Bawden Printing sustains growth

This could be the last time Quad-Citians will read about Bawden Printing, though. While the cast of characters remains largely the same, the story of the future will feature a less familiar name: Von Hoffmann Graphics.

Last year, Bawden became part of Von Hoffmann Press of St. Louis, one of the country's largest manufacturers of textbooks.

Bawden Printing, a family-owned business that makes two-color softbound books for educational and commercial purposes, moved to Eldridge in 1982. The move seemed to agree with Bawden, which has made numerous additions to its plant, as well as adding hundreds of new workers over the years.

"In 1982, we started with a 50-000-square-foot building," said Mark Bawden, former president and owner of the company. "We just finished our 14th addition about six weeks ago."

Several Eldridge movers and shakers including Mayor Larry Rauch have suggested -- only half joking, that it won't be long before the Bawden plant reaches all the way to Davenport.

At the rate they're going, that's less of an exaggeration than it might otherwise be. With another 11 acres on which Bawden could expand further, there seems to be no limit on the company's potential to grow.

Each one of the 14 expansions completed has added approximately 50,000 square feet.

Why such large additions?

"We've hit on a partnership with Design Builders, a local steel building franchise," Mr. Bawden said. "If we stay within their standard parameters, it makes it easier, and it doesn't pay to build much more than you need at a time.

"We've done all our growing incrementally, so it's been cost-effective."

The most recent addition includes 40 to 50 full-time employees, and Mr. Bawden said the firm anticipates adding several million dollars worth of new equipment, as well.

The secret to Bawden Printing's success, he said, is having found a great place near the geographical center of the country and between Interstate 80 and Interstate 74, with plenty of room to expand and plenty of good employees to make it work.

"We've had growth every year since we moved here. We zeroed in on a very narrow niche: softbound, 8 1/2" x 11" books with one to two colors of ink," said Mr. Bawden.

Such narrow focus allowed Bawden Printing to become very efficient.

"If you need that kind of work, we're one of the best," Mr. Bawden said.

That quality attracted the attention of Von Hoffmann Press.

"They came to us, because they wanted to expand into our niche. And they didn't want to make any major changes. They liked us just the way we were," said Mr. Bawden.

That was two years ago, but it wasn't until September 1999 that evidence of the merger appeared outside the plant in the form of a new sign.

After working so long to build a sterling reputation and a solid standing in its field, was it difficult to sell Bawden Printing Inc.?

"When you first start talking about it, you go through all sorts of mental gyrations about saying good-bye to the old family business," said Mr. Bawden, "Von Hoffmann is a premier name in the educational market, so, by the time you actually sell, you buy into the big picture and realize it's a great opportunity.

Among the benefits attendant to merging with a leader in the publishing and printing field, Bawden's sales force has increased from nine sales representatives to 20 throughout North America, which allows Bawden Printing -- as successful by any other name -- to continue to thrive.

That, and the fact that he now owns part of the much larger Von Hoffmann Press mean Mr. Bawden has no regrets about the decision to sell.

He said, "Looking back two years, it worked out just as we had hoped it would."

-- By Catherine Guy