JACOB CREPS

JACOB CREPS

Jacob Creps is the owner of Creps United Publications. Creps dates to 1948, when Creps family patriarch Howard Creps started producing a pamphlet containing local news as a way to advertise his insurance business. The pamphlet grew to become a local newspaper. When the newspaper ceased production, the family began printing shopping guides, and the business eventually expanded into its modern form.
 
Creps started as a small business on Chestnut Street in Indiana in a garage. In 1963, they acquired a building on 1163 Water Street. In 1988, they built a building on West Philadelphia Street and moved there. After this, they acquired the Gatti building that was across the road and made it into one of their annex buildings. In 2001, the major expansions began. They bought numerous presses and really invested into the West Philadelphia Street location and continued expanding over the next several years. When Jacob first started working at Creps United Publication, there were about 35 full time employees. Today there are currently 175 employees and they print about 100 billion advertising inserts each year.
 
Creps is now one of the largest printers of full-color advertising in the eastern United States. Creps United Publications specializes in producing newspaper inserts, particularly for grocery stores. They also aid retailers with their online presence, providing template and custom solutions for electronic advertisements, as well as assist in setting up online ordering systems.

In October of 2012, the Creps facility on Philadelphia Street burned to the ground, causing $75 million in damages and leaving most of their employees out of work. All press production was gone and they had to outsource their printing business. They still had their pre-press building on Water Street so they were able to continue designing the ads and preparing them ready for print. They worked hard to get their customers ads placed at other printers and accomplished that task within a week of the tragedy.
 
After the fire they didn’t need to keep their company here in Indiana County, but Jacob was determined to rebuild Creps United Publications in this community. It’s where he and his family were born and raised, the company began and where most of his employees were from. Due to the commitment and leadership of Jacob Creps, his team, the outpouring support from the community and organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Indiana County Development Corporation, the county commissioners, and other local government entities, the company is back up to speed. Seventeen months after the fire, they were completely rebuilt and maybe better off than before.
 
Jacob Creps currently serves on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Indiana County. Previously, he served on the Chamber of Commerce and YMCA Board of Directors.
 
​He and his company have most of their customers and employees back, and they are excited about the opportunities that await them.

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