• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Corvallis Sustainability Coalition logo

Corvallis Sustainability Coalition

Addressing our most pressing sustainability issues at the local Corvallis level and beyond

  • ABOUT US
    • Leadership
    • Partners
      • Partner Organizations
    • Vision, Mission, Goals
    • Solidarity
    • Action Plan
      • Our Action Planning Process
    • History
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Action Teams
      • Water
        • Bald Hill Project
        • Filtering Wetland
        • Mill Race
        • Lamprey Creek
        • Oak Creek
        • Dixon Creek
        • School Arboretums
        • 3 Waters Project
        • Creek Tours
        • Water Resources
      • Waste Prevention
        • Benton To Go
        • No Food Left Behind
        • Recycling Captain
        • ReUse Directories
        • Rx Bottle Reuse
        • Waste Resources
      • Transportation
        • Public Talks: Safe Streets
        • Electric Vehicles (EVs)
        • Get On Board!
        • Transportation Resources
      • Natural Areas
        • Natural Areas Celebration Week
        • Backyard Wildlife Connections
        • Neighborhood Roots
        • Natural Areas Resources
      • Land Use
        • Parking in Corvallis: A Community Conversation
        • Parking in Corvallis: Exploring Solutions
        • Land Use Resources
      • Housing
        • Sustainable Housing
        • Housing for Everyone
        • Housing Resources
      • Health & Human Services
        • Community Air Quality Monitoring
        • Green Cleaning Products
        • Health & Human Services Resources
      • Food
        • It’s On Us Corvallis
        • Farm to Table Month
        • Garden Resource Guide
        • Edible Garden Tours
        • Simply Seasonal Recipes
        • Gardening & Food Resources
      • Energy
        • Shift Together
        • Solarize Corvallis
          • Solarize Corvallis Participation
        • Home Energy Score
        • Residential Energy Efficiency
        • The Future of Natural Gas
        • Energy Resources
      • Education
        • Reducing Plastics in Our Schools
      • Economic Vitality
        • 3rd Thursday
        • Buy Local First
        • Saving Green
        • Business of the Week
        • Economic Vitality Resources
      • Community Inclusion
        • Equity Impact Assessment
        • Community Inclusion Resources
    • Coalition News & Events
      • E-Updates
    • Community Events
    • In the News
    • Coalition Gatherings
    • COVID-19 Resilience
      • Official COVID-19 Information
      • Action Team Resources
      • Partner Resources
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Join the Coalition
    • Volunteer
    • Calendar
    • Get Informed
  • DONATE
  • Show Search
Hide Search
Home/Economic Vitality/Buy Local First/Business of the Week/Business of the Week: Element Graphics Inc

Business of the Week: Element Graphics Inc

Element Graphics Inc

ADDRESS: 250 NW Tyler Avenue
PHONE NUMBER: 541-752-0033
WEBSITE: www.element-graphics.com
OWNER: Katy Krupp
WHAT THEY SELL: Graphic design, banners and signs, screen-printing garments
YEARS IN BUSINESS: 6 (as of 2012)
WHY YOU SHOULD GO: Quality products and customer service, quick turn-around. The first thing you notice when you enter Element Graphics (other than the shop dog, Addy!) is the wall display of local event posters and logos.  This business is well known to locals looking for quality graphic design, banners and signs, and screen-printing of organic T-shirts and other garments.  Owner Katy Krupp prides herself on superior customer service that “you just can’t get when you order on-line.” Woman-owned and women-run, Element Graphics is also known for creative designs and quick turn-around time. “Everything we do is cool!” says Katy. “We get big smiles from our customers when they see the finished products.”

How did you get started?   I bought the business from Steve George (Blue Dawg Promotions). He was my high school swim coach, and I’d worked for him as a sign maker and graphic web designer when I was in college.  Ten years after I got a degree in graphic design and was working in that field, Steve called and asked if I wanted to buy the sign and screen-printing part of his business. I jumped at the chance, brought in graphic design, and re-named the business.

What are your specialties?   The quality of our screen printing is stunning!  We have a 54” full-color digital printer for banners and signs, and our employee who does screen printing on T-shirts and other garments has 12 years of experience.  She can match any color.

What do you do better than anyone else?  We pride ourselves on creativity, great customer service, and quick turn-around time.  A lot of our business is through word of mouth since our customers are so happy.

How do local independents impact our community?  They keep the community alive, both business-wise and personally.  I’ve met people from all walks of life I wouldn’t have met otherwise.  Keeping money local creates support for the community.  You know where your money is going.  It feels like “we’re all in this together”.

Katy Krupp, owner of Element Graphics, puts the finishing touches on a sign for Downward Dog. She has created banners and signs for many local businesses and organizations.

How many people do you employ? We have four employees – two full-time and two part-time. Our employees are very proud of their work. Since this is a small business, they really feel like what they’re doing makes a difference. And we all care about each other.

What inspires you about your work? As a creative person, I’m always looking for ways to make our business thrive – seeing what’s happening in the art world and design world, and coming up with new ideas. I’m also inspired by our customers. A lot of ideas start out as a pencil scratch, so when our customers see the finished product, they’re really excited. Doing this work never gets old or mundane.

Sonia screen prints organic T-shirts, sweatshirts, jerseys, and pants at Element Graphics.

What has your business done to model sustainability? We use eco-solvent inks, and all our cleaning supplies are soybean-based. There are no chemicals to breathe in or pour down the drain. Inks left over from our printing jobs are saved and reused. We reduce our energy use by unplugging the water cooler at night and putting our electronics in “sleep” mode. We also give away scraps of material for re-use.

Are there other ways you contribute to the community? High school students shadow me in art and design. I’m also a strong supporter of the Boys and Girls Club, and I donate flawed shirts and overruns to Jackson Street Youth Shelter and CARDV. I’m active in CIBA and serve on the board. At CIBA meetings, we all feel a lot of support from each other.

(Article written July 9, 2012)

Located at 250 NW Tyler Avenue, between 2nd and 3rd Streets in Corvallis

Local Business of the Week is designed to help the community identify locally-owned independent businesses. The program is part of the Buy Local First campaign co-sponsored by the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and the Community Independent Business Alliance (CIBA).The Local Business of the Week program is designed to help the Corvallis community identify our locally owned independent businesses by featuring one business each week. The program is part of the Buy Local First campaign co-sponsored by the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and the Community Independent Business Alliance (CIBA).

July 9, 2012

Filed Under: Business of the Week, Buy Local First, Economic Vitality

Primary Sidebar

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY

Corvallis Sustainability Coalition is a network of partner organizations and individuals. Our mission is to promote an ecologically, socially, and economically healthy city and county.

Download our Solidarity Statement


2022 Annual Report

PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

Our partners represent a wide diversity of backgrounds and interests, and share a common desire for a sustainable community. Support them to support our overall mission.

ACTION TEAMS

See what our Action Teams are doing!

DONATE TO THE COALITION

DONATE

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Explore more

JOIN THE COALITION! SUBSCRIBE TO EMAIL UPDATES CONTACT US

Footer

Corvallis Sustainability Coalition

PO Box 2310
Corvallis, OR 97339

Copyright © 2023 · Corvallis Sustainability Coalition

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Our Privacy Policy