ZEBRA PRINT GROUP
CONTINUED
established while bringing fresh energy and ideas into the business,” she says. “My focus has been on creating sustainable growth, continuing to invest in our capabilities and our people, and making sure Zebra retains the culture and customer service that have been fundamental to its success.” Print sector Looking at the sector now, Samantha believes it is an interesting time for print. “It’s certainly competitive and there are pressures around costs, energy, materials and margins, but there are also significant opportunities for businesses that are prepared to adapt,” she says. “We are continuing to see healthy demand, and we’ve secured 56 new clients over the past two years, while retaining our existing customer base.” Samantha says that what has changed recently is the type of demand the company sees. “Customers increasingly want more than a printer; they want a partner who can take complexity away from them,” she says. “They might need print, merchandise, storage, fulfilment and distribution managed through one supplier rather than dealing with several different businesses. “I also think physical print still has an incredibly important role to play. In such a digitally saturated world, a high-quality piece of print can create a tangible connection that is increasingly difficult to achieve online.” Other trends in the industry include customers increasingly looking for speed and flexibility in print jobs. “Customers are working to shorter lead times and want suppliers that can react quickly without compromising quality,” she says. “We’re also seeing growing demand for end-to-end solutions. Customers don’t necessarily want hundreds or thousands of printed items delivered to their office anymore. They want us to produce them, store them and fulfil individual orders as
and when they’re required. “Personalisation and shorter, more targeted print runs are also becoming increasingly important, which is where developments in digital print technology are particularly exciting.” Print mix Given the range of work that Zebra Print Group carries out, it requires a range of printers across digital, litho and large format production. “Different jobs require different solutions,” says Samanatha. She adds that the company isn’t loyal to any one manufacturer just for the sake of loyalty. “For us, it’s about choosing
“
I also think physical print still has an incredibly important role to play. In such a digitally saturated
the technology that best supports our customers and our production requirements,” she says.
world, a high- quality piece of print can
“We have built strong relationships with our technology partners over the years, but every investment must make commercial and operational sense. We’re preparing for further investment in our digital production capabilities later this year, which will add to our existing capacity and give us even greater flexibility.” When buying printers, Samantha takes many factors into consideration. “Price is obviously part of any investment decision, but it certainly isn’t the only consideration,” she says. “We look at quality, productivity, reliability, flexibility, energy efficiency and how a machine will integrate into our existing operation. We also consider what it will allow us to offer our customers that we can’t do as efficiently today. “Service and support from the manufacturer or supplier are hugely important too. A machine can look fantastic on paper, but in a busy production environment you need confidence that support will be there when you need it. “Ultimately, we look at the total value the investment can bring to the business rather than simply the initial purchase price.” Staying on top of technology is also
create a tangible connection that is increasingly difficult to achieve online.
”
28
Powered by FlippingBook