

I was reminded of this a few weeks ago when I noticed an ad for business cards outside Daniel's Printing and Office Supply.  I never thought of Daniel's as a provider for something like this, but they not only tweaked my artwork and created a very nice card, they did it for less than I have paid the big boxes and Internet sites in the past.

No shipping, no hassles, and I didn't even have to leave town. While browsing in their showroom, I also noticed they advertise that most of their prices are 14 percent cheaper than the big box stores.

Daniel's has been operating at their current location, 14800 S. Cicero Ave., since the early 1970s. The business' namesake is Daniel Vaclav Sr., who began as a lithographer in the 1960s on Printer's Row in Chicago.

Daniel Sr. was commuting to work from his home in Oak Forest when he began picking up printing jobs from local businesses. He would drop them off at printers on his way to and from work. Before long he purchased some printing equipment and began doing the work himself in his garage.

When his customer base expanded, he outgrew his garage and rented space from a barbershop at 63rd and Kedzie. His next move brought him home. Not to the current location, but to a building at 159th and Cicero, which was sandwiched between Doherty's Pub (now a vacant lot) and King Heating and Air Conditioning.

Daniel Vaclav Jr., who has been involved with the family business pretty much all his life, remembers the conditions at the 159th Street location.

"I remember we were always getting flooded," he said.  "Either the creek would overflow or water would leak from the apartments above us. My father had my brother and me make gutters with the printing plates. I think our presses sunk two inches into the floor while we were there."

That location was their first storefront, and it helped to expand their business. 

The next move was to their current location, which at the time, was a vacant lot. They put up the building that stands there to this day—or at least, the first installment of it. It has undergone some additions over the years, including rental units on the south end.

Many things have changed since those early years, but many things have stayed the same, as well.

"We still provide the same personal, quality services we did in the beginning," said Daniel Jr., "but now we have 35 years of experience doing it."

The digital age has changed printing quite a bit, but they haven't had any trouble keeping up. 

"We've lived in both ages," said Dan Jr.  "We used to set type, and now we can tweak your artwork with our digital equipment."

Daniel Sr. has been retired for 15 years now, but it is still a family affair. Daniel Jr. has inherited the reins from his father. His mother Carol, still comes in several times a week, and his wife, Pam, handles the office supply division.

Daniel Jr. was groomed for this position from an early age. 

"I didn't get paid until I was 14 or so, but I remember collating when I was a kid," he said. "I remember walking to the store after school from Laramie (Jr. High). When I was old enough to drive, my father made me the delivery guy. When our foreman quit, he made me the foreman." 

His father also sent him to the Printing Institute of Illinois.

Ten family members are involved in the business, and everyone has been with the company for at least 10 years. That's a lot of experience for their customers, most of which they've had for a long time, as well.

They have over 3,000 items in the showroom, including pens, pencils, staplers, calendars, printers and printer cartridges, computer supplies, toner, and other office supplies. These items are not only for business, but home use, as well. Their catalog has 27,000 items from which to choose.

But if you ask them, the true strength of their longevity is personal service. 

"We create personal relationships with our customers," said Pam.  "I not only know our customers, I know where most of them had dinner last Friday."

Daniel's Printing and Office Supply is located at 14800 S. Cicero Ave., in Oak Forest. Reach them by phone at (708)687-3055.  Find them on the Web at www.danielspros.com.

PLEASE VISIT the Daniel's Printing and Office Supply listing in the Patch Places directory for more information.