Episode 25: From a Small Print Shop to 100+ Employees | How Ben Heineman Built BP Print Group

Description

In this episode of the What It Takes Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi Benjamin Heinemann — CEO of BP Print Group, founder of the BP Weekly, and one of the most quietly inspiring business leaders you've never heard of. With over 100 employees, clients across the US, Canada, Israel, and Australia, and 37 years of building from the ground up, Rabbi Heinemann has one simple answer for how it all happened: Hashem. What started as a young kollel guy hanging a sign in a coffee room turned into a full-scale printing empire. We talk about the real story behind building a business with emunah at the center — the tough hires, the COVID payroll decisions nobody said thank you for, the backwards journal that changed his davening forever, and the Mincha minyan that literally made his neighbor's best month in business. This episode isn't just about printing. It's about what it really takes to build something lasting — with integrity, gratitude, and your eyes wide open to everything Hashem is doing around you. If you're an entrepreneur, a business owner, or someone who wants to bring more meaning into how they work and lead — this conversation will stay with you. 💡 In This Episode, We Cover: ◼️ How a kollel guy with a computer became a 100+ employee CEO ◼️ The print shop takeover that happened in under a year ◼️ Starting a Mincha minyan at work — and watching business take off ◼️ The “backwards journal” story that rewired his entire approach to davening ◼️ Why the money you have is literally your personal mun ◼️ The maaser system he’s used since day one — and why it always works ◼️ What actually makes a great employee (hint: it’s not their salary ask) ◼️ The COVID raise he gave that nobody said thank you for ◼️ Why most job ads are a complete waste of money ◼️ How BP Weekly grew from 1,200 families to 18,000+ ◼️ Stop selling price — sell your differentiator ◼️ Is printing dying? His bold, honest take on the future ◼️ AI, Kodak, and why you have to think futuristic or get left behind Chapters: 0:00 Intro & Guest Welcome 2:05 How It All Started 4:49 Taking Over Joe’s Print Shop 8:38 Opening His Own Shop 10:45 Bringing Hashem Into the Business 18:02 The Backwards Journal Story 32:27 Maiser, Money & The Mun 39:35 What Makes a Great Employee 44:11 The COVID Raise & Recruiting 53:27 The BP Weekly Origin Story 1:00:35 Sell Your Differentiator, Not Your Price 1:12:03 Closing Story & Final Thoughts 🔗 Connect with Rabbi Benjamin Heinemann LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-heinemann-a02a6a18 Instagram (BP Print Group): https://www.instagram.com/bpprintgroup/ 🔗 Connect with the Host - Tuli Kraus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbird.recruiting/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuli-kraus/ 🎙 Sponsored by: Dabbl Dabbl is an all-in-one platform where kids and teens can explore a wide range of lessons—from music, art, and cooking to photography, wilderness skills, and money management—without the hassle of commuting or expensive one-on-one classes. For just $25 a month, learners get access to all courses designed to bring them off-screen into real-life skills. Listeners can use code TK-20 for 20% off at https://justdabbl.com/ United Refuah United Refuah offers an affordable alternative to traditional health insurance through a health share program, with a monthly cost of just $500. For the first 10 listeners, use code Blackbird to get the third month free. https://unitedrefuahhs.org/ Blackbird Recruiting Hiring the wrong person is expensive — not just financially, but culturally. Blackbird Recruiting helps growing companies hire people who actually perform, so you can spend less time filtering résumés and more time building your business. If you’re serious about scaling with the right team, visit blackbirdrecruiting.com to learn more.