Lifetouch announces closure of Galion, OH, facility

The unwinding of Lifetouch continues with the announcement this week of the upcoming closure of the long-standing plant in Galion, Ohio, according to media reports. The announcement comes after the Shutterfly-owned company has weathered a public relations firestorm related to its school photography business, the sale of its Canadian operations to Everest Solutions, and the divestiture of its senior studios to CADY.

The Galion, Ohio, facility had a long-standing photo imaging industry history; in 1964, United Photographic Industries (UPI), a church directory photography and printing company, was founded. Over the next 30 years, the company became a national force in the once-popular church directory business. In May, 1995, Lifetouch purchased UPI and operated the Galion facility as the cornerstone of its church directory business, which eventually included the Olan Mills directory business, which it acquired in 2011.