A&P Master Images plans new building, more growth

UTICA — A&P Master Images is continuing its growth streak. The business, which has grown steadily since its founding in 2003, is seeking to purchase land adjacent to its 205 Water St. location in Utica.

The company’s offer on the land has been pre-approved by the city’s Urban Renewal Agency and, at press time, was awaiting final approval from the Utica Common Council, which met recently. Purchase information was not disclosed at press time.

The embroidery, screen printing, and promotional products company currently owns just over 1 acre on Water Street and will acquire another three-quarters of an acre if the sale goes through. Co-owner and CEO Howard Potter says the company plans to build a 3,200-square-foot building to house the company’s new vinyl production department.

A&P moved into its 5,500-square-foot Water Street location in February 2014 and added a vinyl printing machine that July. The company previously outsourced vinyl work, but the demand grew to a point where it had to bring the process in-house, Potter says.

The machine can print vehicle wraps, banners, floor graphics, magnetics, window graphics, and more, Potter says. “It’s pretty much endless,” he notes of the capabilities. And the company’s 3,000-plus clients have embraced the vinyl services, growing them to the point where A&P had to add a second machine just over a month ago, Potter says.

 Now, the company is fast running out of space in the current facility, Potter says. The new building, which he hopes to complete next spring, will house A&P’s vinyl department, freeing up space in the current building.

However, Potter doesn’t plan for the growth to stop there. Within the next three to five years, he expects he will need to add another building on Water Street to accommodate the company’s growth. The business has generated a growth rate of about 30 percent annually, Potter says. “Even if that held at 15 percent, we’d outgrow this building in a year or two,” he adds.

Ideally, Potter says he would like to build an 8,000-square-foot building to house all the company’s production, leaving the current building free for sales offices and a larger showroom. Currently, A&P displays products in a 400-square-foot showroom. With more than 700,000 promotional products available, Potter says the firm needs more room so customers can see the full scope of what it offers. “It’s going to open their eyes to a whole new world of what’s out there,” he says.

About 60 percent of A&P’s customers are located in New York state, with the remaining 40 percent coming from 15 other states and four other countries. About 50 percent of orders are repeat business, such as retailers ordering restock items like coffee mugs with their logo on it. And, the remaining orders are a mix of new orders from existing customers and new ones. Potter declined to share revenue information.

A&P Master Images (www.masteryourimage.com) employs 15 people. The company offers an array of promotional products and provides screen-printing, embroidery, graphic design, rhinestone apparel, sublimation, laser apparel, and vinyl services to customize those products. 

Some of A&P’s customers include Utica Coffee Roasters, Big Apple Music, the Boilermaker Road Race, Adirondack Bank, First Source Federal Credit Union, Roser Communications Network, Inc., and numerous area public schools and colleges.

UTICA — A&P Master Images is continuing its growth streak. The business, which has grown steadily since its founding in 2003, is seeking to purchase land adjacent to its 205 Water St. location in Utica.

The company’s offer on the land has been pre-approved by the city’s Urban Renewal Agency and, at press time, was awaiting final approval from the Utica Common Council, which met recently. Purchase information was not disclosed at press time.

The embroidery, screen printing, and promotional products company currently owns just over 1 acre on Water Street and will acquire another three-quarters of an acre if the sale goes through. Co-owner and CEO Howard Potter says the company plans to build a 3,200-square-foot building to house the company’s new vinyl production department.

A&P moved into its 5,500-square-foot Water Street location in February 2014 and added a vinyl printing machine that July. The company previously outsourced vinyl work, but the demand grew to a point where it had to bring the process in-house, Potter says.

The machine can print vehicle wraps, banners, floor graphics, magnetics, window graphics, and more, Potter says. “It’s pretty much endless,” he notes of the capabilities. And the company’s 3,000-plus clients have embraced the vinyl services, growing them to the point where A&P had to add a second machine just over a month ago, Potter says.

 Now, the company is fast running out of space in the current facility, Potter says. The new building, which he hopes to complete next spring, will house A&P’s vinyl department, freeing up space in the current building.

However, Potter doesn’t plan for the growth to stop there. Within the next three to five years, he expects he will need to add another building on Water Street to accommodate the company’s growth. The business has generated a growth rate of about 30 percent annually, Potter says. “Even if that held at 15 percent, we’d outgrow this building in a year or two,” he adds.

Ideally, Potter says he would like to build an 8,000-square-foot building to house all the company’s production, leaving the current building free for sales offices and a larger showroom. Currently, A&P displays products in a 400-square-foot showroom. With more than 700,000 promotional products available, Potter says the firm needs more room so customers can see the full scope of what it offers. “It’s going to open their eyes to a whole new world of what’s out there,” he says.

About 60 percent of A&P’s customers are located in New York state, with the remaining 40 percent coming from 15 other states and four other countries. About 50 percent of orders are repeat business, such as retailers ordering restock items like coffee mugs with their logo on it. And, the remaining orders are a mix of new orders from existing customers and new ones. Potter declined to share revenue information.

A&P Master Images (www.masteryourimage.com) employs 15 people. The company offers an array of promotional products and provides screen-printing, embroidery, graphic design, rhinestone apparel, sublimation, laser apparel, and vinyl services to customize those products. 

Some of A&P’s customers include Utica Coffee Roasters, Big Apple Music, the Boilermaker Road Race, Adirondack Bank, First Source Federal Credit Union, Roser Communications Network, Inc., and numerous area public schools and colleges.