Read&Co. History
Read&Co. was founded by Robert and Elizabeth Read in 1937. Read&Co. was originally a blueprint business housed in the basement of a building on Lebanon Alley in downtown Los Angeles. Initially, Read&Co. consisted of just a few employees but after WWII began the blueprint business exploded in Southern California. Due to the close proximity of their location to the aircraft and shipping industries Read&Co. began to flourish, opening up another facility in Los Angeles and another in Santa Fe, New Mexico. To keep up with the expansion of the business everyone put in very long hours to ensure the growth continued while maintaining a high level of customer service.
Lawrence Read joined the business in 1957 during a cyclical change in the industry brought on by technological advances in the offset printing field. Read&Co.'s investment in several printing presses and a small fleet of motorcycles during this period launched them into the world of instant printing and they quickly became a pioneer in the quick print industry.
In 1960 Lawrence Read decided to capitalize upon the every present need for graphic art supplies by opening the first of five Graphic Arts Supermarkets throughout the Southland. People drove for miles to purchase their supplies from the five stores. Read&Co. provided a convenience printers never had before; a single source for graphic arts supplies and equipment. The venture was a huge success.
In early 2000 there were continued advancements in the graphic arts industry, specifically in the proofing and digital plate sector. Lawrence Read's son Robert shifted the primary focus of Read&Co. towards the digital inkjet market. Today Read&Co. is an industry leading supplier in the wide format inkjet business. With nearly 85 years of reliable and professional service, Read&Co. has again positioned itself at the forefront of a rapidly growing industry while maintaining the core values which brought the company its initial successes.
Read&Co. Mission Statement
Read&Co. is a leading supplier of wide format inkjet supplies of the highest quality. We are a team committed to our customers' continued satisfaction and operate with the utmost degree of integrity while dedicating ourselves to superior corporate citizenship and values. Through teamwork, we strive to maximize customer satisfaction. We will deliver profitability, growth, provide opportunities, and support and enhance all of the communities in which we do business.