Golden Ruler expansion puts stock, services under one roof

Rex Hicks, owner of The Golden Ruler Business Center in Hannibal and Quincy, Ill., recently consolidated his two local Hannibal storefronts to a new location, 228 Munger Lane. He will host a grand opening at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13, 2025. Contributed photo.

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

Rex Hicks is a local business owner with a vision for the future.

As owner of Golden Ruler since 2006, Hicks continually looks for ways to refine his business model, with an eye toward providing the best service possible for his customers.

As the new year begins, The Golden Ruler Business Center is settling into its new location, 228 Munger Lane. The 10,000-square-foot-building, located on five-and-a-half acres, offers garage facilities as well as a show floor and work space, and will allow ample room for future expansion.

He previously owned two Hannibal business locations, one at 800 Broadway, and a sign shop on Paris Gravel Road. He sold both of those buildings, in order to make the move.

This business expansion allows for all of his Hannibal properties to be under one roof.

Open house

At 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13, the long-time business will host an open house at its new location, in order to demonstrate to past and future customers alike, what this unique business has to offer.

Hicks started working as a service technician for Golden Ruler in 1989, when the business was located at 302 Broadway.

He bought the business in 2006, and moved it to 800 Broadway in 2008. In 2007 he purchased Little Granny’s Closet. “Back then it was a low-volume business, decorating shirts with embroidery and screen printing. We’ve grown it into quite a different business, now we do big volumes,” he said.

He acquired Capps Office Supply in Canton in 2014, and “Home Town Signs joined us in 2018” he said.

In 2021, he purchased the Business Center in Quincy, Ill., which is a copy center, printer sales and service.”

He has re-branded both his Hannibal and Quincy businesses into: The Golden Ruler Business Center.

“At both locations, our big push is fighting the online companies. We’re slowing getting online, but I still think brick and mortar will be here forever.

“We strive to be here to buy from us locally and in person.”

That said, “Our next big push, we’re going to have more of an online presence, allowing people to go online and find us. I’ve been pushing for brick and mortar, and I’ve become more aware of the online (side of the) business.”

He’s having a new web page created, and it is directed at custom products. “You can order a sign or banner online, and we have it ready to pick up or ship out.”

He’s trying to blend online and brick and mortar together. “Yes, we are online, and I’m also here to help.”

He’s pleased with his new business location. “We’re visible,” he said, to traffic along I-72, heading west to Hannibal Regional Hospital and east toward the river. In addition, Munger Lane has high volume traffic. In the near future, he will be adding outdoor signage, including LED Boards.

His staff consists of 17 employees in Hannibal and eight in Quincy.

“Most of our employees are in the production area,” he said.

In the last five years, Hicks said he has expanded the company’s service area. “Physically, we are a 150 mile radius; we were about 90, we went out another hour.

“We do a lot of furniture installs in Chillicothe, St. Louis and Jacksonville. We go quite a ways, with copiers and furniture.”

Since moving to Munger Lane, “We have grown our gift selection,” Hicks said, “We have a whole wedding section; bride and groom gifts, glasses that can be etched, wedding party gifts, and party favors. All customized. That is really what we’re pushing the business toward.

"If you need a copier worked on, a trophy, a shirt with your name on it, that’s what we’re here for.

“We measure offices, we lay your office out for you, size, colors, everything. Virtually everything we do is more of a one-on-one sale instead of a ‘hit the button sale’.”

They sell and service Toshiba and Ricoh copiers; and they carry a selection of office and health care furniture.

“We do signs, car wraps, banners, anything you can print on, actually, including laser engraving, sand blasting engraving and wide format printing,” Hicks said.