How We Got Started
H&H was recognized by the Great Lakes Graphics Association; winning awards in 10 different printing categories.
In June 2013 the Printing Industries of America awarded H&H the coveted “Benny” award – the highest award for excellence in the printing industry.
Tragically, on December 18, 2012, Michael Helfand passed away after a short battle with brain cancer. In Michelle’s words, “Mike was the foundation for what H&H is today and all that it will be in the future. He has been and will always be greatly missed. All of us at H&H will work harder than ever to honor his memory.”
As the Chief Operations Officer, Michael oversaw the technical side of the business and provided unparalleled customer service while Michelle managed all aspects of finance, strategy, marketing and sales.
With the company growing and the continued acquisition of new technology, Michael and Michelle were ready to expand into a new space. H&H’s moved to their current home in a 30,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility, located in Vernon Hills, Illinois.
With shelf space at a premium, the packaging market had a need for the special effects that H&H is known for. Packaging is designed to capture the attention of the retail consumer, and what better way to do that than with the screen-printed special effects that deliver a “WOW” factor. We have printed on plastic, corrugated, chip board and many other sheet-formed surfaces.
Michael witnessed firsthand the benefits of a strong partnership with his father and uncle in building this family business. Partnering with his cousin Michelle Leissner to purchase the company made sense and kept H&H “in the family.”
Michelle, a CPA and former CFO, with a wealth of business experience, was looking for a business of her own. Partnering with her cousin Michael, who understood the technical side of the business was the answer that they were both looking for.
To continue to deliver the quality and efficiency our increasingly diverse clientele came to expect, another press was a must.
Greeting cards were a natural extension of H&H’s growing business. Glitter requires precise registration and a custom formula to keep the glitter from flaking.
To the delight of discerning designers and card manufacturers, H&H developed a proprietary formula and married that with our quality and attention to detail.
Just as the Chicago area surrounding H&H’s original location was deteriorating, H&H was ready to expand. The company purchased a 20,000 square foot building in Lincolnwood and made it their new home.
With our equipment and staff pushed to the limit, it was time to add capacity to continue to provide efficiency. Our work is time sensitive, often with dated promotions that require critical delivery schedules. A new press offered some much-needed breathing room in our scheduling and the ability to take on new customers and projects.
When a key customer of ours decided to enter the plastic card market, they knew they had a partner in H&H that they could trust to tackle the challenge with them. Since then, we have printed millions of plastic cards.
After joining the business, Michael quickly learns as an apprentice to his father and uncle. Michael studied all aspects of screen printing from pre-press to shipment, and learned the business by watching and doing. Over time, Michael wore all hats and became proficient in every area.
Begun by twin brothers Phil and Marshall Helfand, H&H elevated the screen printing industry, known largely for custom printed t-shirts, by printing on everything BUT textiles.
Catering to commercial printers seeking to offer their customers something unique and different, the Helfand brothers established a reputation for quality, service and fair pricing, along with a commitment to their customers, their employees and their craft.
