Along with the many businesses facing challenges due to COVID-19, Chicago-based startup PrintWithMe has adapted its business model to continue providing self-service printing for Logan Square residents.
The self-serve, wireless printer station found in coffee shops such as New Wave and Jimmy Beans is staying “open” to make sure your essential documents can still be printed even though public spaces are closed. Via the company’s new delivery service, PrintWithMe users can get documents brought to them within three hours with a $5 fee, which goes directly to the delivery drivers, who are newly-hired artists and freelancers who have lost work due to the pandemic. See how the service works.
The company, which also serves Brookyn, New York, has also been collecting face masks for healthcare workers at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in the Illinois Medical District neighborhood. So far, it has donated over 250 masks.
LoganSquarist interviewed Jonathan Treble, CEO and founder of PrintWithMe and Marketing Analyst Kimberly Yeoh to find out more about their most recent business endeavors and how the company is giving back to the community during the pandemic.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
How did the delivery service start?
PrintWithMe: The idea came into mind when a Chicago user, who is teaching her school-aged children at home right now, needed to print some school materials. She tweeted to us about delivering printed documents. We developed the delivery program to offer a safe and convenient way for people like her to get the printouts they need without needing to venture out to a public location. This program will help Logan Square residents fulfill their urgent printing needs, from school materials to shipping labels to important business and tax documents, without leaving the safety of their homes.
What precautions is PrintWithMe taking to ensure the safety of the delivery drivers and customers during COVID-19?
Our drivers are trained to follow our Delivery Health Safety Standards, which include wearing gloves and masks while handling print orders. We also provide our drivers with the protective supplies mentioned above.
This program will help Logan Square residents fulfill their urgent printing needs, from school materials to shipping labels to important business and tax documents, without leaving the safety of their homes.
Jonathan Treble, CEO and founder of PrintWithMe
How has your business been affected by the pandemic?
Many of our printers are located in public spaces like coffee shops that are now closed or are only open for to-go orders. We have experienced a roughly 50% revenue drop since the onset of COVID-19.
How did Print With Me get involved with donating masks to Jesse Brown VA Medical Center?
Our CEO, Jonathan Treble, knows a front-line physician who works at Jesse Brown. She mentioned to him that they were in desperate need of PPE including face masks. So, we decided to launch the face mask drive in conjunction with our delivery program. Residents can find out more about the face mask drive and donate here.
What is the present importance of community for PrintWithMe amid struggling local businesses?
PWM: PrintWithMe is a community-focused amenity. We work closely with independent coffee shops that function as community spaces in their neighborhoods. Because of the serious economic and lifestyle changes caused by COVID-19, our team is passionate about doing our part to help our community wherever we can. We have launched multiple community-focused initiatives including the face-mask drive and the delivery program to delivering coffee beans from local coffee roastery to our users.
Join The Discussion