Image Reports speaks to Jason Pavlou, MD, Giraffe Press.
Where do you see the greatest wide-format opportunities?
UV printing techniques. They are the future - more environmentally friendly, faster, more capabilities.
What would make your day-to-day operations easier?
A better ability to recruit of more driven, passionate craftsmen and craftswomen. The present Government national apprenticeship scheme offers little financial incentive and I worry that the recruitment agencies do not care much about the quality and fit of candidates. Small and medium-sized printing companies cannot afford to make mistakes over staff and young people are also let down by a too casual approach based on numbers. Most printers know what quality of staff they want. Finding them is another matter. It's not just about skills, it's about attitude.
Your favourite bit of kit is..?
Twitter @GiraffeBanners! Seriously, it’s got to be my new Roland VersaUV LEC 540, a fantastic piece of kit which has opened up a whole new capability for Giraffe.
What’s the best bit of business advice you’ve been given?
It was “Do not take any business advice!” Do not rely on business gurus, dragons, business angels; certainly anyone offering a one-fits all marketing solution - rely on your gut instincts but always be ready to learn from others and apply lessons intelligently as they are relevant to your business and your industry. Never pay money for marketing unless you are 100% convinced by it, have seen it, tested it and that it fits in with your company ethics.
What are you most proud of achieving?
Starting and growing my business on ‘old fashioned’ ethics with the added spice of modern technology for some extra flavour.
What lesson does the wide-format sector need to learn?
That it is not on the margins of the print industry anymore. Increasingly it will be mainstream. There will always be a need for signs, banners and point-of-sale graphics. In times of economic hardship some businesses will want to use even more point-of-sale graphics to help them compete.