hen web browsers made the internet accessible to the masses, tech companies predicted a completely paperless society. But thirty years later, that vision has gone the way of the flying car into the science fiction realm, as businesses and organizations still need high-quality print materials from a reputable commercial printer. Service Business Printing knows the value of tangible marketing materials and works closely with its clients to develop real-world branding solutions.

“It’s hard to capture everyone’s attention,” says Onnie Kendall, district manager for Service Business Printing. “Digital formats are just one option. But between spam, texts, and emails, I think there is a real mailbox moment when the customer has a postcard in their hand. Down the road, that moment will prove to be more valuable.”

The Martone family purchased Service Business Printing in 1985. Led by Frank Martone, the family has since 1963 operated AT Publishing & Printing Inc. Service Business Printing is part of the AT Publishing family of companies. Kendall joined the company in 2007 and oversees two locations in the Anchorage area.

Kendall says the print industry has changed significantly over the past thirty years, as large-format orders such as banners, signage, and door magnets have increased, and small-format print has decreased as personal printers are more common in offices and digital media has become more prevalent. Likewise, the staff handles a full range of direct-mail orders for postcards and bulk mailing services.

The long list of commercial products Service Business Printing offers includes business cards, catalogs, rack cards and just about any other marketing product a business would need. The company website, serviceprint.com, also features a blog that provides marketing and branding advice weekly.

Service Business Printing produces marketing materials for political campaigns, state and federal projects, and local businesses and organizations.

A notable project the company oversaw corresponded with the opening of an H&M clothing retail outlet in the Dimond Mall five years ago. Service Business Printing produced a large-scale beach scene for the mall’s eastern wall.

“It was the biggest large-format print job in the state of Alaska at the time,” says Kendall.

Mr. Kendall says the print industry is filled with competitors locally and in the Lower 48. He admits it is difficult for commercial printers in Alaska to compete with printers in the Lower 48. As any small business owner in Alaska knows, costs and overhead are quite a different picture here than in many areas in the lower 48. However, working with an Alaskan based operation offers many benefits that distant printers cannot, such as long-term customer relationships and the ability to work within tight deadlines. This viewpoint is echoed by Service Business Printing customers who have worked with Kendall and his staff for years.

Lana Ramos, marketing and community relations manager for Locally Grown Restaurants, which owns Snow City Café, South Restaurant, and Spenard Roadhouse, describes Service Business Printing as “an excellent business partner.” She says Kendall and his staff are easy to work with and accommodating. For the past eight years, Service Business Printing has produced menus, banners, posters, and smaller custom items for its three restaurants.

“They are really good about handling our last-minute crazy needs,” says Ramos. “It’s inevitable that we send them the file and then have to make a change to the document. They always say, ‘No problem. We’ve got it.’”

Brandy Dixon, communications director for Alaska Energy Authority, considers Service Business Printing as an extension of her in-house team. With a background in graphic design, Dixon relies on Kendall’s team for many projects, especially large-format banners and foam-core signage. She says the company’s responsiveness is valuable and has instilled trust in the company.

“It truly is a symbiotic relationship,” says Dixon. “I have enjoyed working with them for years.”

Service Business Printing has been an AGC member since August 2009. Kendall says membership allows them to network and support the organization.

“If anything, it allows us to be aware of members’ needs and communicate how we can meet those needs,” says Kendall.

The COVID-19 pandemic has required the print industry to further pivot to deal with the economic impact on businesses in Alaska. Like many other companies, Service Business Printing saw staff reductions to keep overhead down. However, with vaccinations on the rise and businesses opening up, Kendall feels like Alaska may have reached a turning point.

“I think we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,” he says.

As for the future of Service Business Printing, Kendall says the print industry will continue to evolve and adopt new technologies as necessary. For now, the company will keep its focus on services that aren’t easy to replicate in the office, such as large-format printing, signage, bulk mailing, and high-quantity custom orders.

Kendall says print is still vital for businesses that want to reach their clients and will be that way for quite some time.