A 53 year legacy, proof of the success of an employee-owned business model
Renaissance Printing
This article follows an oral history interview done with Mr. Robert Oetter of Renaissance Printing. Interview can be found on youtube.
47 years ago, in 1977, the manager of University Copy Center told Mr. Bob Oetter “you can never save this place.” His reply…, “watch me.” It had been a bad year for every industry, and printing had become an increasingly unstable business. University Copy Center was Renaissance Printing's “big brother,” similarly owned by Mr. Oetter senior.
The printing industry has undergone significant changes since the 10th century, akin to many other technology-driven sectors. The first printing press dates back to Mainz with Johannes Gutensberg in the 15th centiry, but the rudimentary idea and machinery dates much further back in Asia. The xerographic printer followed in 1938, leading to modern-day printing, which continued to evolve towards the establishment of the most popular type of printing, the Xerox print in 1986. The xerographic process involves six steps with negative and positive electrical charges, which create the crisp images on paper that we know today.
Renaissance has several xerox machines, offering various types of printing services. According to Mr. Oetter these services are nearly countless, including but not limited to “a self-serve copy. You can run a computer in our place. We print everything from business cards, stationery, manuals, this big training, we burn and print CDs and DVDs. We also do fulfillment… banners, surveys, stickers…”
Renaissance Printing was founded in 1971 in Gainesville, Florida, and has remained a family business since its inception. Mr. Oetter began working at his father’s business after graduating college as an entry-level employee. Shortly thereafter, he gave his two weeks' notice and left for Nashville, yet his father offered him the position of manager by December of that same year. The company worked tirelessly to stay afloat despite its many hardships throughout the years, like the pandemic and the death of Mr. Oetter senior, with its tireless owner working 80-90 hours per week.
In 2001 Renaissance Printing became an employee-owned company. Mr. Oetter and his brother made this decision to award the employees of Renaissance Printing. The average tenure for employees is 14 years, and several employees have worked there for over 20 years. Loyalty is incredibly important at Renaissance Printing, not only to their customers but to their employees. Mr. Oetter contributes this to Renaissance’s continued survival and flourishment. They have adapted with the years, and prioritized their “family,” the employees of Renaissance. The effort paid off, and as of 2024, Renaissance Printing continues to thrive at full speed. Interestingly, not all of its success can be attributed solely to technological advances.
Renaissance Printing is an example of the strength of small businesses, and Mr. Oetter's interview shows how Gainesville and its economy have developed in the last 50 years. When the business first opened in 1971 they had 8 employees, today Renaissance has grown to employ over 60 employees. Despite the changes in this small town with its rapid growth and development, printing in the Renaissance remained affordable, even less than it was at the time of its inception. It is one of two businesses in Gainesville Florida that are ESOPs, Employee Stock Ownership Plan, and it remains a unique business model, especially in the Print Industry.
