NAGASA - The Compass -Fall 1998

• Chairman's Column
• Partnering to be Focus of Forum 99
• Past, Present, Future
• Study Focus
• NAGASA and GATF Team up for Training Institute
• Guide to Buying a Computer System
• Calendar of Events
• NAGASA Exhibits at IPEX

Past, Present, Future:
Young Phillips Corporation

Young Phillips Corporation has come a long way since its inception over 40 years ago. Loice Young, the owner of a printing business, had been experiencing delays in obtaining the supplies and equipment he required. So in 1954, Young partnered with J.B. Phillips, Sr. and his wife Mary to found Young-Phillips Sales Company in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with only $5,000 in capital. Shortly thereafter, the Phillips’ added their son, Ben Phillips, Jr., as a fourth partner.

In the beginning, the partners sold only one product: 3M offset plates. “Before that, a lot of the printing was letterpress. But we felt offset was coming into its own,” explained J.B., or Ben, Sr., as he is known to many.

That proved to be an understatement. In the postwar years, offset technology took off. Ben, Sr., the sole salesperson of Young-Phillips, would load up the trunk of his car and travel from one printing company to another throughout the Carolinas. Although personal selling was
the backbone of the business and accounted for its rapid growth and development, hard work and long hours played their part, too.

Young Phillips has grown from about 15 employees in 1968 to nearly 160 employees today. The product line has increased tremendously, with more than 200 manufacturers proudly represented by the company. Headquartered in Clemmons, NC, Young Phillips operates six branch offices inthe southeastern United States. Today, Ben, Sr. (who recently celebrated his
90th birthday) serves as Chairman Emeritus of Young Phillips Corporation. Ben Phillips, Jr. is Chief Executive Officer, and his son Michael Phillips, is President. Ben, Jr.’s daughter, Carolyn Breese, oversees advertising, and son-in-law Tom Breese is Executive Vice President.

In the true style of family businesses, the third generation is now poised to take the company into the new millennium. In 1988, Richard Blair joined the team, and was elected President in 1991, a position he held until December 1997, when he was elected Chief Operating Officer.

Over the years, the Young Phillips officers have worked to prepare the company for continued success into the 21st Century. New divisions such as Professional Photography, Digital Prepress, and an ink blending facility were added to keep the company in step with emerging technologies. Value-added services such as customized training sessions, technical support, and a newly-developed Pressroom Management Program make Young Phillips more of a business partner than just a supplier. But perhaps the most important factor in the success of the company has been its people: talented, dedicated, knowledgeable, and committed to quality.

Young Phillips is a charter member of NAGASA and Richard Blair served as its board chair from 1995 to 1996. He continues to remain active on NAGASA committees
and in association program development.