Features

Showcard is on the scent of something good according to MD Mark Smith. Here’s how the company is refocusing to take advantage of structural print opportunities.

Money talks. So what have you been hearing about R&D Tax Credits? That it’s an incentive out of your reach? Don’t be too dismissive. Innovation can and does pay, as the likes of Signbox and Augustus Martin will testify. So can you too get a tax rebate on your development work, or is it too much hassle for the pay-back? I met with Adam Kene, MD of London-based R&D tax incentive advisory Kene Partners for the heads-up.

By Lesley Simpson

So you’ve stopped recruiting ‘print reps’ and are instead seeking ‘business builders’ to promote your diversified services offering. But how do you find the right people - those conversant with printing, consulting, design, installation and everything else that your business does?  Brandon Stapper has ten questions you can use to vet potential candidates.

The sign and display market is full of favourable business indicators, not least with potential new markets such as textiles, garments and décor opening up to digital print technology. Ricoh’s portfolio of products, allied to its partnership approach and service excellence, make those new opportunities more gettable than ever.

Veronica Heaven - MD of the company that runs the Brief Cases industry-into-education programme - wants you to get involveD in shaping environmental sustainability programmes for print. Should you?

What’s having the greatest impact on your business at the moment?

We’ve all heard the arguments as to why large-format PSPs should get into textile printing. But is dye-sub the best way to go - and where do you feel there is room for technical improvement? Here’s what five print companies have to say on the topic.

You’ve seen the figures - textile print is having a heyday. Printer manufacturers are pouring R+D funds into the sector as Simon Creasy discovers. But are the new machines ones for your purchasing list?

Roll-to-roll, flatbed and hybrid large-format inkjet printers – we bring you up to speed with the latest offerings and ask manufacturers what’s in the development pipeline.

Sticking with the status quo is stalling progress for the world’s print shops according to Erik Strik, CEO at PrintFactory. Here’s why.

It’s Heimtextil in January, an event that gets those involved in textiles all excited. But you don’t have to go Frankfurt to do that crucial job of networking - you can go online to TexIntel, Never heard of it? Well perhaps you should because it was founded by Debbie McKeegan, a designer with more than 25 years experience in textile design, buying, sales and manufacturing - including an in-depth knowledge of digital print. Her aim is to bring creatives and PSPs together. Sound useful? I met her to talk about the project, and how she thinks the relationship between creatives and printers can be improved. 

By Lesley Simpson

Opponents are playing tough, daring businesses to issue court proceedings and risk substantial court fees, meaning many disputes that have a good chance of winning are going unheard. But, with the right support, you can do better than just chalk it down to experience as lawyer Gemma Carson outlines.