A family business that started in 1986 is bringing to Ocean City the same family-friendly style that made it a success on the mainland.
Copiers Plus, owned by the Matthews family, opened in February at the former site of D&B Printing. This second location was added to extend service to the town and is undergoing some touch-ups and expansion in the near future.
Back in October, owner Robert Matthews decided to check out the location and when he walked in, something just felt right. Don and Brenda Moiso had purchased the Philly Soft Pretzel Factory in Somers Point and were selling the print shop they had owned for almost three decades. That gave Matthews his opportunity.
He made some immediate upgrades to the shop, which will undergo a large addition into the conjoining store front, Julie’s Headquarters hair salon. This will include a large waiting area with a big counter for customers to lay out jobs and a computer for customers to access projects that need to be printed.
When Matthews opened Copiers Plus in 1986, he was a copier sales and repair man. It wasn’t until 2003 when he started the printing division and the copy center.
“We use the equipment we sell, so it gives us an advantage over other businesses that might start from scratch," Matthews said. "We were known for the sales of our copiers before we started this division.”
When Copiers Plus got too large for its space in Pleasantville, they relocated to 3112 Fire Road in Egg Harbor Township. With the extra space, Matthews and his family acquired RLS Copy Scan and began the process of printing.
“It increased our revenue and immediately enabled us to offer a broader range of services,” he said.
While Matthews mainly works at the shop in Egg Harbor Township, his two sons, Bob and Shane, manage the Ocean City location. The Matthews men are avid surfers and are very familiar with the view of Ocean City from just offshore. A family business in Ocean City is typical, but this family seems to get along quite well at the office.
“Well, the pro is that we are family, and we all have the common goal, but the con is we can argue easier,” Robert Matthews said. “My family has been involved for a long time. At one point, I had six family members working at one time.”
The boys understand that working at the shop means not a whole lot of vacation or time off will be allowed — it’s all about the work. Shane has only just started working at the shop, while Bob has been working on and off since he was 14 years old.
“I went out to California and my parents said, ‘Oh, we are going to open another store in Ocean City,’ and I didn’t believe them,” Shane Matthews said. “Bob picked me up from the airport on Christmas Eve, and when I got home they said, ‘Oh guess what? You’re working at the store.’ It’s good and it’s bad. I’ll miss some good swells in California, but it’s OK.”
The benefit to the business is that Copiers Plus does everything from promotional products, to custom designs, to wide and large format up to 63 inches wide. This means that Bob and Robert will get to indulge in their favorite part of the business: working on creative designs.
“Hands-on projects are my favorite because I get to see the project from start to finish. I love posters and banners because it is fun for me. There are so many different options when it comes to designing and putting them together,” Bob Matthews said.
One thing that the Matthews family is very proud of is their new experience in Ocean City. The goal is to serve the customers and provide excellent services for the town to enjoy.
“I think we are bringing some much needed services to Ocean City,” Robert said. “Our work ethic, our experience, and our customer service are what sets us apart.”
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COPIERS PLUS
Address: 935 West Avenue, Ocean City
Phone: 609-398-7676
Fax: 609-399-5509
Email: rpm@copiersplus.com
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