John Innes’ success in starting up the ‘St Andrews Citizen’ encouraged him, in 1879, to buy his employers’ (the Tullis Family) printing and publishing business. Its founder Robert Tullis (indentured in 1786 to a St Andrews bookseller and bookbinder) had learnt printing at the University workshop. In 1795 he set up, in Cupar, a printing and, later, a publishing business.
When, in 1890, Provost Murray’s post office (which also sold Newspapers) was transferred to the adjacent Christian Institute, Innes’ firm (now J & G Innes Ltd) retained the newspaper distribution in the corner shop which, in 1927, they bought.