35+ years in the making header

History of Ironside Press

Built on Craft.
Grown with Intention.

In 1989, Dennis Forbes launched Ironside Press from his garage. He had an eye for quality and a knack for getting things done – a mindset that still defines how we work today.

When the shop outgrew the garage, Dennis and his wife, Olske, moved Ironside into the historic Press Journal building, where it operated for years before relocating to its current home in 2022. (And yes, Olske got her garage back.)

After Dennis passed in 2003, the business reached a turning point. His son Bo returned home, bringing with him a business strategy background and a vision for Ironside’s future. Together with his mother, Bo began transforming Ironside from a family print shop into something more – a creative engine built to support small businesses from strategy to execution.

Always Evolving. Never Losing Sight.

We didn’t just keep up with the industry, we helped lead it. In the early 2000s, Ironside invested in high-volume four-color printing and digital production. By 2006, we had adopted digital prepress systems and advanced press technologies that allowed us to print faster, sharper, and smarter.

But print was only part of the story. Our clients needed more—messaging, branding, design, mailing strategies, websites, digital campaigns. So, we answered. We built a team that could deliver it all—strategy, creativity, and execution. Designers, writers, developers, and printers working together to turn big ideas into real results.

Under Bo’s leadership, Ironside evolved into a full-service marketing agency—offering everything from brand development to custom video production. We didn’t outsource the expertise—we built it in-house, powered by a team that cares deeply about their craft and the outcome.

The Legacy We Carry Forward

Through every evolution and expansion of Ironside, one thing has stayed the same: our commitment to doing the job right. Whether we’re producing a video, managing a direct mail campaign, or building a brand from scratch, we bring the same promise to every project: we are passionate about your success.

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