The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 8, Milford, Kosciusko County, 19 February 1986 — Page 24

Today And Tomorrow —Wed., Feb. 19,1986

8

Tranter Graphics

continues to grow

Tranter Graphics, owned by Jim Tranter, opened its doors for custom designed printing in 1979 with only one napkin machine. In only six short years, the business has grown to encompass a multitude of paper products as well as printed clothing items. At present, the company divides its products into three major categories, which are all custom designed and printed — the 500 Line, Touch of Glass, and Imprinted Express. In the 500 Line, Tranter Graphics manufactures napkins, place mats, coasters, paper plates, plastic plates, bowls and platters. Manufactured in the Touch of Glass line are plastic glasses and tumblers, as well as styrofoam cups. Featured in the Imprinted Express line are hats, tee-shirts, jackets, golf shirts, sports towels, sweat shirts, and canvas tote bags and aprons. One edge that Tranter Graphics has over its competitors is is wide array of printing techniques. Among its capabilities of printing are the letter press, flexographic, offset, foil stamping, pad printing, and silk screening. Although technically classified under the heading of a converter printer, Tranter prefers to thing of his business as a specialty printer. For although it starts with a premade paper products, the final product after printing makes his product unique. None of Tranter Graphics’ products are sold direct, they are all sold to distributors across the country. In all, Tranter Graphics has 2,900 constant distributors, many of which are advertising agencies. These distributors then sell Tranter Graphics’ products to businesses who advertise their company on the type of product Tranter Graphics manufactures. Many of the businesses use them in sales seminars, trade shows, new product introductions, and in commemoration of other special events. Locally, Tranter Graphics will be supply-

Barbee Hardware/Joy Dot two businesses under 'one' roof

Ordinarily, when you think of something you need from a hardware store, you would not think of candy or something sweet. But, at Barbee Hardware, located at Barbee Lake, you can not only purchase your necessities but can also satisfy your sweet tooth at the same time. Even if you are a diabetic, Joyce Maule and Dorothy (Dottie) Allen offer several kinds of homemade dietetic candy. The Joy-Dot Sweet Shoppe opened about a year ago when Mrs. Maule’s husband, Jack, agreed to let her section off one end of the Barbee Hardware store for her own homemade candy making business. Like the hardware store, it is open all year and every day except Wednesday. Hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday winter hours are 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. In the summer, Sun- k day hours are 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. One of the specialties of the candy store are chocolate greeting cards for every occasion, get well, happy birthday, happy anniversary, and even a card for a new baby. Some new greetings they have added now include one for the ‘golfer or fisherman.’ They are all made of solid chocolate. For the children there are ‘chocolate cars and choo-choo-trains’ that can also be used as a cake topper with a candle in the center. All kinds of decorated suckers are available for holidays and also a unique one to use as a baby announcement that says, ‘lt’s A Boy’ decorated in blue or ‘lt’s A Girl’ trimmed in pink. These come in either white or chocolate, whatever the customer desires. “Some other favorites with the children are Ritzi peanut butter candy, solid chocolate ‘pop bottles’ and ‘Som’ores’ with homemade marshmallow filling and coated pretzels,” according to Mrs. Maule. “We are the only candy shop in this area that makes speciality items,” Mrs. Maule related. “At Easter we make baskets out of chocolate and solid bunnies and a special Easter basket for the diabetic child that looks just like the regular one, but it is filled with their own special edible candy for their

