Minuteman Press in King’s Lynn Celebrates 20+ Years & Begins Transition to New Ownership

Minuteman Press in King’s Lynn Holds Open Day Event to Celebrate Rich History & Demonstrate New Products

A new chapter has begun for the storied Minuteman Press franchise in King’s Lynn, England. The centre was opened by Keith and Paula Boyce in December of 2004. With over 20 years in business and consistent growth throughout their tenure as owners, Keith and Paula felt like 2025 was the right time to begin transitioning the business they’ve built to new ownership. They didn’t have to look too far to find the right fit with Dan Roberts, who has worked as an employee of Minuteman Press in King’s Lynn since 2005. After 20+ years of being a valued team member, Dan officially began purchasing the business in September of 2025.

History of the business

Reflecting on the history of the business, Keith shares, “We opened in December 2004 as a new location, on King’s Lynn High Street, a very early entrant in production digital print. Growth along with our entry into sign and display required us to move in 2011 doubling our space to a small industrial unit. We then relocated in 2018 to our present 10,000 sq. ft. site as demand for our online products and services grew, which in turn drove a need for storage and a completely automated web / print and finishing / pick pack and dispatch system.”

He continues, “Our evolution has very much been driven by delivering products and services that are required by our customers. Innovation along with support from our key suppliers as well as software development very much positioned us at the forefront of change. We also invested at an appropriate time when risk was at an acceptable level and embraced environmental opportunities such as carbon neutrality and eradicating waste. All these items helped us make sure we were able to meet the needs of UK brand owners.”

Keith adds, “To have grown the business from zero customers in a small market town not known to either Paula or me to achieving President’s Club status was a very special moment. But possibly the greatest achievement was our final relocation, we at last had the space and environment to deliver highly automated offerings. Even now 8 years after moving it’s still special seeing it all working with little operator involvement. Some days watching up to 5000 highly personalised orders transit multiple processes, is quite incredible. Not forgetting the team that work closely together to hit quality and service parameters that is required in this market sector.”

Why was this the right time to sell the business? Keith answers, “Paula and I have always worked incredibly hard to achieve our goals. I am 67 and Paula is 64, after much thought we felt that 2025 seemed the right time to commence the transition. Our employees, our suppliers and most importantly our customers require continuity, and the best way was for us to develop a transition plan with Dan Roberts who has worked in the business for 20+ years.”

“In lots of ways Dan’s core skills in developing automation coding and customer integration were very much aligned to future strategies, this has enabled Paula and me to step back and support Dan in ensuring that he is able to deliver our collective aligned goals. I don’t think either Paula or myself wanted the day-to-day involvement, but we enjoy supporting Dan and watching his development. The process is a few months in and is working well for everyone. I am sure this is the best solution for us all to meet long-term personal goals, as well as hitting our collective ambitious growth targets.”

From employee to owner – meet Dan Roberts

As Dan Roberts takes the reins of Minuteman Press in King’s Lynn, he is no stranger to the centre he now partly owns. Dan shares, “I graduated from Norwich School of Art and Design with a degree in Graphic Design. Shortly after graduating, a colleague of Keith’s introduced me to Keith and Paula, and they offered me a role as a designer at Minuteman Press in King’s Lynn in 2005. I have worked there ever since, developing my experience within the business and gaining a strong passion for the digital print industry.”

Dan shares three key reasons why this opportunity was too good to pass up:

• “First, I am incredibly proud to have been part of the success that the King’s Lynn store has become. Having spent so many years contributing to the business, I could think of nothing better than continuing to be part of its future and helping to carry its legacy forward.”

• “Second, over the years I have built strong relationships with many of our customers and suppliers. That familiarity and trust is a huge advantage as I take this next step, as it allows me to build on relationships that already exist and continue supporting the businesses we work with.”

• “Finally, I have been extremely fortunate to receive a great deal of support from Keith and Paula throughout this process. Their kindness and generosity have made this opportunity possible, and I feel very lucky to have had that level of encouragement and guidance from them.”

Dan also appreciates the support he’s received from Minuteman Press International during this transition period. He says, “The training and support from Minuteman Press has been very helpful, particularly in refining how we use the FLEX system. It has been valuable to revisit the platform and begin utilising features that we had not previously taken full advantage of, such as lapsed customer email tools, the Online Request Activity Screen, and simple improvements like Google address auto-complete. While these may seem like small changes, they have had a noticeable impact on our efficiency and the speed at which we can respond to customers. It has also helped us create better internal processes, allowing other members of the team to become more involved in quoting and managing their own customer accounts.”

Open day event

On 16 January 2026, Minuteman Press in King’s Lynn hosted a special Open Day Event that celebrated the rich history of the business. The event also introduced clients to the impressive capabilities of Minuteman Press while giving Dan, Keith, and Paula a chance to interact with customers and ensure a smooth transition. Dan says, “The event was supported by Xerox, who supplied refreshments and a small buffet.”

Dan continues, “The Open Day Event was organised for several reasons. It was an opportunity to celebrate how far the business has come since its early beginnings on the High Street and to showcase the impressive manufacturing operation it has grown into today. It was also designed to help attract new customers and build more personal relationships with them. Most importantly, however, the event was about thanking and celebrating our existing customers who have supported us over the years, while also showcasing services that some of them may not have previously been aware we provide.”

On that last point, Dan adds, “During the event we demonstrated the speed and efficiency of our automated workflows. Guests provided their names on arrival and, by the end of the tour, were presented with a high-quality personalised pen holder. This demonstrated the power of digital print by showing how quickly we can produce a meaningful, personalised keepsake in the time it took them to enjoy a coffee and take part in the tour. Ultimately, our goal is to add value beyond the physical product itself by providing service, convenience, and reliability alongside high-quality print.”

Final thoughts & reflections

As Keith and Paula Boyce take a step back from the day-to-day operations of the business, he shares the following advice he would give to his younger self: “Surround yourself with people who are driven and share your life goals to essentially build a highly successful network of people and organisations. Run a business that aligns its values with your customers and suppliers. You will make mistakes and that’s not a problem, just make sure you learn from them. Listening is a greater skill than talking!”

Keith further advises, “Having worked in the printing industry for 50 years I can’t recall a period where the industry has ever stood still. Therefore, change and innovation is at the very heart of what we do. These days the focus is on services and automation. Being focused on making improvements must be part of the process of running any business to meet the requirements and expectations of our customers. Never skip doing a business plan – a 1 and 3-year plan – and hold yourself accountable for it. Keep strong financial control over your business. The rest is just staying focused and working hard.”

When asked about carrying the legacy of the business forward, Dan says, “Having worked within the business for over 20 years, I feel I have developed a deep understanding of both our customers and how the company operates on a day-to-day basis. This experience has given me a strong appreciation for what has made the business successful and the importance of maintaining the high standards that customers have come to expect.”

He concludes, “I am also very aware that the strength of the business today is largely due to the commitment and dedication of Keith and Paula. My role is to build on that solid foundation and continue developing the business in a sustainable way, while supporting our customers and ensuring the company remains a reliable partner for local businesses.”

For more information about Minuteman Press and their franchise opportunities, visit their profile.