From tragedy can come new beginnings and unimagined opportunity.
So learned Colleen Howes, owner of Irvine-based SABP Reprographics, after her husband died and she took over the business he ran.
Howes had her own paint and wallpaper company and didn’t pay much attention to husband Mark’s reprographics business, which specialized in digital printing, and archival, scanning and imaging services for builders, engineers, architects and city planners.
“It was his thing, and I didn’t get involved,” she recalled.
But when her husband passed away from cancer in 2001, Howes had a decision to make: keep her own business and sell his, or keep his business and leave hers.
She decided to focus on her late husband’s business and handed hers off.
“It wasn’t doing so well, but I saw opportunity in it and believed I could make the business successful,” Howes explained.
She immersed herself in learning everything she could about the business, despite the challenges, because she was determined to see his business grow.
“I decided to jump in with both feet and have never looked back,” Howes said.
Her determination has paid off. The company now has 10 employees and marked its most profitable year ever in 2011 with more than $1 million in revenue.
More Services
Operations today also include divisions for litigation support and off-site printing services, each of which are management priorities for 2013 and recent growth drivers for the 66-year-old company.
SABP Reprographics was honored in the Longevity Award category at the 13th annual Family Owned Business Awards hosted by the Business Journal and California State University, Fullerton’s Center for Family Business on Nov. 7 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine.
Howes—who attributes the longevity of the business to core values of honesty, honor and integrity—said she strives to keep the customer’s best interest in mind and tries to treat her staff like family.
The company was founded in downtown Santa Ana as Santa Ana Blue Print. Leonard Howes bought the company in 1973 and ran the business with his two sons, Mark and Paul. Mark took over the business in 1982 after his father passed away, moved the office to Irvine in 1995, and changed the name to SABP Reprographics to reflect the move and changing blue-print industry.
SABP was affected by the recession as the building industry slowed down. Colleen Howes knew some changes would need to be made for the business to survive.
In 2008 the company added its litigation-support division, which has proved to be a lucrative business for the company, Howes said. The division provides copy and printing services and electronic data storage to lawyers going to trial.
Expanded services meant more office space for the company, and SABP moved to a larger facility in 2009. The division continues to grow, and last year SABP supported one of the longest trials in Orange County history.
SABP recently added off-site printing services, taking machinery to architectural offices and other locations.
Certifications
SABP has been certified by the state as a Women Business Enterprise and as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.
The certifications helped the company secure business from municipalities and other government entities, Howes said.
Howes said she feels “blessed” to live in a country full of opportunity and attributes that to SABP’s success.
“We have the freedom to fail or succeed, and without that you can’t do anything,” she said.
