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In 1925, a young man named Robert P. Williams opened a small letterpress shop in Asheville's historic Biltmore Village. Armed with determination and a deep understanding of the printing craft—having started sweeping floors in the industry after fourth grade—Williams began serving the community with personal stationery and business products. From those humble beginnings as Biltmore Press to today's state-of-the-art 40,000-square-foot facility, BP Solutions Group represents a century of family leadership, technological innovation, and unwavering commitment to community.

As we celebrate our centennial year, we reflect not just on where we've been, but on the values, relationships, and forward-thinking approach that have sustained us through ten decades of dramatic change in both technology and society.

The Foundation Years: Building on Values (1925-1970s)

Robert P. Williams didn't just stumble into the printing business—he lived it from childhood. "My dad got involved in the print industry after the fourth grade. He started very early in life working in print," recalls his son Bob Williams, current co-owner of BP Solutions Group. "He was born in 1899, so we're talking about the turn of the last century."

By age 18, Williams had mastered the complexities of letterpress printing, a craft that required both technical skill and artistic sensibility. "I recall him telling me that by 18 he was the plant foreman and he was proud of that," Bob remembers fondly. The elder Williams even found time to go dancing on Saturday nights at the rooftop of the Langren Hotel—a reminder that even in those demanding early days, work-life balance mattered.

The company began in 1925 with two partners in that small Biltmore Village space, but both partners left within the first year, leaving Williams to build his vision alone. The location holds special significance for locals—it was where the cantina later operated, a familiar landmark for those who know the historic village area.

From the beginning, the company stood apart not just for its craftsmanship, but for its values. While many businesses of that era practiced discrimination, Biltmore Press served the African-American community when other printers would not—a testament to the Williams family's commitment to treating all customers with respect and dignity.

The technology of those early days was truly hands-on. As Bob Williams recalls from his own summer work in the business: "We still set type one letter at a time using the California type case to pick all the letters out and then you had to redistribute them all after you set the type. It was quite the manual process." Each font family could weigh "a thousand pounds of metal," representing both the literal and figurative weight of the craft.

Second Generation Leadership: Navigating Revolutionary Change (1970s-1990s)

When Bob Williams officially joined the company in 1974, he couldn't have known he was stepping into one of the most transformative periods in printing history. "I think really I was just, by circumstance, dropped into the industry at a time when it was just beginning that massive transition," he reflects.

The company had already made its first move from Biltmore Village to Patton Avenue in the 1930s—specifically to an upstairs location above what is now the Jack of the Wood Pub. From there, it relocated to College Street, where it was housed in the building currently occupied by the Register of Deeds. It was there that Bob joined his father in the business.

The technological revolution was breathtaking in its scope and speed. "Shortly after 1974, we began to see new modes of typesetting appear where you would generate type on photographic paper and then you would create paste-ups and you would photograph it, and then use that film to strip up your flats and make your plates," Bob explains. "So that whole technology started rolling in there in the late 60s and into the 70s. And then the technology train just picked up speed from there."

The shift represented more than just new equipment—it was a fundamental change from a craft-based industry to a technology-driven one. Yet even as processes became more automated, the human element remained crucial. The industry's intensity hadn't diminished either. As Bob notes with a touch of humor: "I can remember a number of people telling me that if you go into the print industry, you will either become a preacher or an alcoholic. And I have to admit that I could see the truth of that... at one point when we had 18 employees, we had three part-time pastors on staff."

One of Bob's most memorable challenges came with his first major equipment purchase—a $7,000 duplicator that took five years of working at the company before he was entrusted with such a decision. "That was one of the more difficult purchases that I can remember in my entire career because the business was quite small and my father passed away," he recalls. "We were a very small printer in Asheville at that time, so we didn't perhaps have a lot of financial credibility." Ironically, decades later, he notes, "it was harder to get that $7,000 press than it was the million-dollar press."

In 1995, the company made its boldest move yet: relocating to its current 40,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility in West Asheville. This wasn't just a change of address—it was a statement of intent for the future.

Third Generation & Modern Leadership: A Unique Partnership

What makes BP Solutions Group truly special isn't just its longevity, but the genuine collaboration between generations. As Whitney Williams Cox, current co-owner and head of HR, observes: "I think it's highly unusual to have three generations a part of a management team who genuinely like working together and communicate well with one another. It's just not something that you find every day in the business."

