Over to You OVER TO YOU


Clare Cornish, Owner,


GKs Graphics, www.gksgraphics.com


FROM A SIDE HUSTLE IN THE CORNER OF A MOTOR FACTORS TO ITS VERY OWN FULLY-FLEDGED COMPANY, GKS GRAPHICS HAS COME A LONG WAY IN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME. OWNER, CLARE CORNISH, TELLS US WHAT HAS LED TO HER SUCCESS.


Clare Cornish, owner of GKs Graphics


How did your business begin? GKs Graphics grew out of an independent high street shop: A motor factors and bicycle shop! Printing was only a small part of its services. I fell into the role and spent five years building my knowledge, upgrading the kit and developing the customer base into a proper business. I bought it out once I’d outgrown the space, and it became my business in 2022.


How has your business grown since? I’ve invested heavily in equipment, expanded the range and size of work we take on, and recently brought Cai into the business as my first member of staff! That was a huge step.


What attracted you to the industry? Like most, I didn’t expect to be here and fell into the job. But I like making things. I’m a gamer nerd too, so computers and machines came fairly easily. There’s something really satisfying about starting with a blank van, wall or sheet of material and completely transforming it.


What is having the greatest impact on your business at the moment? Myself – and having the confidence to take the business to the next step. A business owner’s head is a busy place, and stepping away from production and into planning is what I find most difficult.


Where do you see the greatest wide-format opportunities? I like offering a complete ‘I’ll look after you’ service: Full branding packages rather than just one product. H&S signs for your warehouses, printed labels for your products, POS and merch for your events.


What would/is making your day-to-day operations easier?


Delegation and better contacts. For years, knowledge lived entirely in my head. I’m trying to document processes, improve workflows and give Cai enough information about who to talk to and where to go to confidently run jobs without everything passing through me.


28 | October/November 2026


What is your favourite bit of kit? It has to be the Epson SureColor S80600. Moving from my old Roland SP-300V (a tiny 30in) to a 64in production printer felt like I’d made it in business. The colours are something else. It’s opened up far more possibilities for what we can produce in-house, in both size and quality.


What is the best bit of business advice you have been given? Charge. For. Your. Time. Time has value. Materials are easy to put a price against, but your own time, knowledge and experience are much easier to accidentally give away. Just be aware of it.


What is your proudest achievement, both inside and outside the industry? Inside the industry, it’s the network I’ve built and the people I’ve met. These people are amazing, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them and the opportunities they’ve put in my path. Outside? That’s more boring. Probably my 65-week streak of running 5km, four times a week.


Where do you see the business going in five years? I’d like a really capable small team, great equipment, reliable trade partners and a business that can take on larger projects without everything depending on me personally. I’ll be on my yacht sipping a cocktail one day.


What would you say is the key to your business’ success?


Caring too much and being an honest fool. I genuinely want every finished job to look good. If I think there’s a better way, or someone’s about to waste money, I’ll tell them. If I’ve made a mistake or a job’s running late, I’ll tell them that too and fix it where I can. That honesty has built the trust that means people stick with me.


What is it about this industry that keeps you smiling? The ‘trade partners’ who have become friends. Never did I think I’d be out out and actually enjoy chatting about work while having a cheeky drink. My husband gets bored with me always inspecting signs when we’re out, so it’s nice to be among fellow sign/print geeks.


MATERIALS ARE EASY TO PUT A PRICE AGAINST, BUT YOUR OWN TIME, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE ARE MUCH EASIER TO ACCIDENTALLY GIVE AWAY


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