Today we’d like to introduce you to Marion Neal.
Marion, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I love print. Working with paper and creating beautiful products always brings me joy. Beyond the final product, I also value the long-term relationships I’ve formed with vendors, technical specialists, and customers in the print industry. I’ve been blessed to have been printing professionally since 2003; beginning in an office store copy center, moving into managing a college print shop, and finally owning my own company.
During this time, digital print technology entered a golden age with a new focus on short-run capable printing services, and I realized there was an underserved market in our area. Friends and clients were paying huge prices for printing that was far easier and less expensive to create using modern technology; and so, in 2015 I opened Lemon Press Printing
My formal education is actually in psychology. Originally, I wanted to be a mental health counselor until I finally accepted that my strengths and skills were far more entrepreneurial in nature. My passion has always been to help others, especially those affected by mental illness who struggle to help themselves. For years, I couldn’t find a way to combine my passion with my love of printing.
A few months after starting Lemon Press Printing, I connected with NAMI DuPage, a non-profit organization that focuses on advocacy and support for people with mental illness. NAMI was throwing around the idea of turning the print shop into a workforce development program for people with mental illness.
The concept thrilled me, and I knew I wanted to be part of this venture. Soon after, NAMI and Lemon Press Printing merged our printing capabilities, with the singular goal of achieving NAMI’s vision. This partnership is what turned the job I love into a genuine passion. I would never have dreamed it was possible to run a print and media business that could also help those in need.
Has it been a smooth road?
Print shops require very specialized estimating and invoicing systems. The initial challenge was finding and integrating a system that was cost-effective but still provided easy billing and order tracking for our clients and production team. Another challenge has been introducing a new business concept to the industry – we hand-deliver most of our print orders. Our business customers love the extra service, but the new format can be difficult for home-based customers to get used to.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Lemon Press Printing – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Lemon Press Printing is one of the most agile and cost-effective prints and media companies in the area. You place an order and it’s delivered to your storefront or doorstep. Our specialty is short-run printing such as fliers, postcards, menus, invites, programs, greeting cards, stickers, newsletters, table cards, posters, etc; but, there are a lot more options as well. Anyone who frequents downtown Wheaton has likely seen or held one of our products! We also offer professional graphic design services that grant you full copyright to your product. You receive the files in any reasonable format to use however you want, whether you want to print with us or not.
Of course, what truly sets us apart is our partnership with NAMI DuPage, creating and supporting a print shop that doubles as a non-profit workforce development program for people suffering from mental illness. Over 95% of the print that Lemon Press Printing delivers is produced in partnership with this program, with the majority of the revenue going directly to NAMI DuPage to help fund its print shop and other programs.
Consumers are used to paying extra for socially conscious goods, but our prices and quality are commercially competitive while simultaneously funding needed programs within our community. Good prices, good product, and good social service. That’s our win/win/win mission and one we hope to eventually expand to other areas in the region.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Chicago (and to a smaller extent, Illinois) has a rich history of printing and publishing. It’s humbling to stand in Printers Row neighborhood and see the signs of the mighty publishing industry that used to operate there.
While most of the historical publishers have since closed, we are still an area that values print. Couple that with the community support for social services, and I couldn’t image operating anywhere else.
What do I least like? Winter and the rain. Delivering print in the rain is never fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: lemonpressprinting.com
- Phone: 630-866-6677
- Email: marion@lemonpressprinting.com
Image Credit:
Erin Dobosiewicz Photography
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