The modern era of the company began in earnest when Scott Cotten joined in 1992, bringing a leadership philosophy that perfectly complemented the Williams family values. "When I first talked to Bob in my early 20s, late winter of 1992 from upstate New York where I was, we just hit it off and I knew right off the bat that I was talking to someone who cared about the business and cared about the people," Scott recalls.

The hiring process itself exemplified the company culture: "Everything was on a handshake. And that's just kind of been the way the whole organization has happened. Nobody distrusts anybody here. It's a big family."

Scott's journey from estimator to president demonstrates the company's commitment to internal growth and development. Over his 33 years with the company, he's witnessed "dramatic change particularly in the pre-press area but also in the press and digital print areas."

Whitney's role focuses on the human side of the equation—ensuring that technological advancement doesn't come at the expense of the family culture that makes BP Solutions special. Her approach reflects lessons learned from both her father and Scott: "Find people who are better at things than you are, be humble. Don't feel like you've got to control every single thing that's happening all the time. It's great to train people, empower them, grow the organization through growing the people."

Growth Through Innovation & Acquisition: Expanding Horizons

Under Scott's leadership, BP Solutions Group has pursued an aggressive but strategic growth plan, completing approximately 10 acquisitions over the past 20 years. This isn't just about getting bigger—it's about serving customers better by offering comprehensive solutions.

"In almost every one of those cases, the principal has come to work for us and helped manage that transition for anywhere from two to 10 years," Scott explains. "We've gotten some great employees from those transitions as well. Some of them are still here, and some of them have actually retired and moved on. But they've all left their mark here, whether it's a customer that they brought with them, a customer relationship that we've been able to maintain, or some little bit of knowledge that they've been able to share with us."

The company's evolution into new markets has been largely customer-driven. "Most of the things we've gotten involved in over the years have been because customers have asked us if we could do certain things," Scott notes. "And in a lot of cases it's been like, 'No, we don't do that, but give us a few months and we'll figure out how.'"

This willingness to adapt led BP Solutions Group into entertainment industry work in the late 1990s and early 2000s, packaging in the early 2000s, and labels in recent years. The acquisitions have included companies like Blue Ridge Printing, which brought additional commercial printing capabilities and expanded the customer base throughout the region.

Industry Specialization: Serving Diverse Markets

Today's BP Solutions Group serves a remarkably diverse range of industries, each with its own unique requirements and challenges:

Craft Beverage Industry: The explosion of breweries and distilleries in Western North Carolina has created tremendous opportunities. BPSG's experience in the craft beverage industry can help your brand stand out in an increasingly crowded marketplace, with offerings including labels, coasters, tasting cards, bottle carriers, and promotional materials. The company's "no minimums" policy particularly appeals to growing craft beverage companies.

Hospitality Sector: From the front desk to guest rooms to specialized events, hotels have vast print needs. BP Solutions Group produces key card folders (a major specialty), SMS/Host forms, stationery, guest directories, and custom packaging—understanding that the hospitality industry has a lot of moving parts.

Packaging Solutions: As a leading regional packaging manufacturer, the company produces folding cartons, labels, and point-of-purchase displays using both conventional and digital production. Services range from concept development to shelf-ready products, with expertise in everything from craft beverages to nutraceuticals, home goods to cosmetics.

Healthcare & Education: These sectors require specialized expertise in compliance, durability, and professional presentation. Offerings include brochures, direct mail campaigns, business cards, newsletters, and annual reports.

Direct Mail & Fulfillment: With an in-house USPS Mailpiece Design Professional, BP Solutions Group ensures customers understand postal standards and regulations while maximizing efficiency and minimizing costs.

The Family Culture Philosophy: More Than Employees

The numbers tell part of the story—BP Solutions Group boasts an average employee tenure of 16 years in an industry where job-hopping is common. But the real story lies in the voices of those who've chosen to build their careers here.

Steven Maddox, with 47 years at the company, has seen it all: "I've seen a lot of changes. When I first came to work here, we were doing printing on letterpress equipment, which is the older equipment. And I've seen us move from that into offset, into multicolor presses, into digital, into mailing, into packaging." His perspective on what makes the company special is telling: "We're family here, you know, we're a family business and everybody is like... we're around these people more than our families most of the time and we've got a good family atmosphere."

