Features

There are almost as many theories about how to run a company as there are companies. These theories go in and out of fashion so often because management is actually incredibly situation specific. A stroke of genius in one context can be a strategic blunder in another. That’s why many business leaders don’t read tomes on management theory, they devour biographies (often of Napoleon), newspapers (Warren Buffett still reads the Wall Street Journal from cover to cover everyday) and ask questions.

Like a lot of you, I spent a good amount of time at Fespa 2013. Being a regular to Sign UK, I was interested to see what all the hype was about and seeing that it was coming to a city near me, this was my chance.

Image Reports speaks to Dan East, founder, D-Signs.

Is Web-to-MIS is the way forward? Emerson Welch, marketing manager at Clarity Software, argues the point for such development.

Get integrated, sell more. It’s a simple phrase, but one that’s resonating with forward-thinking printers as they strive for new ways to reduce costs, increase output and win more deals at top margin. The Web provides the perfect platform to make it happen, which is why 94% of surveyed Clarity customers want to use it to expand their businesses.

Are you one? You should be if you want to lead your company through difficult times. Marcus Timson of FM explains the hows and whys with these top tips.

Nessan Cleary investigates this high-speed textile printer aimed at the soft signage market.

Earlier this year the Portuguese company POD added a new textile printer, the Mtex 1800, to its line-up of fabric printers which are all distributed in the UK by the Derby-based company Digital Print Innovations, or DPI.

Founded in 1985, Fastsigns now has over 540 centres across eight countries and for the second year running it has been certified as a World-Class Franchise by the Franchise Research Institute. So what makes the network so successful – and should you have a place within it? Here UK MD Garth Allison talks about the organisation’s structure and strategy for continued growth.

If you haven’t already made plans to visit this bonanza of a wide-format print show, do so right now or you’ll miss out on technological developments and business insight.

Little over a year ago this magazine ran an article entitled ‘EMAS. What’s that?’ Now the UK print industry is leading the way in its adoption. Here’s the lowdown.

Just over a year ago Image Reports ran a feature on the Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and predicted a rise to prominence. Now the UK printing industry is leading the way with EMAS in the UK. By the end of 2013,approaching half of EMAS registered UK organisations will be in print. Hand-in-hand with this, EMAS is starting to appear on tender documents and in organisations print supplier requirements.

How Katz display boards can provide a real alternative to PVC. In late June London will be hosting the world's premier exhibition for the wide-format print industry, Fespa 2013. As the event approaches, The KATZ Group – which is headquartered in the town of Weisenbach in Baden-Württemberg, Germany – is attracting increasing attention for its display boards, which offer an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to foam boards, PVC boards and similar items.

Wide-format offers enormous potential to the growing market for personalised home décor as OPG highlights.

One of the fastest growing applications in wide-format at the moment is that of interior decoration in general and wall coverings in particular. OP Graphics, based in Lanarkshire in Scotland, has had more than a little success with this, producing wall coverings for a variety of clients, for uses in areas such as offices, restaurants and people’s homes.

Seven out of ten Brits, according to one of those endless surveys someone somewhere is always churning out, spend more than a minute on hold when calling a business. While they are being held against their will, they are often subjected to a blast of hideously inappropriate music: Tina Turner’s Simply The Best is an enduring favourite. Some firms – notably Virgin Media – let you choose the kind of music you have to listen to. That sounds helpful but it does raise the question: how long does this company expect to hang on?

Greenhouse Graphics ( http://www.greenhousegraphics.co.uk/ ) has gone on better, replacing the strains of over-familiar music with targeted, relevant messages that let listeners know about current promotions, product offerings and why the company – one of a few communications agencies to gain EMAS accreditation – is so darn green. The company is working with PH Media which provides what it calls audio-branding services to 11,000 clients.