HKM continues celebrating 100 years with you our customers, dedicated employees, partners & suppliers. We previously shared our humble beginnings in the 20’s and took you through the 70’s, if you missed them then follow this link.
Onto the 1980’s that gave us Generation X. The Decade has been given a variety of names, most commonly “The Yuppie Decade,” with economic policies dubbed ‘Reaganomics’. Creatively it is ranked as the #1 decade for music with a plethora of new genres being born (Hip-Hop, New Wave and Punk), the launching of MTV and the introduction of the Walkman revolutionizing the industry.
HKM During the 80’s
HKM makes a major move to expand its footprint moving from the Caxton Building downtown to an 85,000 sq. ft. facility at 5501 Cass Avenue on Cleveland’s Shoreway–all while surviving the ’86 earthquake. Rob and Scott Durham begin their full-time careers at HKM. HKM continued to grow adding a 40” – 5 color and a 40” – 2 color Miller Perfecting Press with a VideoJet high speed ink jet to the mailroom in the 80’s establishing HKM as one of the Top 10 of printers in Cleveland.
Cleveland selected as the home of the “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame”
The Presidential debate between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan is held in Cleveland. The Cleveland Public Theater opens, and the city is named an All-American city 3 more times. Most importantly, Cleveland is selected as the site for The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum. Unrelated to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame selection…a powerful Earthquake also hits.
Happenings in the World
Cable TV started, and MTV was launched changing the music landscape dramatically. Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Madonna, and U2 were big and Hip Hop–a previously unknown art form appears on the scene followed by new wave and punk. Scrunchies, big hair, acid wash, legwarmers, Spandex, Jordache Jeans and Swatch watches were all the rage. Super Mario Brothers, Pac-Man, Game Boy, Walkman, and mix tapes were all being played, and The Cosby Show, Cheers, Dallas, and Miami Vice were being watched on TV. 24 hr. News makes its debut with CNN and Fox News launched. Ronald Reagan was President and the Berlin Wall was torn down.
Marketing becomes more personal with relationships becoming more important versus one off transactions. Geometric patterns, complimentary color schemes, power suits and bold bright colors appeal to women as they begin to enter the workforce. Desktop publishing and databased marketing are introduced as personalization and guerilla marketing enters the lexicon. The mobile phone, CDs, MS Word, and the Macintosh Computer all appear.