Young Entrepeneur's Print And Finishing Investment

A print business started three years ago in his bedroom by a young entrepreneur with little more than a photocopier and a website is on target for GBP1m annual turnover.

A print business started three years ago in his bedroom by a young entrepreneur with little more than a photocopier and a website is on target for GBP1m annual turnover.

That achievement looks likely following a GBP250,000 investment package in new printing and finishing equipment from Graphic Arts Equipment (GAE).

And, at a time when many printers are seeking to add digital capabilities to their conventional print rooms, commercial digital printer Sense Creative in Darlington (UK) has run counter-trend by stepping from digital straight up to full-colour litho printing.

Sense creates websites for designers so their customers can order print direct - with Sense Creative fulfilling the majority of the orders.

It was the success of that that prompted managing director Tim Thompson to look at litho.

He explained: "People were ordering jobs through these sites but designers wanted longer runs and we couldn't match litho prices.

We couldn't get away from the fact that there was a finite limit to our earning capacity printing digitally, so we went to Ipex to look at litho." He added: "Initially we were put off by the learning curve and felt more at home with the DI systems, but then we got in touch with GAE and its press was far less expensive.

That got us thinking.

What was really impressive was the training.

I knew nothing about litho printing but now I can confidently run the press.

I am amazed that I am able to do it." The Sense Creative investment package included a Mitsubishi SDP-EcoIII CTP B3 polyester platesetter, B3 four-colour convertible-to-perfecting Shinohara 52IVP press, Horizon 10 station VAC-Turbo Powercollator with SPF/FC-200A booklet production line and Perfecta 92TVC heavy-duty CIP4 guillotine with colour touch-screen and programming.

Sense is a family firm because not only is it staffed by Tim Thompson's father, John, his mother, Jo and brother, James.

The business spilled out of Tim's bedroom and took over the family home before moving to an industrial unit on the outskirts of Darlington last year.

Now the addition of the Shinohara press has led to another milestone - the employment of the first non-family member of staff, time-served press minder Billy Forrest.

Thompson said: "With all the risks and hard work, this was probably the scariest part of growing the business.

People are so important; whether its staff or suppliers, you have to build partnerships and we've been very fortunate." Tim Thompson talked to a number of manufacturers before deciding on GAE and, once again, he turned convention on its head.

He explained: "I considered there were a lot of arguments for putting all of our eggs in one basket.

I thought we'd get better service along the line and it's true - we have been really impressed.

We chose GAE because it was able to supply us a press and a really good guillotine, as well as the Horizon equipment." And he continued: "We really started the company on a shoestring and have ploughed all the profits back in, which is why we have been able to make this investment." As for the finishing equipment Thompson said: "The Horizon booklet system is running like a dream and the Perfecta guillotine is brilliant.

There is no way on earth we could have introduced a litho press and kept the old equipment." Sense Creative also runs a Docucolor 6060 and produces a variety of commercial print, including booklets, brochures, leaflets and business cards.

Following the new investment package monthly turnover has doubled to GBP70,000.

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