Dixon Graphics

What Dixon Graphics does

Dixon Graphics, Inc. is a privately held, founder-owned full-service printing company headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, founded in September 2001 by Lance Dixon as the first digital print shop in East Central Illinois. The company operates two physical locations — commercial printing at 105 W. John Street and screen printing/embroidery at 312 S. Neil Street — and offers a diversified portfolio of in-house capabilities including four-color digital printing on an HP Indigo press, high-speed black-and-white printing, wide-format printing with giclee art reproduction using archival inks, screen printing (up to 6 spot colors plus 4-color process), embroidery and heat press decoration, full bindery services (cutting, scoring, folding, perfect binding, sewn case binding, UV coating), and mailing services covering First Class, Marketing Mail, and EDDM. Through three acquisitions — Safeway Printing (2009), Weiskamp Screen Printing (2021), and Lincoln Bookbindery (2025) — Dixon has consolidated local print, apparel decoration, and bookbinding capacity under one roof.

The business generates revenue primarily through transactional, quote-based pricing on commercial print orders and per-item pricing on apparel decoration, supplemented by hourly graphic design fees ($80/hour with a half-hour free per order), transaction-based web stores for schools and organizations (pop-up stores with sales minimums, long-term stores with design fees), and full-dye sublimated uniforms under the Champro sub-brand. Its go-to-market is sales-led and local: customers request quotes via phone, email, or online forms, with free delivery across Champaign County and UPS/USPS shipping for broader reach. Primary customer segments are educational institutions (school spirit wear, fundraising, team uniforms) and local small-to-medium businesses (corporate branding, promotional items, employee uniforms), with secondary segments in nonprofits, sports teams, artists and galleries, and self-publishers needing custom bookbinding.

Dixon is a union shop affiliated with PPPWU Local 458M and self-positions as "Champaign-Urbana's leader in custom printing." Its customer roster spans the University of Illinois, Carle Hospital, Wolfram Research, Parkland College, Urbana and Champaign school districts, and a long tail of local SMBs, restaurants, and nonprofits. The firm remains privately held with no disclosed external funding, no parent company, and no public signals of an exit process; growth has been driven by tuck-in acquisitions and product line extensions rather than external capital.

Name

Dixon Graphics

Legal name

Dixon Graphics, Inc.

Website

https://dixongraphics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dixon Graphics is a privately held, founder-owned full-service printing company in Champaign, Illinois, founded in 2001. It provides commercial printing, screen printing, embroidery, custom bookbinding, and web stores to schools, local businesses, nonprofits, and self-publishers across East Central Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Printing Services

NAICS

Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Commercial Screen Printing (323113), Printing and Related Support Activities (3231), Apparel Manufacturing (315)

SIC

Commercial Printing (2750), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAFAMAL

Custom Printing & Decoration Services (Screen Print, Embroidery, Laser)

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Promotional Products & Sales Promotion Services

SECONDARYMPAJALAD

Large-Format & Specialty Printing (Signage, Posters, Displays)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Print Production Services (Printing, Binding, Prepress)

SECONDARYIMAOAEAK

Sports Team & Promotional Apparel Cut & Sew (Screenprint/Embroidery-Ready)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Textiles, Apparel & Leather Manufacturing/Apparel Manufacturing (Cut & Sew)

Keywords

• Commercial printing services
• Screen printing services
• Custom embroidery
• Bookbinding services
• Wide-format printing

Headquarters

HQ city

Champaign

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Commercial Printing Services: One-time transaction fees for printed materials including brochures, business cards, flyers, posters, banners, wide-format prints, and black & white printing. Customers pay per order based on quantity, specifications, and bindery services required.
2. Screen Printing and Embroidery: Custom apparel decoration services charging per item with pricing tiers. Includes spot color printing (up to 6 colors), 4-color process printing, heat press decoration, and embroidery. Art fees may apply for complex designs.
3. Web Stores Platform: E-commerce platform for schools, businesses, and organizations. Pop-up stores have no upfront costs with sales minimums; Long-term stores have design fees. The company handles printing, individual packaging, and distribution of orders.
4. Custom Bookbinding: Hardcover case binding services for dissertations, cookbooks, family histories, memoirs, and self-published books. Sewn binding with various cover options and stamping colors available.
5. Mail Services: Mailing and fulfillment services including First Class mail, Marketing Mail (bulk), and EDDM. Company ensures lowest postage rates for customers.
6. Graphic Design Services: Design services to prepare artwork for print. Art fees applied at $80/hour for complex and time-consuming art preparation. One half-hour of artwork preparation included free with every order.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dixon Graphics is a full-service commercial printing company offering four-color digital printing, high-speed black-and-white printing, wide-format printing, screen printing, embroidery, custom bookbinding, mail services, and proprietary e-commerce web stores for custom apparel and merchandise. The company produces printed materials including brochures, business cards, flyers, banners, posters, stickers, custom apparel, and hardcover books for schools, businesses, organizations, sports teams, and individuals in the Champaign-Urbana area and beyond.

