Many of you may be aware that big box office supply store Staples closed in Roanoke Rapids in mid-August.

Our LGGO Editor Della Rose was “johnny-on-the-spot” in reporting how we can find all our office supply needs from local businesses right here around the Lake Gaston region. I wanted to expound on her story just a bit. Staples primarily offered, well, staple items for your office or business. They were also able to print brochures, posters and some signs and banners in house. Well, all of those same needs can be taken care of, more easily and professionally and for reduced cost, with our LOCAL Lake Gaston regional businesses.

As Della so aptly mentioned, Sarah Baltz is one of our new Chamber members with her company Sarah Vaughan’s Stationers & Such, an independent office supply dealer specializing in Ball Office Products. Sarah and her family have more than 30 years of experience in office supplies. Visit her website www.sarahvaughans.com and click on the office supplies tab to make an online order or request a catalog. The office supplies come VERY quickly and are delivered with FREE shipping right to your door. If you want more information, email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or give her a call at 252-537-2526 or 804-241-3811.

Another wonderful Chamber member and family-owned and –operated business with years of experience is Lynch’s Office Supply, located at 921 Roanoke Avenue in Roanoke Rapids. Owner Tom Lynch lives here at Lake Gaston, and he, son Chris and their dedicated staff know their stuff! Their store is very well-stocked, but if there is a particular item you need, simply give them a call at 252-537-6041. Items arrive quickly. If you are nearby, they can deliver or you can pick up at the store. You can conveniently shop online with Lynch’s as well - http://wb021.britlink.com/bl5/lynchsofficesupply. They can also design and print brochures, fliers and more at their in-house print shop.

Lynch’s Office Supply is the parent company, but they also have Lynch’s Signs & Graphics just down the road at 1607 Roanoke Avenue. Son Kevin Lynch operates this business, specializing in all sorts of sign types, including church signs, banners, vehicle/boat lettering, magnetic signs, campaign signs, custom decals and more! Find them online at www.lynchssigns.com or call them at 252-535-7096.

Another great sign shop, also located on Roanoke Avenue (1222) in Roanoke Rapids, is Express Signs. Owner Pete Mann and his staff have significant graphic design and sign experience. They offer yard signs, sign stakes and frames, magnetic signs, vinyl banners, decals, vehicle wraps and more. You can upload your artwork to their website at www.wesignanything.com or contact their artists for layout and design service at a $50 flat-rate. Call toll-free at 800-595-1097. Right here at the Lake at 1953 River Road, we have Lake Gaston Sign & Graphic Co., owned and operated by Lake Gaston residents Maggie and Greg Stowe, catering to corporate, municipal, residential and event graphic needs including signs, banners, vehicle lettering/wraps, logo/brand design, and plaques. They offer specialized services like 3-D carved signs, flat painted signs, CNC routing services, gold leafing, and more. Order their t-shirts with unlimited colors and no screen charges! LIKE them on Facebook and give them a call at 252-537-1385.

So we’ve looked at office supplies and signs/banners. The final piece that big box Staples offered was printing. We already mentioned that Lynch’s does printing. Guess what? We have three more great Lake Gaston businesses who design and print.

C-Line Graphics, owned by Caroline Watkins, is located at 4446 Christanna Highway, Valentines, VA. Caroline is a talented designer with quick response time, and she can do it all from start to finish – design and printing of logos, business cards, letterhead, envelopes, programs, brochures, fliers, posters, event tickets, calendars, notepads and more! She has been part of our Chamber for the 30 years that her business has been operating. Call her at 434-577-9289 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Down the road from C-Line, father Aubrey and son Donnie Edmonds operate Edmonds Printing Company, located at 13770 Christanna Highway, Lawrenceville, VA, a family business handed down from generation to generation since 1962. They are equipped to handle small or large jobs from digital format to high-quality offset printing. Edmonds Printing can even do wide format copying up to 36” wide while you wait! They also offer over 30,000+ promotional products. Call them at 434-848-2264 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Finally, Dogwood Graphics is a relatively new Chamber member located at 617 Windsor Street in South Hill, VA. They can do small or large quantities of items like business cards, letterheads, envelopes, forms, brochures, labels folders, ads, etc. They offer special services like blueprint copies, typesetting and lamination. Dogwood Graphics also does custom invitations, especially wedding and graduation, and custom holiday cards. Find them online at www.dogwoodgraphics.com or give them a call at 434-447-6004.

Forget big box! Great products, service and prices come in small, LOCAL packages. Shop Lake Gaston 1st for your office supply, printing, sign/banner and design needs!