Our Story
The person driving the forklift across the production floor might be our owner and CEO Ian Burke. He’s at home with the constant churn of the printing press, the steady rhythm of the die cutter and the dependable beat of the saddle stitcher.
Running the presses
Ian Burke’s first job out of high school was sweeping and piling skids at a local print shop. Eighteen months later, he learned to run a press, which he did for six and a half years before moving into management.
In 2005 (after 18 short years in the business), Ian purchased Douglas Printing— one of Edmonton’s original and most trusted offset print suppliers. At the time, Douglas Printing’s annual sales were $4 million. Burke Group evolved and grew. With more than $40 million in annual sales, we are a single, in-house source for print, signage, direct mail, graphic design and digital services.
Offering complete service
Burke purchased a direct mail business. It added digital presses, a flatbed and roll-to-roll to offer banners and signage. Next, it acquired an exterior sign business. Traditionally, print shops don’t build and install signs. But Burke wanted to offer complete service. Customers could print all their publications, signs and marketing materials with one print house that understood their brand.
Meeting our clients' needs
In 2007, we purchased Target Advantage, a local mail house, and began offering direct-mail marketing and data services, all in-house.
Two years later, to meet our clients’ growing needs, we added large-format, print-production services with point-of-purchase displays, banners and wall, floor and vehicle graphics.
In 2011, we bought a new building to fit all departments under one roof. In that new space, we created our own design house to serve both print and digital marketing customers.
In 2014, we acquired King Sign and began offering commercial, wayfinding and directional signage, in addition to large-format print services.
Growing our expert team
For years, Burke’s key print competitor was McCallum Printing Group Inc.
“We were going head to head every day,” says Ian. When McCallum approached Burke about a merger, Burke instead offered to buy. McCallum’s expert team moved into the Burke building, and the largest printer in Western Canada was born. With each acquisition, the pattern has been the same.
Increasing our offerings
In 2018, Burke expanded south into Calgary, purchasing Topline Printing and Printcor—two highly successful Calgary companies. Customers throughout Alberta now had access to all Burke services, while Burke increased its offerings. In 2019, Burke purchased Busy B’s Bindery!, Edmonton’s go-to book bindery.
From idea to solution
Over the last three decades, CEO Ian Burke has watched printing evolve. He has also been a driving force in the industry. Today, the options are limitless, and we have the expertise to produce any product and to help you navigate the possibilities.
From idea to solution—that’s the Burke mantra. Whether you want to start a company, grow your business, develop new markets or find a trusted partner, we can be there when the planning starts, to help your idea materialize into a brand and marketing strategy.
That’s Burke today—a single phone call, one point of contact and a co-ordinated set of solutions on state-of-the-art equipment that save you time and money while delivering results.
