Getting to Know: Richard Miller, President of Fineline

Take a deeper look into Richard Miller’s business origin and philosophy

By Ali Harre, Marketing Intern

Doing business with a good company has great benefits, but it is even more beneficial to understand the beginnings, purpose, and initiatives behind the business. Fineline looks to owner and president, Richard Miller, for theses answers and insights.

Miller is a native of Argentina and migrated to New York at age 16. He worked in sales for a portion of his life, and eventually moved to Indiana. Miller says, “I felt I would be in business for myself from the time I arrived in the America.”

In 1981, Miller had $13,000 and a business plan to establish Fineline Printing Group. Three decades later, the company is one of the largest of its kind in the Midwest. Miller attributes this growth to his straightforward mission statement, “We will not ask for your business until we can improve it.”

Improvements at Fineline also persist. Their green initiatives include the usage of eco-friendly ink, separation and recycling of scrap, and paying more to purchase renewable energy. In addition, Fineline prides itself on having such a diverse network of suppliers and holds certifications as a Minority Business Enterprise from the Indiana Minority Supplier Development Council.

For the past 22 years, Miller has been pleased to have the opportunity to work with his son, Ric, who runs the manufacturing operations at Fineline. Miller has no objection to letting the younger generation eventually run the company in the future, but instead of retiring he would enjoy assisting with corporate development at Fineline.

Aspiring entrepreneurs can certainly look up to Richard Miller as a role model for conducting business with great initiatives. He is someone who has run a successful business in an industry that has been around for centuries, but took it to the next level by making changes that impacted Fineline for the better and continued to improve its core competence: printing great products.

For those interested in being an entrepreneur, Miller advises, “The first five to eight years I worked 80 hours a week, but I didn’t mind it. I was out often, making a lot of sales calls.” He adds, “Unless you invent something, you’re going to work your tail off.”

Away from the job, Miller enjoys playing “lousy” golf, going to the theater, and participating in Hispanic cultural events.