‘Five ways SMEs can save money’ said the email heading. Always interested in ways of economising - it’s in the Mole DNA - I opened it but stopped reading after the second tip: ‘Utilise your workforce’. In other words, make sure your workers are actually doing some work. After that devastating insight, I hit ’delete’ as fast as I could.
One way that Mole Graphics has saved money is by not going to Fespa. I’ve been to Berlin twice and always found it a bit gloomy. That wasn’t the main reason for giving it a miss this year. Like almost everyone I know in the business, I’m keeping my powder dry until it becomes clearer whether we’re heading for a micro-recession, a mini-recession or the biggest economic meltdown since the 2008 credit crunch.
My money is one of the first two. Not because I believe this government knows how to run an economy but because, as far as I’m aware, the banks haven’t been wagering stupid money on mortgages that are never going to be repaid. Even so, given the general air of nervousness among Mole Graphics’ customers this would be a strange time to splash out on new kit.
The printers we bought a couple of years ago are running pretty well, are kinder to the environment than most, and I haven’t seen or heard of a technological breakthrough large enough to give Mole Graphics a distinct competitive edge.
One of the most irritating clichés in business is that if your company is standing still it’s falling behind. I blame Shakespeare - all that tide in the affairs of men stuff. I’ve never believed that probably because, over the years, I’ve seen too many print service providers boldly going forward before scrambling to find reverse. There are periods in business, as in life, when the best thing you can do is mark time. I’m not interested in doubling the size of the business if it puts the company at risk. My grandfather used to say - I think he heard it from an American comedian - that stupidity can get you into messes, but it can’t get you out of them.