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Plankenhorn, Keystone Advertising merge

PHILIP A. HOLMES/Sun-Gazette Plankenhorn Stationery Company at 144 W. Fourth St. held a huge inventory reduction sale through Friday, In photo from left is Dennis Hosey, a partner with Keystone Advertising Specialties, Chip Plankenhorn, Michele Drake, and Charlie Plankenhorn. Keystone and Plankenhorn merged at the beginning of the year.

New and exciting things are happening at the Plankenhorn Stationery Co., the legendary Center City landmark that merged at the beginning of the year with award-winning Keystone Advertising Specialties.

“Plankenhorn’s will stay the same as everyone has loved for 122 years, but with a freshened look,” Dennis Hosey, a partner with Mike Philbin at Keystone, said.

After a huge inventory reduction sale concluded recently at the store at 144 W. Fourth St., where customers saw upwards of 90 percent off on merchandise, renovations were expected to begin, Hosey said.

The store will receive a fresh coat of paint, new floors and counters, he said.

“The store will not close during the renovations. We will do the work in sections,” Hosey said.

By merging the two businesses together, “we wanted to make sure Plankenhorn Stationery will still be here to serve the local community for another 122 years. We want to provide our customers with more options in printing, office furniture and office supplies,” Hosey added.

With the merger, Keystone Advertising — which began in 1992 and received the Business of the Year Award from the county in 2017 – will employ about 25 people, he said.

“Charlie Plankenhorn, son Chip Plankenhorn and Michele Drake are staying to help serve Plankenhorn’s loyal customer base, and the name of the store will stay the same,” Hosey said.

“The same friendly faces with more to offer,” he said.

“There will be a home office and a regular office showrooms added to the store so customers can test office furniture. We will have more lines of furniture for our customers, including stand up desks,” he added.

“There will be more embroidery, screen printing, laser engraving, corporate giveaways, a sign shop as well as graphics and award lines,” Hosey said.

“We will still keep much of the inventory that has been a staple of Plankenhorn’s,” he added.

“We are adding state of the art printers to expand commercial printing, including a lot more full color and walk-in copy services,” he said.

“We also are going to launch a new easier-to-use website that will allow customers to order office supplies, janitorial items, commercial printing and promotional items from the site,” Hosey explained.

Plankehorn’s will be expanding their delivery service from Lock Haven to Lewisburg, he added.

Finally, Keystone has already merged with other local companies, including Harders Sporting Goods, Susquehanna Valley Sportswear, P.T. Awards, Auto Trim Design, Graphic Masters, A&J Engraving and Advertising Promotional Magic, Hosey said.

“The mergers have allowed us to strengthen our one-stop for businesses,” he added.

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