Old World Prints and Graphic Arts Unlimited has new owners

Art Business News, May, 2003

RICHMOND, Va.--John and Kathy Wurdeman, formerly the owners of Old World Prints Ltd. and Graphic Arts Unlimited, have sold their business to Lonnie Lemco and Scott Elles. The Wurdemans purchased Old World Prints Ltd. 14 years ago (the business was 17 years old at the time) and grew the company from a three-person business to include more than 60 people. The Wurdemans said they are excited about the new owners due to the skills they bring to the business. Kathy will continue to manage the design department, and John will assist in innovation and marketing. The Wurdemans kept the subsidiaries Paul Victorious Wholesale Prints and Lazare Gallery, which John will continue to run.

"Our business has grown so swiftly over the past 10 years that we felt the need for people with greater operational and quality management skills," said John."l feel this will be a positive change for the company by providing it a superior foundation for the growing demands of creating and publishing quality art prints which will benefit our customers and our employees. Kathy and I both love the art business and have many treasured relationships. We look forward to continued interaction with our customers and desire to thank them for their past support."

According to company officials, Elles has a successful background in operations management and customer service, and Lemco has a strong background in marketing and merchandising.

Old World Prints is a leading publisher of individually hand-colored reproductions of antique engravings. Old World Prints has more than 40 full time artists, creating more than 800 new art prints per year, including art for its own line and other art publishers. Graphic Arts Unlimited is one of the largest publishers of old masters prints and other traditional lithographs. For more information, call (804) 213-0600.