Grg Newsletter August 2003 Low

8/14/2019 Grg Newsletter August 2003 Low

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IntroductionWelcome to the first issue of Digital

Media, the main purpose of thispublication is to establish some means of

communication with our customer base. It

has often been a criticism of printers that

we spend all our time assisting other

companies with their communication

issues, yet completely miss the point

ourselves. It is our intention to address this

area through this publication and the

appointment of our new marketing

manager Miss Cathy Burton.

This subject is becoming increasingly

important as digital technologies merge,

marketers are not only looking for new

ideas in respect to design but are more

closely measuring the costs and return on

investment which brings new media into

play. In this issue you will note we have

made a significant investment in digital

presses, however whilst this takes the

focus, the investment in finishing

equipment is not to be understated. To

achieve our goals it has been necessary to

replace almost all our finishing plant for

more automated equipment, where at the

touch of a button the product is produced

from 1 to 100,000. This saves on time,wastage of material and addresses the acute

shortage of skilled personnel in this field. It

also aids our new proofing concept, to

produce a proof of the finished product, on

the material specified for the job. The

demands on buyers have broadened as

companies have downsized and often the

knowledge of print is limited to the product

required, and it is of little interest how it is

achieved. Our role and relationship with

clients is changing, we are becoming more

involved at the conceptual stage of projects

where a range of media is to be utilised. Tothis end we have set up a division NEXUS-

D-MEDIA to work alongside customers and

develop strategies for a multimedia

approach to campaigns.

Digital Media

NewsletterJuly 2003Issue 1

Left to right: Richard Bottomley Thomas Cook, John Grogan MD grgprint.com.

OPEN DAY

grgprint.com were pleased not only by the numbers attending

their open day, but also the quality of interest generated, in fact

it may be necessary to have another open day, although next

time the company will employ door men, and last

demonstrations will be called at 8.00pm. Everyone recognised

digital is the future, but many were impressed with the roledigital print can play right now. It was commonly accepted by

all attendees the quality of print achieved was equal to that of

conventional print and there were those who considered it

better. It is certainly the best medium for proofing, and the

imagination runs riot with the possibilities around variable

data. The food wasnt bad either (Thanks Susan).

Variable dataThe personalised calendars produced on the day were also a

success, and from the tone of many clients, designers will beworking overtime on concepts for 2004. The personalised wine

labels and mini brochures also proved of great interest, and the

car park was as full the next morning as the previous day.

DL-100 Text


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WELCOME TO THE FUTURE

Following an investment

programme in excess of

1 million grgprint.com

held an open day to giveits clients a picture of

the possibilities

available to them. The

intention was to change

the perception of the

role a print company can

play. In fact the ultimate

objective is not to be

recognised as a printcompany, but a service

provider in the field of

communication, where

print is just one

alternative. Whilst there was an impressive array of new plant, much of which was making a UK

debut, the purpose was to focus on the handling of data as opposed to paper.

The message in principal was all information is now digital and depending at what stage in the

process the data is captured will dictate how effectively it can be used. The concept on offer from

grgprint.com is to develop a complete management information system for clients incorporatingCRM, database management, and billing system. This data will hold all information about a

company and its products. Processing bills will give up to the minute feed back on the activity

of a business by sales, which can be analysed by product, region, sales person, profitability etc.

At this point the data can communicated by many of the print options grgprint.com offer,

variable or static, equally it can be communicated by e-mail or SMS messaging. The data will

be available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Managing Director, John Grogan, argued on the day that cost is not an issue, a specific live

product they were developing demonstrated how to advertise products at absolutely no cost

whatsoever, whilst proving that this product was more effective than a leaflet or brochure (this

was not an email). His second example was a prestigious product which had a cost of 1.00, yet

he argued it generated revenue from 10.00 to possibly hundreds of pounds, therefore cost was

immaterial. Its about thinking smart, we are now talking to directors as opposed to print buyers,

and are deeply involved in the marketing of a companies products or services increasing their

levels of business, reducing their marketing budgets, and improving communication both

internally and externally.

Welcome to the future, its arrived, was the message of the day!