ing the Syracuse Sesquicentennial committee with all of its printing needs. Some of the more prestigious jobs that Tranter has custom designed and printed products for are Air Force One, the Presidental yacht, actor Burt Reynolds, actress Shelly Winters, and several of the VIP programs for shuttle flights. This year, Tranter Graphics was commissioned by the NFL to print 78,000 Chicago Bears tee-shirts. Some were in advance of the Super Bowl game and the rest were after the championship. One reason Tranter Graphics is able to obtain such a host of impressive jobs is its ability to offer most any type of item in its three lines for a client to advertise on. It has served as an immense time and money saver for its distributors by not having to call half a dozen places to fill their clients orders. One practice Tranter Graphics maintains is close contact with its distributors. Although it would be impossible to contact all 2,900 and still put out a product, Tranter Graphics does make personal contact with at least 40 percent of its distributors annually To make sure it touches base with all of them on some level, Tranter Graphics hosts four major seminars annually, each centrally located to encompass one quarter of the United States. In addition to is major seminars, Tranter Graphics also hosts numerous small seminars in key cities. At these seminars are what Tranter terms as Ambassador Groups, which are made up of six noncompetitive companies for distributors to focus on for their businesses. Tranter Graphics’ growth can best be detected by area residents through its tremendous structural growth. Originally starting out in an area of 3,000 square feet and six employees, with its addition its area consists of 24,000 square feet with 47 employees.

restricted diet. On Mother’s Day, we make a potted plant from chocolate that looks like the real thing — it’s solid chocolate, has shaved chocolate to resemble the dirt and the customer may choose either a tulip or rose for the flower.” And, if you just ‘crave’ some good homemade chocolates, you can buy them by the pound, half pound or quarter pound. There are all kinds to choose from including: Turtles, peanut clusters in maple, vanilla, carmel or plain; chocolate bon bons; and peppermint patties. And, for the diabetic to enjoy, the homemade sweets include cashew clusters, almond bark, maple bark, and peanut butter clusters. “We try to make anything the customer wants and we also ship a lot of candy. We also make mints for weddings, graduations, and parties.” Just a step away from all those ‘goodies’ is the hardware store which the Maule’s purchased in 1976. According to the Maule’s, the busy season at their lake hardware store is from the middle of March until the middle of November with extra summer residents. Jack Maule says, “We stock nearly everything the do-it-yourselfer might need, whether he is a part-time summer resident or lives here year round.” Barbee Hardware has a complete plumbing line, garden supplies, cleaning supplies, sporting goods, and the usual hardware and houseware items. They also stock a line of automotive needs and a good selection of Martin-Senour paints. And, for the lake dweller or those who come from other areas to participate in winter activities, Barbee Hardware carries ‘Harvard’ jackets, a warm quilted style that comes in three-quarter or full-length. A sign in the window reflects, “Welcome To Barbee Lakes” — and it’s obvious the ‘welcome mat’ is out when you walk thru the door of the Barbee Hardware and The JoyDot Sweet Shoppe.

AU Candy lovers Are Invited! ( Joy-Dot Sweet Shop \ • Homemade Easter Candies Jr > • Dietetic Candy J • Novelty Candies 11 • Wedding Mints u 4 north " WEBSTER * * ft 11 ARMSTRONG RD. A «•> 1 Located In The Barbee Hardware W* BARBEE RD. Jg | — I On Barbee Rd. — 700 E. r ~ '■_ __ M S» 1 I Open 8:30-5:30 Daily | 834-2980 700E Sun. 10-2, Closed Wed. 11 Everything For The "Do It Yourself er" • Martin Senour Paints " • Flint-Walling Pumps " • Complete Plumbing Shop " Watch For Monthly Specials Barbee Hardware" Between Little & Big Barbee Lakes Phone 834-2980 Jack N. Maule I R.R. 1, Box 225 Warsaw Tnanten Gnaphics inc. | 507 N. Indiana Avenue -X I Syracuse, Indiana 46567 . 1 f i * II I!rfly r ik i K *. / | w * 4ff I Tig - i | Stu Walker, Jim Tranter, Pat Snyder SERVING THE ADVERTISING SPECIALTY INDUSTRY FROM COAST TO COAST T MMVI J I——« * * * xy.., tftoi t ? iI ® W’ • • * • / --(mMb ! w «' * SWI a V’ s S ■ BMI Jk ~ l - 1 > B F" Nk // B - I JUNE MOWN L