Keith Austin, with nearly 40 years of service, emphasizes the adaptability that the company culture encourages: "After being here that long, you do wear multiple hats, that's for sure. We make deliveries, we unload trucks, we work in the bindery, we work in the mailroom."

Pat Little, who has been with BP Solutions for 15 years after seeing three previous print shops sold, offers a simple but powerful testimonial: "It's a very good place to work. I tell everybody that comes in here. I say it's a good place to work."

University Partnerships & Future Talent

Whitney's focus on university partnerships and internships has brought new energy to the organization. "The outreach we've done in recent years with university students in particular has been really impactful," she explains. "Having those young people come in and spend their internships with us... really has an enlivening effect on all the employees, because they see that youthful energy coming in and their curiosity and their willingness to try out things that they're learning about in their own graphic communications programs."

Recent Appalachian State graduate Alexander Hernandez Diaz, now working as a digital press operator, represents this new generation: "App State has really taught me a lot, learning all the software's programs and just kind of what a day-to-day life would be like in a print shop... Everyone here is like a big family. I can still see myself working here in 10 years and just trying to learn as much as I can."

Resilience Through Challenges: Hurricane Helene Recovery

When Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina in 2024, BP Solutions Group's deep community roots showed their true value. Local customer Jessie Dean of Asheville Tea Company lost her entire facility in the storm but found critical support from longtime partners.

"When Hurricane Helene hit Asheville, we lost our entire facility," she recalls. "Those relationships that we had built with vendors right here who understood what we were going through and were able to help us through the next few months following that crisis were pretty key in us being able to rebuild our business."

This mutual support reflects the company's philosophy that success is interconnected. As Scott notes: "You are an integral part of the community whether you like it or not... your employees all live in the community, and your customers all live in the community, and the success of your customers is equal to your success and the success of the community that everybody lives in."

Technology Evolution: From Craft to Digital Innovation

The technological journey of BP Solutions Group mirrors the broader transformation of the printing industry, but with a focus on maintaining quality and personal service throughout each transition.

1925-1970s: The Craft Era The early decades required true craftsmanship. Every letter was set by hand, every line composed manually. "You would have tabletops full of it and all had to be redistributed into the right font, the right size because every drawer represented a different size and a different type style," Bob Williams recalls of the redistribution process after each job.

1970s-1990s: The Photographic Revolution The shift to photographic typesetting represented the first major technological leap. "You would generate type on photographic paper and then you would create paste-ups and you would photograph it, and then use that film to strip up your flats and make your plates," Bob explains. This period required massive retraining and capital investment but dramatically improved speed and quality.

1990s-2000s: Digital Pre-Press The advent of computer-to-plate technology eliminated many manual steps while improving accuracy. As Don Bowman, Director of Marketing Technologies, notes: "The difference in printing from the pre-2000s to now is dramatic. The speed of turnaround, the quality that you can receive at a much lower price has just dramatically changed in the industry."

2000s-Present: Digital Printing & Integration Today's digital capabilities would seem like magic to Robert P. Williams. "30 years ago, three week turnaround for a print job was kind of the norm and now we could turn that same job in a couple of days or half a day if we had to," Scott observes. "Forty years ago, if you needed something tomorrow you were just out of luck. Today, if you need it tomorrow, there's a good chance we can make it happen."

The company's investment in digital label printing, advanced packaging capabilities, and integrated direct mail services positions it for continued growth in an evolving marketplace.

Looking Forward: The Next Century

As BP Solutions Group enters its second century, the focus remains on adaptation and customer service. Scott's vision is clear: "The things that are going to drive a print business in the future continue to be evolution of new technology and adaptation to new technology, but also continually to educate our customers on the value of print."

Packaging represents a particular growth opportunity. "Packaging has become more and more important as there are more and more products out there proliferating in the marketplace," Scott explains. "The first appearance of the product can make or break the buying decision." This is especially true in an era of online shopping, where "their first impression of the product could be the box that the product comes in."

Research at institutions like Clemson University supports this focus. "They actually have a lab where they put products on shelves, and they bring people in, and they have cameras watching their eye movements, and they're really starting to dial in that luxury packaging makes a huge difference in the purchase decision."

