Our History
Walter and Donna Hill originally opened Kokomo Quick Print as a Big Red Q Quick Print franchise in September of 1975. The concept of "Quick Printing" was as much about the plate maker as the press; by using a Daylight Camera/Platemaker and a smaller fast set-up press, Big Red Q Quick Print was able to offer while you wait service on runs of 500 or less. With the creation of forms being done on a typewriter. Walter and Donna worked full time on weekdays, closing on Saturdays and Sundays to enjoy the weekends. All three of Walt and Donna's children, Tim, Brian, and Julie, worked in the print shop at different times as they went through school. Brian and Julie both diverged into fields separate from printing. Tim returned permanently after trying other career paths.
After ten years of steady growth the decision to drop the franchise and become Kokomo Quick Print was made. Early in January of 1987 a sudden heart attack claimed the life of Walter Hill. This left Donna and Tim continuing the business, working to keep the standards and ethical philosophies that are Walter's legacy. A short time later Sue, Tim's wife, joined the family at Kokomo Quick Print. As Kokomo Quick Print was growing in business and capabilities, they outgrew their current location and began the search for a larger building. In July of 1990 Kokomo Quick Print moved from 111 West Mulberry to 113 East Mulberry. This two block move gained them much needed interior space and valuable downtown parking.
Kokomo Quick Print was now updating equipment and becoming more of a business printer with higher quality and a larger menu of services. Tim and Sue had started their own family and their girls, Heather and Keria, had done most of the radio advertisements for Kokomo Quick Print since Walter's death. Later, the school aged girls helped with collating, stapling and other special projects, becoming the third generation of Hills at Kokomo Quick Print. As technology improved and customers required yet higher quality and versatility, Kokomo Quick Print added 4-color process capabilities and a color copier. In September of 1998, Donna retired from the business she had helped to opened 23 years before. In May of 2000 Heather came to Kokomo Quick Print permanently, helping with customer service and later taking over the computer/prepress areas.
2009 brings about another exciting change. Kokomo Quick Print is moving to Terrace Plaza on Southway and Lafountain. The new location should provide better a more convenient location with better visibility. One of the improvements that we are excited for is the new floor plan, which will showcase the presses in the front end of the building.
Today, although we have kept the quick print name, we are a business printer, producing a variety of forms, envelopes, brochures and a wide variety of products in virtually all colors of the rainbow.
Three Generations of Printing Ink on Paper