Meet Shelby Blecker of SLB Printing

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Blecker.

Shelby, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Started SLB Printing in 1984 at the age of 24. Prior to starting SLB Printing, I was the operations manager at Shazzam Visuals and worked there from 1976 to 1981. Since 1984, SLB Printing has been providing printing to a wide range of clients across the United States. In 1990 we expanded into mailing services, then full color digital printing along with variable data (high response printing) and now 60″ wide format, poster printing, backlit film, artist canvas, wall graphics & banner printing. In 2013 we completed our move into our new location on Robertson Blvd so we are now Culver City, Palms & Beverly Hills adjacent and we are freeway close too. Located just 3 blocks north of the 10 freeway. With the move into our new location, we have added a 2nd and a 3rd digital press along with a 2nd wide format press to help meet the growing needs of our clients for same day rush printing. Our new plant has free parking in back. Our goal is to be a valued resource to our clients and a partner to help their business grow! Stop by the plant or call and find out for yourself why our clients love our service, quality and commitment to exceed your expectations when it comes to all your printing needs.

Member of the Printing Industries of Southern California. Active with www.ChoosePrint.org our industry trade organization that helps promote the use of sustainable printing. I enjoy track days with my Mini Cooper, car racing, spending time with family and friends, a good bottle of red wine & writing the SLB Printing blog articles.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think starting and owning a business is ever a smooth road. There are always economic challenges, technological challenges and a host of other obstacles that I learned from. The biggest struggle was surviving in 1998 while the printing industry went from ink on paper to toner and fully digital files. Selecting the right digital equipment and figuring ROI is an ongoing challenge. You would think that an industry as old as printing doesn’t have a lot that changes….well that’s not the case. Shorter run lengths and quicker turnaround times have led us to where we are now…being able to print as few a 1 copy of a 52 page, saddle stitched, and catalog in under 1 hour and present it as a press proof to an advertiser. Or printing 25 movie posters in an afternoon and having them ready to board a flight to a film festival for a producer. There are literally hundreds of these “same day” printing miracles that we have accomplished.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the SLB Printing story. Tell us more about the business.
WE PRINT MIRACLES! That’s a motto we live by. We can’t do everything and don’t try to. But we recognize very quickly a job that is in our wheelhouse that we can help with. We get that job done as fast as humanly possible while maintaining a level of quality that we hope will always exceed our client’s expectations.

We under promise and over deliver.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Good luck gets your foot in the door and I have had my share of these experiences. But it’s how we deliver as a team that keeps our foot in that door.

I don’t dwell on bad luck for too long, instead just try to learn from it and move on.

Contact Info:

• Address: 2818 S. Robertson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90034
• Website: www.slbprinting.com
• Phone: 310-558-4752
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: slbprinting
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slbprint
• Twitter: @SLB_Printing
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/slb-printing-los-angeles-4