Though things may look in disarray, Steve and Gail Norman, owners of Normans Printing, want people to know they are “downsizing,” and not going out of business.
The Normans have until the first of May to vacate their longtime headquarters at 214 N. Jefferson. They’ve sold the 79-year-old metal building to the Resource Center for Independent Living.
As for their printing business, it will be moved to their home at 10 N. Holiday Ln.
Steve’s “man cave” and Gail’s art haven in their converted garage will be sacrificed for the change.
Looking around the shop, Steve points out a few necessities.
“We’ll take the copy machine and the large format printer,” he said. The latter is handy for when contractors need floor plans printed.
With the move, their services will largely remain the same, centering on printing and designing menus, brochures, business cards and the like.
“Anything printed on paper,” Gail said.
In 2006, the Normans sold their business to Ravin Printing of Chanute.
“It was nice not worrying about paying bills and them paying the rent on this building,” Gail said of the arrangement.
That partnership ended in 2018. After six months of “retirement,” the couple started up their business again.
“We put everything we had into reopening the business. Then Covid hit,” she said.
As every merchant can attest, recovering from the downswing remains a challenge.
Working from a home office will be easier, the couple
ple said. Since 2022, Steve has had health setbacks, including lung cancer.
