As your focus moves from survive to thrive, clever marketing is going to be a strategic necessity. Ice Blue Sky works with B2B organisations to deliver higher than average marketing qualified leads and/or sales qualified leads, so what its MD has to say on the topic is worth hearing.
Business
IR Talks to... Colin McMahon, Research Analyst, Keypoint Intelligence
Wish you had a crystal ball to tell you how business is going to look post Covid-19? Well, we have the next best thing. Having raised some interesting points in his talk at the Future Print virtual summit, I linked-up with Colin McMahon, research analyst with Keypoint Intelligence, and asked him to expand on some of his key messages. It doesn’t all make for comfortable reading.
Keeping the cash flowing
Looking beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, Walter Hale highlights some good habits - and principles - that can help you manage cash more effectively as you enter the new normal.
IR Talks to... Nathan Swinson-Bullough, MD, ImageCo
Wondering when it will be ‘back to business’? Isn’t everyone. There can’t be a single print operation that has not been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, nor can there be a single way of coming out the other side as fit as before, but is there a case for what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger? I asked ImageCo MD and Fespa UK board member Nathan Swinson-Bullough for his take
IR Talks to.. Karly Lattimore, MD training, BPIF
Training is a bugbear to many a large-format print provider - many companies citing issues such as irrelevant apprenticeship schemes as problematic for the sector. So, with the BPIF the largest supplier of apprenticeships to the UK printing industry, I went to talk with Karly Lattimore, the federation’s managing director of training, on how this sector can be better served.
Tax doesn’t have to be taxing
Or does it? If you use contractors you need to be aware of changes taking place from 6 April regarding IR35. Luke Menzies, director of Menzies Law, explains.
Welcome to my world
‘Skills shortage’ is something we’re hearing a lot about – the blame frequently blamed on Brexit. But with this shortage applying to mainstream job roles - such as electricians and mechanics - where does that leave an industry that requires a more niche skillset? Paula Thirkell of Ambitions personnel steers you in the right direction.
How to get creative
Every company would like to be more creative, which is why there is no shortage of books offering advice on the topic. Yet too many managing directors aren’t sure how to ignite the creative spark in their businesses. But in a rapidly changing, digitally driven, economy we need to get used to the idea that ‘no normal’ is the ‘new normal’ and behave accordingly.
IR talks to... Nicole Spencer, President, Fespa UK Association
Nicole Spencer, operations director at trade house RMC Digital Print in Hull, became president of the Fespa UK Association last autumn - the first woman to do so. In the run up to Fespa Global 2020 we met up to discuss her plans for an association in transition.
Do as we do
This is the rallying call of Leach MD James Lavin. Read on and you’ll find out what he’s talking about…
On stream for growth
The PanaWrap global licensing programme is bubbling up very nicely for its developer. So should you be drinking from that fountain?
IR talks to... Jenny Matthew, Event Organiser, SDUK
Organisers of Sign and Digital UK (SDUK) are promising “an all new show in a new hall” when it takes place on 28 - 30 April, 2020. A new team has been put in place to deliver what they promise will be “a fresh show with a new website, new layout, new features and new stand options”. But is so much change code for “panic, we’re in trouble”? I met up with new event director Jenny Matthew to get her strategic take on developments.
By Lesley Simpson
A mindful move
As mental health issues mount, the Printing Charity is rolling-out a 24-hour helpline. Chief executive Neil Lovell explains.
Strutting their stuff
What’s in a name? Psycho Peacock’s MD thinks there’s a whole lot, which is why he’s thrown everything at the company’s whacky rebrand. Could your business benefit from a similar approach?