Easingwold-based printers G H Smith & Son, are celebrating 150 years of business this September.
G H Smith & Son is based in the Market Place in the centre of Easingwold in North Yorkshire, and is still owned and run by the Smith family who established the business in 1866.
During the past 150 years the printing industry has seen major changes – moving from hand setting to hot metal setting; and then into today’s generation of dtp software programs and digital platesetting; printing itself has evolved from letterpress to Lithographic, to digital printing. The firm continues to invest in the highest quality cutting edge printing technology in order to deliver print quality beyond that of their competitors.
Rupert and Alex Smith (Brothers) are now at the head of the business and are the sixth generation of Smiths to run G H Smith & Son.
“It is fascinating to think back to how our forefathers would have conducted business and how simple business processes such as placing a print order, or approving a proof will have transformed during the 150 years that G H Smith & Son has been in business. “ Said Rupert Smith, Managing Director. “Things that we take for granted…the telephone; the internet; a desktop printer would all be alien to the business in 1866. There is no doubt that the digital age has had a major impact on the running of our business, but one thing hasn’t changed: attention to detail and emphasis on customer service. By looking after our customers, they have looked after us – without them we wouldn’t be here today.”
G H Smith & Son started out as a small jobbing printer, working for local people. Now in addition to providing print to local businesses they are a national provider of design and print media.
Alex Smith commented: ”The team here really embrace the values of our business – values that haven’t changed much since the business first started. It is their hard work and commitment to delivering excellence that has got us to where we are today.”
Easingwold itself has changed significantly in the past 150 years, however G H Smith & Son has been in or around the iconic marketplace in all that time – moving less than 100 yards to their current home of the Town Hall in 1962, they acquired the Town Hall in the late 1950’s.
