Timeline of BluEdge

Fifty years after the founding of National Blue Print, Robert Bernstein joined forces with colleagues in the blueprinting business to establish the Regional Blue Print Association (later changed to the International Reprographic Association (IRgA), and now known as the Association of Printing and Data Solutions Professionals).

For the remainder of his career, he dedicated himself to the growth and development of both the International Association of Blue Print and the Regional Blue Print Association, making them his personal mission.

With the increasing demand came the need for more space. After 60 years in business, National Blue Print embarked on their first expansion. The move was meticulously organized, resembling a military operation, in order to minimize downtime and accommodate the large equipment. The company secured the sixth floor of 110 West 32nd St, located in the prime area of Herald Square.

One particular piece of equipment, the Robertson 42-inch copy camera, posed a unique challenge. It measured 35 feet in length and weighed several tons, making it impossible to transport through the building's interior passages. To solve this issue, a giant crane was utilized to lift the apparatus to the sixth floor and carefully maneuver it through a window that was just large enough for its entry. This operation caused traffic congestion in Herald Square, amusing some but frustrating drivers and police officers. Nonetheless, the objective was to complete the move as swiftly and efficiently as possible, a feat they accomplished in approximately three weeks.

In 1972, Madeline Bernstein assumed the role of President, following the passing of her husband, Robert Bernstein. This marked the beginning of National Blue Print's history as a women-led business. Madeline faced the dual responsibilities of preserving the company and safeguarding the interests of its heirs. Despite primarily having fulfilled domestic roles as a wife, mother of two, and grandmother of four, Madeline gracefully and skillfully increased her involvement in the corporate realm.

Under her leadership, National Blue Print flourished, expanding to employ 230 individuals in New York alone. Even at the age of 89, Madeline consistently visited the office, warmly greeting everyone with her presence.

What set Madeline apart was her distinctive and special personality - she was cherished by all, a genuine people person. She genuinely cared about everyone and took an interest in their lives. Her remarkable ability to bring people together and make them feel like they were part of the National Blue Print family was truly exceptional.

“She was the most amazing person. The reason I am still here.” - Lori DeHart, Vice President of Human Resources.

In 1978, Sol expanded the company's service offerings to include photo enlargement for various purposes such as murals, theater backdrops, displays, and posters, in addition to mounting services.

This expansion became possible through the acquisition of Merit Studios, one of New York's renowned experts in photo murals. This acquisition resulted in an immediate 50 percent growth in business and greatly enhanced the company's reputation and identity.

Nan Magid is an indispensable part of National Reprographics' history, having joined the company in the early 1970s. As the Advertising and Promotion Manager, she played a pivotal role in the company's marketing and advertising endeavors, which, during that time, primarily involved hardcopy materials such as brochures and print work.

Nan is a graduate of New York University and is highly respected for her warm and encouraging nature, fostering a positive and supportive atmosphere. In acknowledgment of her valuable contributions, she was appointed to the Board of Directors and later assumed the position of Director of Marketing in the 1980s.

Nan's dedication to the company's success is evident through her involvement in organizing the 25th Anniversary Club Dinner, a special event that recognizes employees who have completed 25 years of service and celebrates the contributions of all veterans who have served for 25 years or more.

Lori Hason began her career at National Reprographics in 1990 as the CAD and Digital Manager. Throughout her tenure at the company, she transitioned to the Sales Department, eventually assuming the role of Director of Marketing and later becoming a Board Member.

Prior to joining National Reprographics, Lori worked as a Controller for a fashion company. Seeking new challenges and entrepreneurial opportunities, she decided to join National Reprographics. Her background in sales and production enabled her to make valuable contributions to the business.

Lori's contributions to the company have been significant. She led the rebranding efforts, resulting in the transformation of National Reprographics to NRI and a complete overhaul of the company's identity. Her extensive industry knowledge and expertise led to her appointment to the board in 2023.

Throughout the years, Lori has expressed her pride in the company's adaptability and evolution. She has witnessed the growth of the company through four generations of family involvement and eagerly anticipates the innovative advancements that lie ahead.

