Story and photo by Ellis Anderson//
In 2012, S&L Office Supplies in Waveland nearly gave up the ghost; then new owner Chris Cochran infused it with vision, experience and fresh vitality.
Cochran had been keeping an eye on S&L, believing it had untapped potential. He didn’t know much about the office supply trade, but he had years of experience as a successful businessman.
For the first year, Cochran held a steady course, getting acclimated. He made small changes, like updating the logo. At first, “sole proprietor” was a literal description; he had no employees.
Year two, he moved the business to a higher-profile location near the Bay-Waveland line on U.S. 90, and the growth began. Now S&L has four employees and is thriving.
Cochran says S&L is just starting to tap its true potential. Right now, most customers come from within a 10-mile radius. In the future, the current location will serve as a hub, with daily deliveries extending that reach to 30 miles, covering Picayune, Slidell and Gulfport. His advantage over internet suppliers and big boxes? Competitive pricing paired with a knowledgeable staff.
A key reason for the blossoming print business is the expertise Cochran brings to any project. After graduating college with a degree in advertising and marketing, he worked several agency jobs before opening his own computer graphics and print management company in Birmingham, Ala.
From the mid-80s to 2000, Cochran rode the technology wave. The print business was moving from typesetting and color separations to layout and design options provided by computer programs like PageMaker, Photoshop and Quark. Eventually, rapidly changing technology made many of those processes obsolete. Cochran sold off the company at a good profit. He’d had a good run in the print business, but it was time to move on.
It was also time to move. Cochran’s 9-year-old son came to live with him full time in 2003. The pair would often travel to the Coast to visit Cochran’s father, Shelby, who had retired and purchased a cottage in Bay St. Louis in the late 90s.
“I thought the beach and the small town atmosphere would be a perfect place for a single father to raise his son,” says Cochran.
“When I sold my last business, I never thought I’d go back into printing. But here I am again, really enjoying it. I think the universe has the ability to put you just where you belong, whether you expect it or not.”
Cochran thinks of printing as an art form, so it makes sense that he’d find so much satisfaction in the work. His years of experience in layout, design and color save customers time, money, and needless frustration.