Every company has its unique story and history that shapes who they are, how they operate, and what they value. Navitor is no exception. As a recognized leader in wholesale printing, we are often asked:
- Who is Navitor?
- Where does the name “Navitor” come from?
- How long have you been in business?
We’d like to share our story and offer a closer look at how our company evolved into one of the largest wholesale print providers in the country.
Navitor officially came together in 2008, but our story starts much earlier.
Our roots go back to 1948, when Bill and Betty Carlson launched Carlson Letter Service from their family room in Mankato, Minnesota. That business later became Carlson Wedding Service, then Carlson Craft – one of the earliest companies in the group that would eventually become Navitor.
Glen Taylor started working at Carlson Wedding Service in 1959 when he was a college student. He purchased the company in 1975, marking the beginning of Taylor Corporation.
Today, Navitor operates as part of Taylor Corporation, headquartered in North Mankato, Minnesota. We have a broad operating footprint across the United States, Canada and Mexico, supporting a large-scale manufacturing and fulfillment network. Locations include sites in California, Nevada, New Jersey, Texas, Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, Oregon, New York, Missouri, Arizona, Washington, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, and Illinois.
How Navitor was formed
Navitor was officially formed in 2008 when four businesses specializing in personalized business print were brought together under one brand: Carlson Craft Business Solutions, Regency, COSCO, and Label Works. Each brought something important to the table.
Carlson Craft contributed deep commercial print roots. Regency added a long history in trade printing. COSCO brought expertise in customized rubber stamps and engraved signs. Label Works expanded our capabilities in all things label related. Together, those businesses formed the foundation of Navitor as a unified trade-only print partner for resellers.
Where our name comes from
The name “Navitor” comes from the idea of navigation.
From the start, the name was meant to suggest guidance, direction, and the role of pathfinder. It also reflects two qualities that continue to shape our business: innovation and technology. That meaning still fits. Our role has long been to help resellers find the right path forward – in print, in production, and now in connected ordering and eCommerce.
Our roots are in print – and so is our future
Our history is tied to the history of print itself.
In a look back at nearly 80 years of print history, there have been some major milestones that shaped the industry alongside our own evolution. The timeline includes:
- 1949 – the development of phototypesetting
- 1951 – inkjet printing
- 1957 – dye-sublimation printing (still used in specialty applications such as badges)
- 1963 – Pantone’s Color Matching System
- 1969 – the laser printer
- 1970 – water-based ink
- 1981 – the internet
- 1983 – desktop publishing
- 1987 – soy-based ink
- 1988 – Adobe Photoshop
- 1993 – the Indigo digital color printer
- 1993 – PDF files
- 2003 – Wi-Fi laser printers
- 2006 – G7 color management (we remain G7 certified today)
- 2008 – high-speed production inkjet
- 2008 – the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership was formed
- 2018 – automation in digital print workflows advanced with tools that reduced manual prepress analysis
- 2022 – new high-productivity inkjet platforms pushed digital print further into faster, more automated production
- 2023 – generative AI entered mainstream creative workflows
- 2024 – new digital press platforms emphasized fewer touchpoints and more automation
- 2025 – we expanded our POD capabilities through the acquisition of Gooten
- 2026 – Print on Demand, connected ordering, and integrated digital workflows continue reshaping how print is produced and fulfilled
From wholesale printer to connected print partner
We began as a trade-only wholesale printer serving resellers, and that remains a core part of who we are. We support distributors, print brokers, designers, marketing companies and other resellers with custom print products across business identity, marketing, labeling, signage, office use, and more.
But our solution set has grown.
Today, our business reflects a more technology-first approach to print – one that includes traditional wholesale print ordering but also web-to-print ordering, company eStores, Print on Demand capabilities and broader eCommerce support for resellers. Our solutions help resellers serve customers who want to order branded print online, support resellers who want online ordering on their own websites, and give resellers the ability to place orders online on behalf of their customers.
That shift mirrors broader changes in the industry. Print has become faster, more connected and more responsive to how customers actually buy. Smaller runs. Faster turns. Online storefronts. Branded ordering portals. Less inventory. More flexibility. Print on Demand has become a meaningful part of that story, and our acquisitions and advancements have greatly added to our company’s broader POD and software capabilities.
New tools, same purpose. The tools keep changing. The purpose does not.
How Wilmer expanded the story
Wilmer is also an important part of the Navitor story. Celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year, Wilmer has been serving businesses since 1926, specializing in checks, forms, envelopes, prescription products, and other business services print. As Wilmer products became available through Navitor.com, Navitor resellers gained access to more of these essential categories, while Wilmer dealers gained access to a wider range of products, online ordering capabilities, self-service tools, and expanded sales and marketing resources through Navitor’s platform.
More than products
Over time, our reseller supporting role has also expanded beyond catalogs, flyers, and product access.
Today, we increasingly show up as a source of guidance for resellers who want to grow with print. That includes thought-leadership and sales-enablement content such as our Industries, Margin Potential, and Reorder Behavior in Print report, which maps industries to product opportunities, highlights margin potential, shares reorder insights, and outlines vertical bundle playbooks. The point is simple: help resellers understand what to sell first, what to do next and what is most likely to turn into repeatable business.
In other words, we are not just here to print the order. We are here to help resellers make better decisions about the next one too.
Looking back – and ahead
Our history reflects nearly eight decades of change across print technology, production methods, and the way print is bought and sold.
From a family-room business in 1948 to the Navitor brand in 2008 to the connected print solutions we offer today, our story has always been about adaptation. Print changed. Customer expectations changed. Technology changed. We changed with it.
And we are still doing that now.
About Julie Carlson-Kulla