In 1994, Doug Magid officially joined the team in a working capacity. Prior to that, he had gained experience in the family business during his youth and later pursued his MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. After completing his degree, Doug initially decided against returning to the family business. Instead, he chose to explore opportunities in management consulting, seeking to gain insights into various company operations. Through this experience, Doug discovered more about himself and his true aspirations: to lead and expand an entrepreneurial business. This realization marked a pivotal moment for Doug, prompting him to make the conscious decision to take on a role at National Reprographics.

Throughout his time here, Doug quickly advanced in his role, serving first as an Account Executive, Director of Special Projects, then as Vice President of Administration, and in 2008, he became President of the company. While working with Sol, Doug was educated on the ways to be an optimal leader for BluEdge. When Doug was ready to lead, Sol started working at a reduced capacity and eventually retired. Sol's mentorship helped Doug develop the leadership skills and business expertise needed to successfully run the company.

Doug stepped up to take the company in new directions. He is most proud of incorporating new services for the company, such as the 3D, Creative Graphics, and now, Experiential Graphics Units. Strategic acquisitions during Doug's leadership have helped bring the company to new heights. Even during tough times, the business has been resilient, especially throughout the pandemic. Moving forward, Doug remains excited for further innovation and growth.

As of today, Doug has been running the company for fifteen years, and he has grown tremendously both professionally and personally.

When asked what message he had for our clients:

“If there is any way in which we can improve as a business, please let us know. It’s no accident that we have been in business for 125 years – we’ve always maintained the mindset that there are always ways to improve and better serve our clients’ needs.”

- Doug Magid, President

Beginning in the 2000s, an era of acquisitions began to expand NRI's footprint throughout the country.

2001

2005

A branch of Centennial Blueprint was purchased in Philadelphia, PA.

2006

2007

We purchased Triangle Blueprint in Princeton in 2007 and eventually moved the office to Belleville, NJ. We also acquired Brooklyn and Queens Progress.

2013

The outbreak of COVID-19 brought business operations around the world to an abrupt standstill, and BluEdge was not immune to its impact. Despite the challenging circumstances, BluEdge stepped up to the plate, demonstrating its commitment to serving the community in a time of need. The company pivoted its operations to produce protective gear, including face shields, for healthcare workers on the front lines. Additionally, they created social-distancing graphics and dividers to help limit the spread of the virus.

Notably, BluEdge donated face shields to 16 different hospitals across several states, including New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. This act of goodwill and support was aimed at assisting those working tirelessly to combat the pandemic.

BluEdge executed an acquisition of Vernon Display Graphics, a Carlstadt, New Jersey-based wide format printing company specializing in the production of high-quality signage, retail displays, and vehicle graphics utilizing both digital and traditional screen printing techniques.

This represented a significant milestone for the company, augmenting its existing capabilities in print graphics and broadening its range of services to better meet the needs of its clients.

410 Commerce Building

BluEdge recognized the need for a larger physical footprint to accommodate its continued growth, so the decision was made to merge both Jersey plants - Belleville and Carlstadt, and relocate to a new, spacious facility spanning 60,000 square feet. The new plant at 410 Commerce Blvd, Carlstadt, NJ, would serve as the home base for the Experiential Creations unit, as well as house equipment for lease/sale.

"BluEdge’s strategy is to become the premier provider of high end Creative Graphics in the United States. In so many ways, this move and expansion are a critical step in our achieving that vision by giving us a facility that is unmatched in our industry.

Our rapid growth in sales in our Creative Graphics division has necessitated that we quadruple our space in the last two years alone. We have used that space to increase our production capacity by multiples, add a brand new Experiential Graphics unit with exciting new capabilities, and add 3D printing capabilities.

At the same time, this new space gives us room to grow as we add anticipated new capabilities in the future. We have also used the opportunity to redesign our operations from the ground up to create the ideal kind of production environment that is typically impossible using legacy facilities.

Co-locating these units with our large format and small format creative graphics capabilities will be a home run for our clients, because it broadly expands what we can do for clients. Moving to a beautiful new first class facility allows us to elevate the experience of our clients who choose to visit, and aligns our physical space with our image."      

- Doug Magid, President