Progressive Results Group takes over C&I Graphics

The official ribbon-cutting for the new location of Progressive Results Group (PRG) on Lambton Street, Kincardine, was held earlier this month. But the deal was struck back in December, for the company to purchase C&I Graphics, owned by Irv and Carolynn Mills.

PRG owner Dylan Bartlett said he bought the Kincardine printing firm Dec. 19 last year, and now operates it out of the new location, with his brother, Mike, and a handful of employees.

Irv said he decided to retire because the business was getting too busy and he is "getting old."
"Business was picking up and it was more than we could operate out of our house," he said.

He and Carolynn opened C&I Graphics in 1992.
"It all began when the Kincardine Summer Music Festival organizers asked me to do some design work and printing for them," said Irv. "I had a bit of experience designing on computer. So, I started doing that, and it just sort of snowballed."

Irv worked at Hydro One until he retired in 2005. Following his retirement, he had more time to devote to the design and printing business, and sales doubled, he said.

Now, that he has sold the business, Irv said he will miss the design work and his customers. But he won't miss the time pressures and the ever-looming deadlines to get the work done.

With all his spare time, he has taken on the job of co-ordinator of the community garden, and he enjoys photography.
He and Carolynn have three grown children, a daughter and two sons, as well as two grandchildren and three step-grandchildren. They plan to spend more time travelling.

Meanwhile Dylan opened PRG about six years ago above the myFM Radio studio on Queen Street in downtown Kincardine. He started out working in health and safety, and then he and Mike decided to work together and began doing website design, social media, and marketing.

They now do more social media than any other business in Bruce County, said Dylan.

He met Irv through a mutual employee, and Dylan began taking design work to Irv to be printed.

"We were doing a lot of graphic design and website design," said Dylan. "So, last fall we talked with Irv and decided to purchase his printing business."

Last summer, they moved their shop to 336 Lambton Street and it now encompasses full-service marketing, including web design and hosting, social media management, corporate branding, graphic design, and audio and video production; as well as in-house print services, such as business cards, brochures posters, banners, invitations, canvas prints, photographs, labels and stickers, laminating, photocopies, and more.

"We opened our doors at the new location in September and we've been really busy," said Dylan. "I want to thank Irv and Carolynn for the opportunity to continue a business that they built up over the past 22 years."