Bud and Karen McCann bought Allegra on Valentine’s Day in 2017.
The date is a fun coincidence for the long-married couple, who were looking for a change of pace and a new business adventure when they stumbled upon the Providence-based printing business. While neither had been a businessowner, both had plenty of experience in similar industries: Bud had over 35 years of sales and management experience in a business that made printing equipment, while Karen had a creative arts background.
Eventually, it was Providence that won them over.
“This [business] was the one that fit the nicest and it allowed us to move to Providence, which … was close to family and friends,” said Bud McCann, who grew up in Seekonk. “We also wanted to have a little bit of a of an urban vibe, as we became empty nesters. This was a nice way for us to achieve some personal goals, as well as business.”
That Valentine’s Day marked the beginning of a new chapter for the couple and the beginning of a wave of growth for the business.
Meant to be a “one-stop shop” for all communications needs, Allegra offers a variety of printing options, from flyers and brochures to posters and booklets; mailing services; and marketing services, including graphic design and promotional products.
Since buying the 50-year-old shop in 2017, the McCanns have quadrupled the revenue and tripled the size of the staff. Of course, it wasn’t all easy. Transitioning from the corporate world to being a business owner brings its own set of challenges, and the McCanns found that out soon enough.
“I’ve always enjoyed working,” Bud McCann said. “But now having your own business, it brought on a lot of different pressures that I didn’t realize were going to happen. So, until I became comfortable, there was clearly stress, but it worked its way out.”
But after an adjustment period, the McCanns found their niche. In particular, they expanded the shop’s relationships with local nonprofits, which now make up 25% of their business. They also invested in new, expensive equipment, which allowed them to expand their services. Now in any given day, there can be more than 150 orders being processed at various levels within the 5,000-square-foot shop, they said.
While Bud splits his time between working with customers and taking care of the administrative side of the business, Karen handles the marketing of Allegra.
“We try to work with small businesses in the Providence and southeastern Mass. region. So, I try to spread the word about successful jobs and campaigns that we’ve done for our customers,” she said. “You don’t have to go to three or four different other small businesses to get your marketing needs done. We can be your one-stop shop.”
While many of Allegra’s clients are small, local businesses, the company has partnered with larger clients too. Recently, it was one of the five businesses selected by Brown University to outsource some of its printing jobs. The university also recognized it in its economic impact report.
As owners of a family-owned business, Bud and Karen McCann have worked to ensure their company is well embedded in the community. They’ve created the Footprint Fund, which awards selected nonprofits thousands of dollars in marketing and printing services. To date, Allegra has donated more than $50,000 to local nonprofit organizations and associations. Another fun community event is the annual “Pie in July,” when Allegra gifts a freshly baked pie to customers throughout the month of July.
OWNERS: Bud and Karen McCann
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Marketing and print communications
LOCATION: 102 Waterman St., Providence
EMPLOYEES: Nine
YEAR FOUNDED: 1967
ANNUAL SALES: WND
