When you’re the owner of a business with a 50-year history of service and a deeply loyal, long-term clientele, what do you do when you want to retire? If you’re Rick Lawrence, the owner of Centro Print Solutions in Bend, Oregon, you look long and hard for the right answer. You spend months and many long hours doing your due diligence and vetting possible buyers so your staff and your customers will be taken care of. And you hold out for exactly the right fit.
SOLV turned out to be that right fit. We're beyond thrilled to announce that SOLV has acquired Centro Print Solutions as of June 1, 2021.
The two companies have a lot in common! Both share a decades-long history in the same industry. Both are members of the same professional associations, providing the same types of products & services. Both work with the same types of customers and vendors, even using the same ERP software to do business.
But the similarities go much deeper. Both companies operate from a customer-centric point of view, with a philosophy that puts real, long-term relationships ahead of everything else. As SOLV CEO Tressa McLaughlin says, ". . . most importantly, the philosophy of the leadership was that customers are not just customers. They are our clients. It's our responsibility to create that relationship, maintain that relationship and build it for a better future."
The Pacific Northwest vibe creates even more of a bond between SOLV's Idaho locations and Centro's in Bend. We're in communities steeped in outdoor culture, people who work hard and play harder. Hiking, skiing, rivers, mountains and trees are part of the DNA. So is a relaxed, friendly vibe.
And business is booming - both communities are growing and scaling fast. Central Oregon and the Treasure Valley area are among the fastest-growing regions in the nation. There’s small-town connection combined with big-time growth.
Geoff Clark, the sales rep at Centro for 18 years, will continue to work in the Bend area under the SOLV banner. Having access to SOLV’s larger team, leveraged technology, and national supplier network will allow Geoff to focus on expanding and developing customer relationships, helping businesses capture the growth happening in Bend's bustling economy with his extensive print industry experience.
The acquisition will help strengthen SOLV's position as a leading provider of business services throughout the Pacific Northwest. "This is a natural fit for us," Tressa says. "We're honored to continue the legacy of service Centro has provided in Bend for over 50 years, and we see this as a huge win/win opportunity for growth."