Meet a Neighbor Who Says, 'I Like The Smell of Ink; I Guess It's Just in My Blood'

Jack Maram is sole proprietor of the Minuteman Press at 9634 Olive Street in the Olivette Shopping Center.

He runs somewhat of quasi international business. He and his wife are from South Africa originally. His chief printer is from Brazil.

Maram has provided full-color processed printing for the Olivette community for nine years. He moved to the Midwest from San Diego to follow his son who took a job here.

The Olivette Patch had a cup of coffee with the affable owner.

Olivette Patch: Who makes up your clientele?

Jack Maram: I do all kinds of local businesses. I handle all of the printing for the City of Olivette.

Patch: What is your main speciality. If you could talk about just one service what would that be?

Maram: We specialize in color work. We give personal service with a lot of attention.  We do black and white printing too. We do the old NCR (National Cash Register) forms. 

Patch: Has desk top publishing changed the business?

Maram: What’s happens is a lot of people are starting to do their own stuff, but they can print (color) only up to a certain quality. Most people use their own printers. If they want a lousy job, they do it themselves.

Patch: Do you enjoy the printing business?

Maram: I do. I’ve been a business man all my life. I have a good staff. I was in San Diego 10 years and I sold my business. I had a restraint of trade so I followed my son here. Five years ago, he went back to South Africa. I had an agency (in San Diego) and we printed labels for pharmacists.

People asked if I could do business cards, other printing and I said sure. I like the smell of ink. I guess it's just in my blood.