Digital Media Newsletter


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Business Cards

A major corporation have expressed interest in the development of

their own personal web site specifically for the purpose of

producing business cards for a global operation. The majorattraction is the cost savings in their own administration time

procuring business cards up to the point of final sign off. Equally the

lead time is a fraction of what they had previously experienced, and

finally the cost of the business cards alone are less than half of what

they were previously paying.

Ticketing

grgprint.com have been approached by a national travel company

to investigate producing travel tickets, baggage labels, invoicesand statements, direct from their sales outlets, generating daily

graphical sales reports for the management of that company by

various catagories.

Manuals

Managing director John

Grogan will be returning to

Japan to visit several corporations for the on demandproduction of manuals. The benefits are up to date manuals of

the latest specification, personalised for the customer with the

actual serial number of the product acquired printed on the

manual. This will only be required in the language of the

country for which the product is intended. This process meets

the principal of just in time management, a fundamental part

of Japanese business philosophy, from which we can all now

benefit.

The company have also been approached by an American

company, specialising in manual publishing, based in

Sacramento, primarily for the publication of software manuals. For reasons similar to the above

this process is attractive.

Direct Mail

As one can imagine a great deal of interest has been generated from

this market sector and discussions are taking place with numerous

companies in the region. Laminator

THE PRODUCTS



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Personalised Calendars

For the purpose of our open day and to demonstrate the possibilities with variable data,

we developed a concept of producing personal calendars, not

simply for the company and its particulars but also those

of the recipient. A great deal of interest has been expressed

in this product about which we are very excited.

Personalised Postcards & Jigsaws

Along the same principal of variable data for business cards and calendars, postcards and

jigsaws are generating interest.

NCR

A major contract has been won for the production of NCR pads which due

to the high volumes, these will be pre-printed conventionally in full colourand overprinted on the Digimaster 9150, serialised, collated, and padded on

the BQ270, to on demand principals. The company is also able to collate in

large volumes with its SRA2 Setmaster Collator.

Database Management

The company has formed a new division, namely NEXUS-D-MEDIA, whose

role will be to work with companies on a consultancy basis, evaluating the

marketing mix of companies media and sales activities. Key to this

consultancy will be the utilisation of a companies most valuableasset, its database. The company will look to develop and maintain

companies databases, incorporating CRM, direct mail, and email.

Taking on billing and statements will

build an impressive

database of

a companies

activities.

Conventional PrintFor those not familiar with

grgprint.com, it should be stated

we are a B1 colour printer

employing full in house repro

including Ctp and scanning,

and a comprehensive finishing

department, offering fullfillment

and a unique nationwide

delivery service.

Heidelberg NexPress 2100

Mitsubishi B1 5 colour press



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Managing Director John Grogan

No one quite knows quite how long he has been in the business,

however his countless stories of carbon arc lamps, dragons blood,

gallery cameras, and working in complete darkness (nothing newthere!) would suggest the radio would have been blasting out Vera

Lynn numbers during his apprenticeship. Equally his countless trips

around the world in a sales and marketing capacity before McDonalds got

there would suggest he met Mr Livingstone on his earlier travels. He eventually

returned to Gods country and settled down at grgprint.com in 1990. He is an evangelist for new

technology boasting having acquired the first Ctp system in Europe, and exported Karaoke

multimedia fashion to Japan, where he spent much time in his formative years. Outside of

software much of the plant he has acquired is Japanese as he believes their attitude

to innovation and efficiency is second to none.

Production Manager Andrew Birch

Andrew has recently joined the company after many years in print. During the

last few years his experience has been focused on direct mail, digital print and

fullfillment, from which we hope to benefit.

Business Development Manager Martin Baker (BSc Print)

Another old codger whose been around the block too many times. Martin waseducated at the college of print in Watford (and boy doesnt he let you know

it). He ran his own large format printing business for over 20 years and again

his knowledge of print is huge.

Marketing Manager Cathy Burton (BSc)

Cathy is new to the company and print, her background is Product

Management with an emphasis on IT and database management. She has

experience of working in the UK and overseas.

IT Consultant Emma HoddinottEmma is working with ourselves on a consultancy basis developing an

internet based management information system. This is taking place on a

Linux platform, with an Apache web server, MySQL and PHP language.

