Business

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Putting a stamp on it

Product range has grown during century in business

By: Murray McNeill

Posted: 09/17/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image

Terry Bias of CanMark Industries, which is marking its 100th year in operation.

In a modest production plant just off Dublin Avenue, a century-old Winnipeg company continues to find success producing a blend of products ranging from old-school rubber stamps to new-age digital posters.

CanMark Industries Ltd. owner Terry Bias said diversification is one of the main reasons CanMark is around to celebrate its 100th year in business this year.

CanMark highlights:

-- The company was launched in 1911 under the name The Canadian Stamp Company.

-- In the late 1950s, a trio of new owners, Ted and Albert Clay and Art Hardman, purchased the company and renamed it Canadian Rubber Stamp Co.

-- In 1965, the business was nearly wiped out by a fire.

-- In 1975, Vancouver-based Mastermark Systems Inc. became part-owner.

-- In 1988, Ted Clay, the last of the original owners, retired and the company changed its name to Canadian Marketing Systems. Clay's son-in-law, Terry Bias, became general manager.

-- In 2002, Bias purchased the company from Mastermark.

-- The cfirm has since bought Pixel 8 Color Graphics, and Letterall Signs. It shortened its name to CanMark Industries Ltd.

Originally known as The Canadian Stamp Company, the firm started in 1911 producing custom-made rubber stamps, inks, brass stencils, and corporate seals.

Over the years, it expanded its product line to include things such as commercial inks, name tags, door plates and desk signs. And more recently, through the acquisition of two other local companies, it added digital print materials, trade show displays and interior and exterior signs.

Bias said during a tour of CanMark's 6,000-square-foot factory that demand for old-school products -- rubber stamps, brass stencils and corporate seals -- isn't what it used to be.

But they still account for about 40 per cent of its revenues, he added, so they won't disappear from the factory floor.

"They're still used, although the volume of stamps is slowly declining," he said. "And we still do five to 10 new (corporate) seals every morning... which surprises the hell out of me. It's such an old product but people still need it."

Some of the company's best-sellers are the products it added about 35 years ago.

"We do name tags by the thousands, as well as door plates and desk signs."

It was the acquisition of Pixel 8 Color Graphics six years ago and Letterall Signs in 2009 that enabled CanMark to expand into the digital printing and corporate signage business. Pixel 8's products include posters, business cards, brochures, newsletters, and trade-show displays. And Letterall manufactures in both interior and exterior signs.

Both are housed in CanMark's Midland Street plant, which is located just off the corner of Dublin and Notre Dame avenues.

"That's one of the reasons it works. We were able to fit them into our location and reduce the overhead," Bias said.

About 95 per cent of CanMark's customers are corporations that run the gamut from financial institutions to egg producers.

One of its long-time customers is Cormer Aerospace. Buyer Barbara Jarosiewicz said: "Often times, we've had to order at the last minute, and they (CanMark) have been able to provide us with fantastic, courteous service."

murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 17, 2011 B5

(You must be logged in to post your reaction)

Your reaction?

More Business

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.