Five manuscripts are awaiting Tony Corso’s attention when client John Martin walks into the Copy Zone owner’s office. The full-color hardback book “Save Camp Lula Sams” is due out in December, and Martin, chairman of the habitat preservation effort,  is checking on the book’s  delivery date.

Copy Zone does much more than make copies of documents for businesses and agencies, and Corso loves that aspect.  Before he opened Copy Zone 20 years ago, Corso had had a similar business in Kerrville and also worked in production with a maquila.

“This is manufacturing, but with paper instead of steel and electronics,” said Corso, who vaguely resembles comedian Bill Murray and enjoys taking on projects. “You’d be shocked at the different type of people who come through the door.  Books are fun, and the Valley is full of writers. They can tell a story, but they don’t know how to get it into a hard copy or an e-book. We enable them.”  By providing experienced staff who know how to create books and are willing to coach writers, Copy Zone has become the go-to place for authors, whether they have a 52-page memoir or a 650-page novel.

“We do the same thing with artists and photographers,” including nationally known wildlife photographers, Corso said. He shows artists that Copy Zone can scan original paintings or images.  Once in digital format, the images can be used for posters and notecards.  “Rather than just sell it once, they can have control of the art and extend the life of the art. Our artists are able to sell 4-10 copies of an image. You can make all sorts of neat products once you have it digital.  Those are fun for us to do.”

Of course, Copy Zone does traditional business cards, forms, back drops, interior banners, wedding invitations and countless copies of documents. But the business is constantly morphing, Corso admitted.  “The Internet has affected the way we do things a lot. If you can’t make your business fun to come to, people are not going to come in. It’s critical to your business. I tell my people: you want to make friends.  And my front people are pretty good about it.  I walk out and talk to people, too.”

Corso said the market will always have room for brick and mortar stores.  “But you better be at the top of your line. Our biggest competitor is the company that sells copy equipment. They are selling directly to my customers.”

“But it’s more than having the equipment here. You have to know what you’re doing,” Corso said. “We have a full graphic team doing designs and they know what they are doing.  That makes a difference:  being able talk to a person and interact with the designer.”  That value-added element is not available online, but you have to pay for personal service. “Everyone in retail is faced with the same problem.”

But over the last 20 years, Copy Zone has developed a reputation for quality and been able to stay ahead of the pack.  “I thought about going beyond one location. But I’d much rather invest in very good equipment in one spot rather than spread ourselves out,” Corso said. “Besides you need talented people. We’re really lucky most of our people have been here a long time. I get to work with really smart people.”  The firm has 24 part-time and full-time employees.

Being located in North Cross Center, near Barnes & Noble, Breadsmith and Corner Bakery has helped Copy Zone, Corso said. “It drives people into the business.”

While demand for business cards and graduation announcements have soared, orders for personalized holiday cards have dropped in recent years. But in a changing world, Copy Zone has carved out its niche.

For more information, see copyzone.net.

This story by Eileen Mattei appears in the December 2015 edition of Valley Business Report. For more stories from the December edition, click on the “Current & Past Issues” tab.