Victoria Matthews, one of the company's newest employees, offers a millennial perspective on why print remains vital: "I feel like the younger generations are really craving print media. They're really craving something physical. Everything is on our phones, on our tablets, all the screens, all of our ads are screen-based. And I think that people really long for beautiful packaging and things that they can touch and be a part of the community."

Customer Success Stories: Partnership in Action

The true measure of BP Solutions Group's success lies in its customer relationships. Asheville Tea Company exemplifies the local partnership approach that has sustained the company for 100 years.

"Our mission as Asheville Tea Company is to build local and regional supply chains," explains Jessie Dean. "And so it's so important to us to be able to find vendors like BP Solutions to work with who are best in the business and can provide access to the packaging that we're really looking for."

The importance of packaging quality in today's marketplace cannot be overstated. "When we're selling a product that really has this visual aspect to it and flavor aspect to it that you can't get when you're looking at it on the shelf, it's so important that we can convey our messaging... from the look and feel of the packaging."

French Broad Chocolate represents another successful partnership, where maintaining brand integrity while refreshing packaging was crucial. As their owner Jael Skeffington explains: "Our challenge was to maintain our brand integrity. We've worked for 18 years to create the brand that we have. We need to freshen up our packaging while not taking away from the brand integrity that we've built."

The collaboration succeeded because "the design team at BP really helped us get from a concept and a need to a finished product that worked really well." The result strengthened their market position: "Since launching this new packaging we've gotten a lot of great feedback on the aesthetics and on the functionality."

The BP Solutions Difference: Values That Endure

What sets BP Solutions Group apart isn't just longevity or technical capabilities—it's the ethical foundation that guides every decision. As Scott emphasizes: "Our first goal is to make it right for the customer. Really, we're always trying to solve a customer's problem."

This approach has proven its worth time and again. "Many of our best customers have become our best customers out of how we dealt with a problem," Scott notes. "Printing is not a perfect solution. We have people involved, we have paper involved, we have ink involved—all these things have variability that can cause a problem somewhere down the line. And they're gonna happen. And one of the things that sets this company apart... is how we respond to a problem."

The company's problem-solving culture extends beyond fixing mistakes to anticipating needs and developing innovative solutions. "People ask me, what do I do? Well, I'm a problem solver. And I spend all day solving problems," Scott explains. "But first and foremost is always, what's the right thing to do for the customer?"

This philosophy creates lasting relationships built on trust. As Scott puts it: "We still have that ethical base that we're gonna do the right thing to go home at night feeling good, and if you meet your customer on the street, you're happy to see them."

A Century of Community Impact

From serving customers who others wouldn't in the 1930s to helping businesses rebuild after Hurricane Helene in 2024, BP Solutions Group has consistently demonstrated that business success and community responsibility go hand in hand.

The company's growth from a small letterpress shop to a regional industry leader employing dozens of people represents more than business success—it's about providing stable, well-paying jobs and supporting the economic vitality of Western North Carolina.

Today, BP Solutions Group serves customers from Maine to Florida and as far west as the Dakotas, but the foundation remains rooted in Asheville values: treat people fairly, deliver quality work, and always look for ways to help customers succeed.

As Bob Williams reflects on the journey: "It's great to surround yourself with people who know more than you do... I think we have to stay open, and in doing that, it gives us the dynamic flexibility to prosper and to change the world."

The Future is Bright: Join Our Next Chapter

As we celebrate 100 years of serving our community and customers, we're more excited than ever about the future. The printing and packaging industry is experiencing rapid technological advancement, creating new opportunities to help businesses stand out in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

Whether you're a craft brewery in Asheville needing eye-catching labels, a healthcare organization requiring compliant direct mail campaigns, a startup seeking sustainable packaging solutions, or an established brand looking to refresh your marketing materials, BP Solutions Group combines a century of expertise with cutting-edge technology to bring your vision to life.

Our commitment remains the same as it was in 1925: deliver exceptional quality, provide outstanding service, and build lasting partnerships with our customers and community.

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Whether you're a startup in Asheville or an established brand across the Southeast, we'd love to help solve your printing, packaging, and marketing challenges. Contact us today to discover how a century of expertise can help bring your vision to life.

BP Solutions Group: Celebrating 100 years of innovation, quality, and community partnership. Here's to the next century of solutions.

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