About Us

John W. Hocking, publisher of The Shopping News and owner of Hocking Printing Company, Inc., graduated from Milton S. Hershey Boys School where he majored in printing. He started as a one-man print shop in 1953 in a garage behind Lincoln Avenue in Ephrata. Mr. Hocking, and his late wife, Mary Jane, introduced The Shopping News to Lancaster Countians in 1965. The paper began as a 1/2 tab, 24-page booklet mailed bi-weekly to only 10,000 homes. Both business ventures have grown considerably over the years. The Shopping News is now a full tab newspaper, averaging 68 pages per week and reaching over 38,000 homes in Lancaster County, parts of Lebanon and Berks Counties.

Hocking Printing is committed to offering its customers printing at a reasonable price. Printing services include brochures, newsletters, business cards, letterheads, resumes, invoices and all other custom printing orders. Wedding, special occasion invitations and announcements are always offered at a discount. Customers are welcome to look through the many samples displayed in the office. Rubber stamps, magnetic signs, photocopy, four color copies and fax service are also available.

The Shopping News is dedicated to publishing local community happenings and events of interest. John Hocking, his management team of Julie Hocking, Harold Wenger, Pam Boyer and Sue Snook, and all of the other Shopping News staff work diligently to deliver a quality paper to your doorstep each week! Office hours are Monday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 8:00 a.m.-noon.