ASHEBORO — In an area well-known for its printing companies, it is big news when the two oldest in Asheboro merge. Such is the case for Asheboro Printing and Hunsucker Printing.

With the distinction of being the oldest print shop in Asheboro, the 96-year-old Asheboro Printing is in the process of merging with the second oldest print shop, 72-year-old Hunsucker Printing.

All operations will be housed at the current Hunsucker Printing at 522 N. Fayetteville St., across from Randolph Health, as of Jan. 2, 2019.

According to Terry Russell, president of Hunsucker Printing, the merger is a matter of “consolidating to cut down on costs and offering better services to our customers.”

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Asheboro Printing will close with the merger. Its business will move to Hunsucker Printing at 522 N. Fayetteville St., across from Randolph Health. (Paul Church / The Courier-Tribune)

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Terry Russell, owner of Hunsucker Printing, poses inside his business on Nov. 15. Hunsucker Printing and Asheboro Printing will be merging Jan. 1. (Paul Church / The Courier-Tribune)

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Asheboro Printing will close with the merger. Its business will move to Hunsucker Printing at 522 N. Fayetteville St., across from Randolph Health. (Paul Church / The Courier-Tribune)

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Terry Russell, owner of Hunsucker Printing, poses inside his business on Nov. 15. Hunsucker Printing and Asheboro Printing will be merging Jan. 1. (Paul Church / The Courier-Tribune)

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Asheboro Printing will close with the merger. Its business will move to Hunsucker Printing at 522 N. Fayetteville St., across from Randolph Health. (Paul Church / The Courier-Tribune)

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Hunsucker Printing offers commercial printing services including letterheads, envelopes, flyers, art prints, offsets and digital.

Russell, who previously bought out Randolph Printing in 2011 and Durham Printing in 2016, said he has been in talks with Asheboro Printing President Harvey Wood for the past six months regarding the merger process.

 “We expect the process to take about a year,” Russell said. “It’s going to take a while to make sure all of the former [Asheboro Printing] customers are aware of the switch.”

During the year-long switch over, Russell said customers can still call the Asheboro Printing number at 336-625-3132 or email asheboroprinting@gmail.com for assistance.

In fact, all four of the Asheboro Printing employees will be joining the current five-person Hunsucker Printing team in January.

 “The only thing changing is that we’ll be a few blocks up the street,” Wood said.

Both Wood and Russell said they have always had a friendly working relationship and are grateful that the printing industry is not one of rivalry.

 “In this print-heavy town, we scratch each others’ backs,” Russell said. “The printing companies have always been neighbors and allies.”

 “Over the years, we have helped each other out. If he had something I needed, he’d tell me to come on and get it. If I had something he needed, he’d drop by,” Wood said.

Though the two men have not previously worked for the same printing company, Russell’s father J.T. Russell, previous owner of Hunsucker Printing, was employed by Asheboro Printing at one point in his career.

History of Hunsucker Printing

Founded in 1946 by brothers Paul and Ed Hunsucker, the Hunsucker Printing operation relocated several times until settling in its current location in 1975.

J.T. Russell bought into the company in the late 1950s and became sole owner in 1988. After his passing in 2008, son Terry Russell became sole owner.

 “I became owner in 2008, but I’ve been with the company for 42 years now,” Russell said.

Hunsucker Printing employee Bill Davidson has Russell beat in number of years of service. “Bill started here in the ’50s and had previously worked in several printing shops around town. He’s been in printing for nearly 60 years now,” Russell said.

Of all the changes both men have seen through the years, the biggest was the phasing out of the old linotype printing machines for computer and digital technology. According to Russell, the company’s “newest” linotype machine was purchased in 1969, with the oldest dating back to the Depression Era.

 “We started phasing out the linotype machines in the 1980s with the rise of computers,” Russell said. “My last linotype man, Gene Hancock, just retired, so we are retiring our last linotype machine as well.”

History of Asheboro Printing

Currently located at 152 S. Fayetteville St. where it has been since the 1940s, Asheboro Printing was first established in 1922.

President Harvey Wood has been with the company for 51 years and bought the business from the Scott brothers in the early 1980s.

 “I started here right out of high school at the age of 17 and have been here ever since,” Wood said. “When the business was sold, there were three or four young boys around here to keep it going. Over the years, everyone went their own way except for me.”

 “I guess you can say I was the lucky winner,” Wood laughed.

Much like Hunsucker Printing, Asheboro Printing offers a variety of commercial printing services to meet customers’ needs.

Wood expressed heartfelt appreciation to the community for keeping the company in business long enough to earn the distinction of oldest printer. “We want to thank all of our customers for their support over the years; we hope to serve them even better in the future.”

According to Wood, cards and emails regarding the merger will be sent to Asheboro Printing customers in the coming weeks.