Wide-format Blogs

I’m back, all refreshed and supercharged after a little break last week, and getting to grips with all I have to do before we have three more minibreaks upon us in May. What’s your view on that – is the upcoming month of four-day weeks a chance to recharge your batteries or more of a drain on your resources?  

…I know, I know, I’ve mentioned this before - but could I please ask those of you that have not yet done so to link through to our annual Widthwise Survey of the UK’s large-format print providers. The poll can be accessed right here  https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/65CMDY3  As always you’ll be rewarded with a free, independent report based on the data analysis of real grassroots info. The more PSPs that participate the better that data will be - so please help us to help you. Thank you.

What exactly is meant by being a ‘full service’ print provider? Every company seems to be one - so why bother saying it? It’s one of those terms that’s come to mean everything and nothing all at once. Is there a better way of telling clients what you’re all about? Just asking….

I want to save the planet. Honest. Apart from anything else, I’d like Mole Junior to be able to continue to call the third rock from the sun home. That’s why, ignoring the grimace from my tech savvy offspring, I will shortly replace my venerable iPhone8 with a reconditioned version of a slightly newer edition. I read somewhere that if everyone in Europe kept their smartphone for six months longer than usual, it would be the equivalent of taking 1m cars off the continent’s roads, which is not too shabby.

Do you consider your business to be part of the manufacturing sector? If so, are your thoughts in alignment with Andrew Matthews, partner at accountancy group MHA, who - following the release of the latest UK Manufacturing PMI earlier this week - is calling for the government to expand and simplify investment incentives, saying: “The storm is far from over for manufacturing. Inflation, Brexit and skill shortages are still chipping away at the sector. The withdrawal of the super deduction and the Corporation Tax raise to 25% will certainly have a negative impact on investment in the marketplace. More and more manufacturers will be cautious for the future, forecasting a much less optimistic outlook than in previous years.” I reckon this sector is somewhat more optimistic - do you? We’ll find out when we crunch the numbers from our 2023 Widthwise survey of UK wide-format PSPs. I’d love to get your input if I haven’t already. The poll closes on 21 April, so there’s still time: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/65CMDY3

Only 11% of UK organisations currently meet the criteria to be considered a ‘data leader’ according to new research commissioned by Lenovo. Fair enough, it only polled senior executives in organisations with revenues of $500m or more, across five countries, to explore how businesses are harnessing data, and where they can use it to their advantage. I take it your revenues aren’t quite that high - nor your data collection/analysis aspirations - but how confident are you of your data prowess in relation to your own competitors?

So, the World Out of Home Organization (WOO) has set up a ‘Sustainability Task Force’ in its mission to green-up out-of-home advertising. Doubtless there are groups tasked with all sorts of missions and I’d like to find out who’s leading up what when it comes to the wide-format print sector. Are you leading up any kind of task force - other than for improving your company’s sustainability, because every business has one of those, doesn’t it?

Yay, British Summer Time! I must admit that the slight glimmer of sunshine this morning has made me feel somewhat more upbeat than I’ve been feeling most Monday mornings so far this year. How about you - feeling optimistic and confident about business? If so, great. If not, let me know what's raining on your parade.

It’s the last day of SDUK 2023 and I’m wondering what you thought of the show? Is it still a must-attend event for large-format print providers? I’d appreciate you letting me know your thinking on this, and on any other events you may, or may not, have on your calendar - either as a visitor, or perhaps as an exhibitor!

Antalis has advised me that it will be showing off print possibilities at the Visual Merchandising and Display Show at London’s Business Design Centre next month. Are you doing likewise? I’d love to hear from you if you are. Thank you.

With both transport and education strikes today, how are you coping - as an individual and as a business? Wondering if there’s likely to be much of an impact, or whether you’ve now got systems in place for such disruption and will hardly notice?

A few social media feeds have prompted me to issue a reminder that you have until Sunday 2 April to get nominations in to The Printing Charity for its 2023 Rising Star Awards. Those aged 18-30 can apply for funding of up to £1,500 for training that develops their skills and knowledge beyond the training they are already undertaking in their current professional role. Pass it on…