The Swift Printing Story

Swift Printing has been part of Grand Rapids since 1950, and while the equipment, technology and way people communicate have changed quite a bit over the years, the heart of the business has stayed remarkably consistent. We are a third-generation, women-owned commercial printing company based at 404 Bridge Street NW in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Today, Swift is led by Jessica Gutowski-Slaydon, President, and Walt Gutowski III, Vice President, along with an experienced team working across customer service, design, prepress, digital printing, offset printing, finishing and mailing.

We work with small and mid-sized businesses, municipalities, law firms, consultants, nonprofits, agencies, marketing departments and other organizations throughout West Michigan and beyond. Some customers come to us with a fully designed project and exact specifications. Others come with an idea, a deadline and no clue what paper they need. Both are completely normal. Our job is to help figure out the best way to get the project done. That may mean digital printing for a smaller or more personalized run, offset printing for a larger quantity, direct mail for a campaign that needs to land in thousands of mailboxes, or a combination of printing, finishing, signage, labels, envelopes, booklets and other pieces that all need to work together.

We also handle specialty projects involving foil, die cutting, letterpress and other finishing techniques when the piece calls for something extra. What we really sell, though, is not just printing.

We sell experience.

We sell the ability to look at a project and catch something before it becomes a problem. We sell the ability to recommend a different size because it uses paper more efficiently, to suggest a production method that saves money or to tell a customer when they probably do not need to print as many pieces as they originally planned.

That is one of the biggest advantages of working with a local commercial printer. You can actually talk to the people responsible for the work. If you call Swift, you are not sending a file into a giant anonymous system and hoping for the best. There are real people here reviewing artwork, checking specifications, looking at paper, thinking through production and making sure the finished piece does what it is supposed to do. And if something changes at the last minute, you know who to call.

We think that matters.

Swift Printing was founded in Grand Rapids in 1950 and has operated from our Bridge Street location since 1954. Three generations later, we are proud of that history, but we also know longevity only means something if you continue to earn the next customer. That means continuing to invest in equipment, technology and people while keeping the craftsmanship and personal service that built the company in the first place.

Printing is still very much a hands-on business here. We still care about the paper. We still pay attention to color. We still get excited about a piece that comes off the press looking exactly the way it should.

Printer people are funny like that.

We are also a Certified B Corporation, and that reflects something that has always mattered to us: a business should be judged by more than what it sells. We care about our employees, our environmental impact and the community around us. We look for practical ways to reduce waste, make responsible material choices and produce work more efficiently.

We are serious about being part of the Grand Rapids community. Over the years, Swift has supported local nonprofits, neighborhood organizations, businesses, events and community projects throughout West Michigan. Sometimes we are printing the materials. Sometimes we are sponsoring something. Sometimes we are volunteering. Sometimes we are simply showing up. That is important to us because this community is not a market on a spreadsheet. It is home.

So who is Swift Printing a good fit for? Usually, it is an organization that wants more than the lowest possible online price. It is a municipality that needs a newsletter to go out correctly and on time. A law firm that wants client-facing materials to look polished. A consultant preparing a report or presentation. A nonprofit sending a donor appeal. A marketing team coordinating several printed pieces for a campaign. A business that has grown beyond basic copy-shop printing and needs a partner who can help think through the whole project.

It is also the person who sends us an email saying, “I have this idea. Can you tell me if it’s possible?”

Those are some of our favorite conversations.

When you reach out to Swift Printing, we start by learning what you are trying to accomplish. We will ask about quantity, size, deadline, artwork, mailing and any finishing requirements. If you do not know all of those things yet, that is fine. We can help. From there, our team reviews the project and recommends the production method that makes the most sense. We prepare pricing, answer questions and, once you are ready to move forward, review your files before production.

Depending on the project, you may receive a proof before the job goes to press. Then we print, finish, mail, package or deliver it based on what you need. There is no mystery about what happens next, and you are always welcome to ask questions along the way. We know there are bigger printing companies. There are giant online printers, national chains and plenty of places where you can upload a PDF without ever speaking to another person. That is not what we are trying to be. We want to be the printer you call when the project matters. The one you trust with the annual report, community mailing, direct-mail campaign, new product label, event signage or weird idea that needs somebody willing to figure it out.

After more than 75 years in business, we have learned that good printing still comes down to a pretty simple combination: Good people. Good equipment. Good communication. And caring enough to get it right.

If that sounds like the kind of printing partner you are looking for, we would love to hear what you are working on.

Already know what you need?

Or email us at thankyou@swiftprinting.com.We will take it from there.

From Humble Beginnings

Our founder, Walt Gutowski Sr., was a first-generation American born to Polish immigrants. Senior, as we called him, knew he was destined to own his own Grand Rapids, Michigan-based print shop back in the 1940s. He opened his first shop out of his home in 1950 and moved to our current building on Bridge Street in 1954. Fast forward to now, we have expanded our capabilities while still upholding the values instilled in us by Walt Sr. and Lorraine Gutowski. Senior worked in the Grand Rapids print shop every day of his life. When folks asked if he would retire, he’d just laugh and say he’d never worked a day in his life because he loved what he did. Here’s a nice article Tom Rademacher wrote about Senior.

Walt Gutowski Jr. (who we don’t refer to as Junior, oddly enough) took over the family business in the 1980s. Walt took the lessons Senior taught him, and he and his wife, Amy, built the business up from a ma and pop shop to a healthy small business. Don’t worry—we still have that down-home feel; we just have a lot more printing capabilities now. Walt served as a First Ward City Commissioner for two terms (term-limited, or we’re sure he’d still be the Commissioner). Walt and Amy enjoy making a difference on the WestSide, especially on Bridge Street in Grand Rapids, and are proud to be WestSiders. Walt is also a musician, and his band is called The Bridge Street Band. (How appropriate, right?!)

Jessica Gutowski-Slaydon, Walt’s oldest daughter, joined the Swift Team full-time in 2014. She spearheaded the B Corp Certification. Jes lives for the family business. She has fond memories of snow days as a child spent at the print shop, making forts in the basement, and the sweet (intense) smell of ink in the air. She is the President of the StockBridge Business Association and a board member for the Downtown Improvement District. Following in Walt Jr.'s footsteps, she is also a local elected official in Cannon Township.

Walt Gutowski III rejoined the family business full-time in January 2021. After taking some time to explore the United States, we're happy to have him back! Read more about his adventures here. Walt and Jes work together at the family print shop and look forward to what the future holds.

Most importantly, we wouldn’t be anything without our amazing team. We have a really cool group of diverse people from all over West Michigan. We are all hardworking individuals, willing to try anything and everything to make what you want a success!