This will incorporate CRM, Database management, and Data collection.

Most importantly it interfaces with clients and suppliers improving the

workflow which will be transparent to clients.

Andrew

John

Martin

Cathy

THE TEAM


Emma


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Production controller

Andy Newton (half-job) has been with the company since leaving college

some six years ago and has worked in all departments. To coin a

phrase jack of all trades yet master of none is sure to be his

epitaph.

The Studio

The studio is managed by a trio of techies with youth and

enthusiasm on their side. James (wanderlust) Hopkin focuses

on the design requirements of clients, whilst for those who dont

know, Johns sons Francis and Jamie Grogan work on the digital

workflows through to production. In their youth they often

complained of not seeing enough of their father (not any more).

Print

In Bryn, Sean and David there is over 125 years of print experience, dating back

to when print was a craft. This knowledge serves the business well on the more

demanding jobs.

Production

Phil Umpleby, Finishing Manager, is almost coming up to his gold watch

(dream on Phil). A more than capable manager supported by a loyal finishing

troop. The finishing quartet keeps Phil on his toes Susan, Judith, Alison and

Angie are all skilled workers.

The company employs 24 people

who all form part of the team

that delivers service to our

client base, and are prepared to

work all hours to ensure the client

is happy.

Phil

James

Jamie

Andy

Sean David

Susan

Bryn


Judith

Alison

Angie

Francis


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Finishing

The open day was not about digital print, but about solutions. Visitors saw the importance of

finishing in the production cycle. One of the most amazing

machines was the CT420 card cutter that cut down business

cards in seconds after they came off the digital press. Equally

impressive was the BQ270 perfect binder, the Stitchliner

SPF30, and the AFC 6 plate folder, all capable ofautomatic set up in minutes to deliver an actual proof of

the finished job or indeed the job itself. This is genuinely

print on demand, although it is not anticipated the

machinery will be standing idle. Also on show was the

Setmaster horizontal collator and stitcher taking

grgprint.com into the A3 multipage market and down to 90x

120mm format. The Setmaster is also capable of producing work 2 or 3 up for

the smaller formats.

Software

Everyone was impressed by the software DL100 and Personaliser X,

but the programme that stole the show was Planet Press. With a

client base of Chase Manhattan Bank, HSBC, Orange, and UPS to

name but a few this package could do some serious number

crunching, however it didn't stop there. From the variable data input

Planet Watch (part of the Planet family) can produce on the fly

graphical reports in full colour which in

addition to being printed can despatch

the same documents by email keeping

clients abreast of cumulative data

such as sales by region, product etc and reports can be

generated for the local sales manager, regional manager or

indeed the national sales manager or MD at whatever

frequency specified.

Markets

One may well ask where is the

market for this package of solutions, the answer to

which is very difficult, as there are almost too many

opportunities and the danger is to lose focus. This is

where NEXUS D-MEDIA comes into play. Its role is to

work closely with clients developing systems and

products that genuinely deliver results that count, such

as more sales and more profit!

Horizon Perfect Binder

Setmaster Collator (SRA2)

Horizon 6 Plate Folder (B2)

Horizon Stitchmaster



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MISSION STATEMENTSuccess in business means providing quality work and greatcustomer service at a competitive price. It means keeping up

with technology, staying ahead of the competition and

tailoring solutions to meet customer needs

NEWS, NEWS, NEWSMailsort

The Royal Mail (Consignia) Ha! have announced a reduction in the charges for Mailsort, once

again improving the cost ratio and effectiveness of direct mail against other media.

Email Marketing

Email marketing has replaced print as the mosteffective means of promotion, it is suggested

recipients have a preference to an e-mail over a printed

product, and are less likely to bin it. New legislation

however is coming into place where recipients will no

longer have the opt out clause option, but will have to

state they wish to receive emails. What a shame our

friends in parliament didnt look into fax promotions

which actually cost the recipients and almost always

go straight to the bin! At least we do.

Telephone: 0113 383 3888 Fax: 0113 383 3889 ISDN: 0113 253 1772 web site: www.grgprint.com email: [email protected]

Printed onthe Nexpress 2100

Printed onthe Nexpress 2100

Grg Newsletter August 2003 Low

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