TPI Solutions Ink is a third-generation family-owned and operated printing company and, since 2020, a certified women-owned business enterprise. The company is co-owned by myself, Carrie Grove, and my brother Dan Spurrell and it was founded by our grandfather and our dad over 60 years ago.

We specialize in high-quality digital printing and finishing, while providing exceptional customer service with a personal touch. Our niche is in working with growing stationery brands and individual artists. Our goal is to develop long-term, trusting relationships with our clientele while offering fair prices and high-quality printed products.

What’s your role at your company?

As is the case in many small businesses, I wear a lot of hats. In a nutshell, I handle overall business administration, sales, marketing and customer relations. Dan’s main role is in print production, quality control and vendor relations.

My favorite part of what I do is building enduring relationships and partnerships with my customers. I find it rewarding to work with them to develop solutions to their print manufacturing and fulfillment pain points.

Why did you become a GCA member and tell us about your GCA experience so far.

I only learned of GCA a few years back through Dana Lynch of Blue Kite Press, when she inquired about our printing services. Dana invited me to a virtual town hall meeting. I found that to be a great way to learn more about the needs and struggles of greeting card makers.

Over the last decade-plus, greeting cards and stationery have become a real niche for our business, so joining the organization and getting more involved in the industry just made sense.

My experience has been great, making connections with so many creative card makers and Associate members in this space has been a valuable learning experience and networking opportunity.

What inspired you to get involved in the greeting card industry?

Over the years, our customer base has changed dramatically. Our company, at its start, primarily printed for local universities, small financial institutions and other small businesses, printing things like forms, business cards, stationery and application packages. Many of these items are no longer printed today.

About 15 years ago, we worked with our first stationery/greeting card seller, printing greeting cards for wholesale. That was our intro into the greeting card industry. We liked this type of work and realized that we were exceptionally good at it. Now, a very large portion of our business caters to small to medium greeting card sellers. We love printing cards and surrounding ourselves with these small works of art!

What's something about you (a fun fact) that few people know?

In my senior year of college (RIT), I worked in the print shop on the Cunard ocean liner the QE2! I boarded in Honolulu, Hawaii and did the last portion of the world cruise, stopping in places like Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, Bali, before finishing up in Yokohama, Japan. I met my British husband Andrew on board and married him about 10 months later. I’m happy to say that we have been married for more than 35 years!

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Thank you for the opportunity to share a bit about our small business!

Carrie Grove
TPI Solutions Ink