Q&A WITH S&G’S ANDREW L.G. JONES
importance for many if not all our customers, but this is an example of what we’re up against.
“...if you relax and become complacent, that’s when you lose focus and lose your edge.”
In March we increased
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: CHAIRMAN & MANAGING DIRECTOR ANDREW JONES SHARES HIS VIEWS ON THE PRINTING INDUSTRY AND DEVELOPMENTS AT STEPHENS & GEORGE.
WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON THE STATE OF THE UK PRINTING INDUSTRY? All printers in the UK are continuing to face a number of challenges on a daily basis. Every week it seems as if yet another printer is closing or in financial distress. Not exactly what you want to read about. Admittedly I can’t comment on individual cases but is this due to overcapacity in the market? Probably. Is this due to printers undercutting each other’s prices and producing jobs without any profit in it for them? Definitely. You have to take a
long term view and if you want your company to be
14
a success and trading for years to come, you have to plan accordingly and not make rash decisions. We have first-hand experience
of clients moving to another printer on the basis that their prices were £8 cheaper than ours! I know that cost is of paramount
our paper prices for the first time since 2009. I’ve been asked by a couple of clients, why didn’t we absorb this cost ourselves? The simple fact is we’re a business and have to make money to continue to operate, if we didn’t then there’s no point in us being here.
ARE WE IN A HEALTHY STATE? I think so yes. We can always do more and will do more. It’s in our make-up here at Stephens & George to invest for the future, both in our equipment and staff. Take a look at the technology we have. Our presses are more efficient, quicker, and producing better product than ever before. Our pre-press department are producing record numbers of plates every month. Our
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16
