THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 6, 1996 TAG: 9603050087
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LORI A. DENNEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
When Herb and Mary Reaves opened a printing, shipping and copying franchise called Copi-Ez they were prepared for hard work, long hours and virtually no help because they couldn't afford to hire anyone.
Apparently, they underestimated their business' potential.
In a year's time, they said, the store has matched or outdone the gross yearly sales of the four other Copi-Ez franchises in the area.
Now, they're paying themselves and six other employees, too.
``It's triple what we thought it would be,'' said Mary Reaves, who acts as treasurer in the couple's corporation, Picture-Me-Perfect Computer Images Inc. trading as Copi-Ez. ``The reason we've survived is because there are so many other things we do besides just mailing and copying.''
A few of the standard services offered by the Reaveses include self- and full-service copies, oversized, two-sided and color copies as well as a fax machine service to receive or send information.
Then there's the mailing end of the operation where customers can buy envelopes or tape, stamps or rubber stamps and also have the item mailed by UPS, Federal Express or Airborne delivery.
Laminating and binding are also standard services.
The Reaveses' small store in the the K mart Plaza at Dam Neck Crossing also houses and rents post office boxes.
Some of their not-so-typical services include a full computer service where customers can get typesetting and design work done for newsletters, brochures and manuals.
Herb Reaves, 44, president of the corporation and a retired Navy lieutenant commander who specialized in communications, does the graphics work such as logo designs.
He also handles the printing aspect where customers can get business cards, letterhead and envelopes printed as well as invitations and announcements. The store houses four presses, including the elite Risso Graph printer with raised-letter printing capability.
Then there are the posters, signs and banners that the other franchise stores send to the Reaveses to do.
``We're the satellite store for new ideas,'' said Herb Reaves. ``We're doing things the other four stores aren't doing, so we're the test market for ideas.''
The couple also offers a full video service, including duplication or the transfer of slides and 8mm, 16mm, or Super 8 film onto video cassette. The business also offers event video production, video editing and a video graphics photo album.
The Picture-Me-Perfect aspect of the business involves the transferring of pictures onto items, such as T-shirts, hats and calendars. That's what started the Reaves in their business.
While Herb Reaves was stationed in Nebraska, Mary Reaves and her oldest daughter, Renita Mitchell, decided, with Herb's input, to buy a kiosk business transferring pictures onto items. They named the business Picture-Me-Perfect.
The women worked the kiosk at area military bases for a year until Herb Reaves returned home and took over.
From there, the couple bought their franchise, essentially buying the Copi-Ez name and the shared group advertising that results from a franchise agreement and then incorporated the two businesses into one.
Herb Reaves was the inspiration for adding the not-so-typical services to the business, said Mary Reaves, 42 and his wife of 25 years.
``He's the one with all the printing and graphics know-how,'' she said.
She gave up her 20-year career as a real estate agent when they opened the business last year, in February.
The Salem Woods couple hope to open another location within the next month or two, and they're expanding the existing business to include a delivery service for advertisers that includes full ad production and distribution.
They plan to eventually pass the business on to their three children, Renita, 22, Ramon, 21, and Resa, 16.
Until then, they have surrounded themselves with brothers and sisters from their church, Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk.
Their motto for their business is ``In all things we give God the glory.'' MEMO: Copi-Ez is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.
to 6 p.m. on Saturday. The phone number is 721-9051.
Other Copi-Ez franchises are at Kemps River Shopping Center, 420-1643;
Chesapeake Square Center, 4300 Portsmouth Blvd., Chesapeake, 465-5219;
861 E. Little Creek Road, Norfolk, 583-6425; and 7647 Granby St.,
Norfolk, 451-1612.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Herb Reaves, a retired Navy lieutenant commander, and his wife,
Mary, a former real estate agent, offer a variety of services not
found elsewhere at their Copi-Ez franchise in the K mart Plaza at
Dam Neck Crossing.
by CNB