Shuford Futch is president Futch Printing and Mailing on East Forsyth Street.
WHAT DOES THE STORE OFFER?
“We do complete commercial printing, single to full color printing, bulk mailing, bindery and die cutting. We’ve done it all under one roof, except full color, since 1998.”
IS YOUR CLIENT BASE LIMITED
TO DOWNTOWN?
“We have a bunch of attorneys down here that use our laser printers but most of my business is outside downtown. We go as far as St. Augustine. We’ve got customers in Miami, New Jersey — we’re all over the place.”
WHAT DO YOU DO AS PRESIDENT?
“Everything. I’m the press mechanic, pressman, bindery operator and I order paper. I’m also the production manager. We’re particular about what we do and getting it right. We’re detail-oriented. My wife handles the accounting.”
HOW LONG HAS THE COMPANY BEEN AROUND?
“Since 1923. I’ve been president since 1995. My father was president before that and my grandfather was president before that. I grew up in it. I started walking in here.”
HOW IS THE INDUSTRY
DIFFERENT NOW?
“The change in technology, the way printing has gone, it’s a lot more competitive, challenging and dynamic than it was 25 years ago.”
WHAT’S MOST CHALLENGING?
“Trying to keep up with the times. The industry has gone from typesetting to computer digital printing. Everything is produced by computer direct to the plate. Negatives and metal plates are pretty much obsolete and handset type has been eliminated.”
WHY STAY DOWNTOWN?
“We’ve been here since 1945 and we own the place. We have our own parking and we’re centrally located. There’s plenty of space with room to expand.”
WHAT OTHER WORK
HAVE YOU DONE?
“I used to race sailboats, do landscaping, a little bit of everything. There’s not a lot of money in racing sailboats. It’s good until you’re about 30 when you’ve got to make a living or have a family.”
HOMETOWN
Jacksonville.
HIGH SCHOOL
Englewood.
CARRYING ON THE FAMILY NAME
Andrew and Christopher, Futch’s sons, are next in line to succeed him. He resides with them and his wife Aga [it’s Polish] in Arlington.
ANY BRUSHES WITH FAME?
“I met Ted Turner and Dennis Conner [an America’s Cup sailor] through sailing.”
CURRENT HOBBIES
He still races sailboats but he also races mountain bikes and goes camping when he’s not playing with his children.
WHAT’S YOUR PET PEEVE?
“I hate people that aren’t punctual.”
— by Monica Chamness