Richard Bartholomew

MULTI-MEDIA SERVICES
CORNING SBDC

Richard Bartholomew worked at the Ingersoll-Rand print department for 24 years. He excelled in the corporate environment, gaining invaluable experience in producing product manuals and parts catalogs, business cards, letterhead, product sheets, and similar items. As the department acquired new equipment such as laser printers and offset presses, Mr. Bartholomew persuaded the company to expand and provide limited services to external customers to help defray the costs of the new technology.

In 1994, corporate officials approached him about purchasing the print and media division when Ingersoll-Rand decided to outsource printing and graphic services.  In early 1995, Mr. Bartholomew contacted the SBDC for assistance. Business Adviser Scott Bloor helped Mr. Bartholomew develop a business plan that convinced a bank to finance his venture, then provided advice on corporate structure and helped develop the purchase and sale agreement.  Mr. Bartholomew retained eight jobs from the corporate print department and has since created 19 full-time and three part-time jobs.

Multi Media Services offers digital black and white and color printing, color large-format signs and posters, color offset printing and bindery services.  Specializations include newsletters, manuals, direct mail, CD duplication, letterheads, envelopes and business cards. The staff focuses on fast turnaround of customer jobs at an economical price.

Since 1995, Multi Media expanded to the point that it outgrew its original space.  The company moved from a 3,700 square foot building to a 13,000 square facility.  In 2002, the company was named by American Printer magazine to the list of "Top 50 Fastest Growing Printers" ranking 16^th in the country. In 2003, Mr. Bartholomew merged with a print shop in Elmira, enabling him to offer service in Chemung County.  In June 2003, the Greater Corning Area Chamber of Commerce named Mr. Bartholomew the Small Business Person of the Year.