About Us · Ink Hero
A family business. A world of experience.
Ink Hero began as a family business in California. We’ve crossed borders, rebuilt after a fire, and changed the way we work. Through every chapter, we’ve stayed in the ink and toner industry.
Our history
Our original office in California. Where our story began.
· The family behind Ink Hero
It started with my dad. And me, at 11.
Robert Blake founded the business with his dad in California when he was just 11 years old. Today, Robert is Ink Hero’s owner. A business that began with a father and son has grown through family moves, international expansion, and more than a few fresh starts.
Robert BlakeFounder & current owner
Growing together
From California to the world.
Our first expansion took us to Canada as a family, then to the Netherlands. France, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany followed. Each move added another chapter to the same family story.
- California
- Canada
- Netherlands
- France
- United Kingdom
- Japan
- Germany
Our history
Different chapters. The same dedication.
- Before 2010
A business built on conversations.
Before online marketplaces became a major part of our business, our call center handled B2B sales. We worked directly with businesses and got to know their printing needs one conversation at a time.
- 2010–2020
The Blake Printing Supply years.
Our Amazon years were under the Blake Printing Supply name. From 2010 to 2020, we were one of Amazon’s top ink and toner brands. That same family business continues today as Ink Hero.
Blake Printing Supply → Ink Hero - 2017
A fire. A rebuild. A new chapter.
A fire in the Netherlands changed the course of our business. Our company survived, but we had to restructure. We rebuilt the way we operated and carried our experience forward.
Read the fire report at NL Times
Schaafstraat, Amsterdam-Noord · 7 March 2017
Photo: @Liannevanvliet / Twitter, via NL Times - 2020 onward
A new way of working.
COVID brought another wave of change to our workflow. After our Amazon chapter ended in 2020, we became a website-only business, serving customers directly through our own websites.
Today · Amanda Park, WA
Always moving. Always in print.
Our journey has also included Chicago and Texas. Today, we’re based in Washington. We’re a family of movers, with experience shaped by life and work in different parts of the world. Wherever we’ve called home, ink and toner have remained our constant.
Family roots. International experience. Still here for your next chapter.
Get in touch