A new generation of information

Father-son team Don and Stephen Wik are taking Rocky Mountain Printers Ltd. into the future with a fresh business model

Stephen and Don Wik stand next to one of their new Konica Minolta machines — Glynis Fediuk photo

Some of Stephen Wik's earliest memories are set in a press room. Whether he was admiring the machines or doing odd jobs for a few dollars, Rocky Mountain Printers Ltd., the business purchased by his father, Don Wik, in 1973, has played a major role in his life. As an adult, he obtained a university degree in chemistry and lived in Edmonton for 12 years, but returning to Cranbrook wasn't out of the question. In 2010, he did just that, and joined Don in the family business in 2011. Stephen's role of business development manager combines both sales and business development duties. 

"I really got a taste for entrepreneurship from being around it as a kid," he said. "I wanted to be involved again—in building a business and seeing how you can do something creative and original."

Working with family has challenges but the changes that are currently taking place at Rocky Mountain Printers prove that two heads are better than one. Together, Don and Stephen came up with fresh ideas that, as Stephen said, "turned the business model on its head." The company building is now full of shiny new Konica Minolta machines, which they will service themselves; they will also be selling and servicing machines for other businesses.

The printing industry is a fast-paced one that comprises networking, sales, production and technology—aspects Stephen hopes his own children will want to experience for themselves. Should his kids decide to enter the family business, they're sure to see a company vastly different than the Rocky Mountain Printers of today. In 2012, the business will be relaunching as Rocky Mountain Print Solutions to reflect the many changes they've gone—and are currently going—through.

"We're prepared to be part of the future, where people might not even be printing as much, but they will still need to move information," said Stephen. "They will still need to communicate and we’re going to be part of that."