FRANKLIN

On April 4, Mackans of downtown Franklin celebrated the completion of its interior renovation with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. and business after hours party at 5:30 p.m.

“It was time for us to update our look with so many new businesses coming downtown,” said Mary Christy Morris, who runs the office supply and print shop with her sister, Susan Jones. Both are daughters of owners Robert and Margaret Mackan, for whom the business is named.

“Margaret was a retired teacher; dad is actually the one who ran the business,” Jones said.

She added that the renovation took several months, as it was done in stages to allow the business to remain open during construction.

“We were not closed except for the day they put in the floor,” Jones said. “And everything we did we did local. We used local contractors, some of the displays we bought from local downtown businesses, the flowers we put in were from Kilbys. We tried to use all our neighbors as much as possible. We’re very into staying local and buying local.”

In attendance at the ceremony were Mayor Frank Rabil, City Manager Amanda Jarratt and several fellow downtown business owners.

Mackans has been in business for 45 years, having been started in 1974. In addition to offering office supplies and printing services for businesses and social events, Mackans also offers personalized journals and stationery, as well as gift items. Along with its new look, Mackans now offers several new lines of products as well.

One is called Caus. These are sets of stainless steel drink ware, available in four colors, that include a stemless wine cup, large and small tumblers and a water bottle. Each purchase results in 25 percent of the cost going to Red Rover, a nationwide 501c3 nonprofit animal rescue organization. Another product line offers dog bandanas, treat bags and food and water bowls made from recycled plastic bottles, bamboo and recycled Army tents. There is also a line of bags, wallets, beer koozies, coolers, beer and wine caddies, stemless wine glasses and dish towels, also made from the aforementioned materials.

“They feel like cotton, though,” Jones said of the dish towels.

Mackans also now offers customizable stainless steel water bottles, tumblers, wine glasses, pens, cups and note cards, which customers can design themselves by uploading their own photos via a computerized kiosk in the store. The designs are then printed and applied to the products on-site in five to 10 minutes.

Jones added that she plans to also get into T-shirts this year, and has also debuted a food line with peanuts, dips, cook books and cakes that can reportedly be made in a coffee mug in 90 seconds.