Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
SHIP IT — Coffee News Printing, located on 2 Grange St. in Houlton, has added Fed Ex shipping to its repertoire. Staff members include, from left, owner Garrett Guernsey, Michael Schools, Jared Sennet, Andrew Nightingale, Michelle Cyr, Carolyn Baker and Laura Schmude. Not pictured is co-owner, president and CEO Bill Buckley.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — During the Christmas season, people often receive gifts that, perhaps, were not exactly what they were hoping for.
If that person is you, then Coffee News Printing of Houlton can help now that the company is a fully licensed Federal Express authorized shipping center.
Originally located next to Clukey’s Auto Supply on the Bangor Road, Coffee News Printing found a new home in the former MPG building on 2 Grange St. Coffee News Printing has been in business in the Houlton area since 2009 and recently became an official Fed Ex shipping location. The building is owned by Tony Bowers.
“We were pretty cramped for space at our previous location so moving here allowed us to expand,” owner Garrett Guernsey said. “It has good visibility and plenty of parking. So it was a good move for us.”
The Houlton printing business was formerly known as Expresso Printing, which opened in 2001, doing business cards and brochures.
The addition of Fed Ex to the business was a natural fit, Guernsey said.
“We have staff here and have plenty of space to accommodate shipping,” he said. “Plus, it enables us to offer some additional service to people in Houlton.”
“We offer rates competitive to the postal service,” added Michelle Cyr, store manager. “We have had so many people come in and tell us they are so glad that we now offer this service.”
The only other Federal Express authorized shipping centers for Houlton residents are located in Presque Isle and Bangor.
Coffee News Printing is the world’s largest free restaurant publication. Chances are, you have seen a copy of their brochures, which feature a mixture of news, trivia, horoscopes and humor, in one of the many local eateries.
Founded in 1988 by Jean Daum of Manitoba, Canada, the company quickly grew and in the 1990s added locations in Australia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Poland, South Africa and Spain. In 1995 Bill Buckley opened the first franchise in the United States with a location in Bangor. In 2008, Buckley took over the world operation.
The Houlton branch prints about 1.2 million sheets a month, according to Guernsey.
“We now have 160 publishers and 500 editions of Coffee News published in the United States, along with 50 publishers and 200 franchises in Canada,” Guernsey said.
Coffee News Printing is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
For more information, call 532-0782.
