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 Many people consider old towns and their Main Streets to be a dying breed, gasping their final breath. But Kimberley Lamborn Wolfram, principal of L&W Group, sees a great deal of potential in one Main Street.
“Spring City’s growing,” Wolfram remarked as she discussed her company’s recent move to a Main Street facility. She said the new location gives “nice exposure,” has good parking and includes “a space to grow.”
She added that off-street parking is located behind the building, and more space is available next door if the company needs to expand. She also stressed the “convenience factor” of keeping things local as a consideration in the move.
L&W, a commercial printer and graphic design firm, didn’t go far in this move. The company has been operating in Royersford for six years. The family business was launched in Strafford in 1971 by John Lamborn, Wolfram’s father, as Lamborn Typo, offering hot metal typesetting for commercial printers, advertising agencies and freelance artists.
By 1981, Lamborn Typo joined the “computer revolution” with the addition of photo typesetting. Keeping up with technology, in 1986 the firm added the “next generation” of computers, laser typesetting and computer daylight camera.
Wolfram graduated from Spring-Ford High School in 1988.The same year she officially joined the family business. Six years later, when her father retired in 1994, Wolfram became principal of the company and expanded the company’s services to include graphic design.
In 1991, Albert Wolfram had joined the company, adding the specialty of photo scanning, photo alteration, digital file support and trouble-shooting.
Under Kimberley Wolfram’s leadership, the company continued to grow and expand. In 1998 the firm acquired Norristown Graphics, a typesetting and services bureau since the 1950s. The acquisition of a commercial printer in April enabled L&W Group’s latest expansion into the larger Spring City facility.
Wolfram described the company as offering full service in-house, with presses, copy machines and binding. L&W bought the equipment “to be able to handle the majority of our work in-house,” she said.
Wolfram, who heads the design department, said her company offers everything from the design to printing of brochures, pocket folders, ads, stationery packages and more. The firm produces business cards, flyers, newsletters, postcards, labels and stickers, “and much more.”
L&W’s client list includes local businesses such as George’s Music, Jean’s Cleaners and Shalkop, Grace and Strunk Funeral Home, as well as larger firms like Bell of PA, McDonald’s, Wyeth and Vanguard.
Besides Kimberley Wolfram at the head of design, L&W Group includes Albert Wolfram as director of operations, and John Kraft is press supervisor. Several part-time employees round out the workforce.
The company’s facility at 97 N. Main St., Spring City, is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Phone number is 610-948-4973 and e-mail, lwgroup@earthlink.net.
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