Product overview

Dixon Graphics is a diversified printing services company offering a portfolio of distinct products and services. The core offerings include Commercial Printing (four-color digital, high-speed black and white, and wide-format printing with bindery and mail services) and Screen Printing/Embroidery (custom apparel printing with spot color, CMYK process, custom ink mixing, heat press, and embroidery decoration). The Web Stores product provides e-commerce functionality for team spirit wear and branded merchandise with pop-up and long-term store options. Lincoln Bookbindery (acquired 2025) adds hardcover case binding and sewn binding services for books, dissertations, and family histories. Champro offers sublimated sports uniforms. Graphic Design Services supports artwork preparation across all printing services. A separate community initiative called Lightbox operates as a local art gallery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lincoln Bookbindery: Custom hardcover bookbinding service acquired in 2025, specializing in high-quality sewn bindings for dissertations, cookbooks, family histories, and self-published books.
• Champro
• Lightbox

Products and services

• Commercial Printing Full-service commercial printing including four-color digital printing, high-speed black-and-white printing, wide-format printing, and comprehensive bindery services such as cutting, scoring, folding, booklet-making, plastic coil and metal wire binding, UV coating, perfect binding, sewn case binding, and foam board mounting. Targets businesses, schools, organizations, and individuals in the Champaign-Urbana area.
• Screen Printing Custom screen printing services for apparel, promotional items, and gifts. Offers spot color printing (up to 6 ink colors), 4-color process (CMYK) printing, custom ink mixing, and heat press decoration including letters, numbers, specialty vinyl, emblems, patches, and full-color transfers.
• Embroidery Expert embroidery services delivering intricate, high-quality designs for corporate branding, school uniforms, and personalized gifts. Offers professional and polished finishing on polos, dress shirts, headwear, and outerwear.
• Web Stores Custom e-commerce web stores for schools, businesses, and organizations to sell spirit wear and branded merchandise. Offers pop-up stores (time-limited, best for fundraising) and long-term stores (ongoing, best for uniforming). Handles payments, personalization, printing, and distribution.
• Lincoln Bookbindery (Bookbinding Services) Custom hardcover bookbinding with focus on high-quality sewn bindings for thesis papers, dissertations, micro editions, self-published books, photo books, and cookbooks. Also serves small publishers and individuals for family histories, memoirs, and handwritten or illustrated works.
• Champro Sublimated Sports Uniforms Custom sublimated sports uniforms featuring full-dye, premium cut-and-sew sublimated designs. Offers custom soccer uniforms with extensive customization including team logos, player names, and vibrant colors for youth teams, club teams, and professional clubs.
• Wide-Format Printing Large-scale graphics printing including banners, posters, event signage, indoor/outdoor signs, displays, and foam board mounted signage. Also offers giclee printing for original artwork reproduction with archival inks and substrates, including onsite scanning and color correction.
• Mail Services Mailing services for postcards, envelopes, and booklet self-mailers including First Class and Marketing Mail (bulk mail) options. Provides Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) services with guaranteed lowest postage rates.
• Graphic Design Services Professional graphic design assistance to ensure artwork is print-ready. Skilled with latest tools and techniques for preparing designs for various printing methods. Art fees applied at $80/hour for complex and time-consuming art preparation, with one half-hour free with every order.

Quantifiable outcome

• First digital print shop in East Central Illinois
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers26 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Lincoln BookbinderycoreOthers · 1 January 2025Acquired in 2025, adding Lincoln Bookbindery's capabilities in hardcover case binding, sewn bindings, and bookbinding services for dissertations, cookbooks, and family histories.
• Weiskamp Screen PrintingcoreOthers · 1 September 2021Acquired September 1st, 2021. The former Weiskamp building on Neil and Springfield was rebranded as Dixon Graphics and continues operating the screen printing business. This acquisition expanded screen printing and embroidery capabilities.
• Safeway PrintingcoreOthers · 1 January 2009Strategic acquisition completed in 2009, expanding Dixon Graphics' service offerings and market presence in the Champaign-Urbana area.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Rush Order Tees: Custom screen printing and embroidery provider serving businesses, schools, and organizations nationwide. Comparable to Dixon's screen printing and web store offerings with broader geographic reach.
• Custom Ink: Online custom apparel platform specializing in screen printing and embroidery for groups, teams, and businesses. Comparable to Dixon in custom apparel decoration but operates at a much larger national scale with no local retail presence.

Broad incumbents

• 4over: National wholesale trade printing platform serving print brokers and resellers. Represents the online/aggregator competitive threat to regional commercial printers like Dixon on standardized products.
• Vistaprint: Global online printing and marketing services company. Comparable to Dixon on commercial printing products (business cards, brochures, banners) but operates at massive scale with no local service layer.
• AlphaGraphics: Franchise-based commercial printing and marketing services network with locations across the US. Comparable to Dixon as a small-format commercial printer serving local SMB and institutional customers with marketing and print offerings.
• FedEx Office (formerly Kinko's): National chain offering commercial printing, document services, and shipping. Notably relevant given Dixon's founder Lance Dixon previously worked at Kinko's; competes with Dixon on basic commercial printing in Champaign-Urbana.

Direct peers

• Underground Printing: Custom apparel and screen printing company with multiple physical locations serving universities, businesses, and organizations. Directly comparable to Dixon's screen printing/embroidery and custom apparel business, including web store offerings.
• The Henne Company: Regional commercial printing and marketing services provider in the Midwest offering commercial printing, mailing, and fulfillment. Comparable business model and customer mix to Dixon's commercial printing operation.
• Heeter Printing: Mid-sized regional commercial printer offering full-service digital printing, bindery, and direct mail. Comparable to Dixon as a full-service commercial printer serving business and institutional customers in a defined regional market.

Regional players

• Mallard Printing: Midwest regional commercial printer with bindery and mailing services. Comparable regional full-service printing business operating in a different geographic territory than Dixon.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DixonGraphicsChampaign
• Instagraminstagram.com/dixongraphics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dixon Graphics