How we do it

Outstanding shining lights of 2021

12 December 2021 Stuart Nimmo

Part 2 of our reflective blogs of 2021. The top 5 projects and the highlights of what we’ve seen in 2021. Projects that have caught our eye for the right reasons and ultimately will perform.

Starting at number 5, Julia Elvin, (personal private project) Christmas Cards, meeting the exacting challenges for Julia in 2020, was an interesting journey, this year we had a progression with this year’s Christmas Card, from original artwork, scanned, retouched, colour balanced and reproduced on some stunning James Cropper Vanguard board (Ivory Cream). Great to use British made products in our print.

In at number 4… Shy Burhan, Shipley based photographer, collaboration, engagement, consideration, inclusion were at the heart of the project we did for Shy in June of 2021. What can only be described as an exhibition catalogue, celebrating the works of a project Shy led. We produced a perfect bound catalogue, with beautifully sharp imagery. Supported Shy in creating the artwork, within an environment she understood and knew.

A significant project for number 3, a book on customer service, geared up for a specific audience and design to build trust and authority on the topic. The author was a definitive point of knowledge on the subject, and the trend for prospects to turn into customers is becoming harder as we get flooded with multiple channels of marketing noise, crying out for attention.

The second most noticeable project(s) of the year, has been the work we’ve done for Flat Stan First Aid, daring to be different, changing the game and engaging and taking on board ideas to progress. Simon’s leadership on actively listening, planning, implementing and careful review process, has allowed him to aim a bit higher in how he pitches and presents. The “how” has been at the key of this work, whether going slightly lumpy and physical with his marketing, addressing tone of voice for communications or thinking more strategically.

The most significant piece of 2021, Nick Shaw, Always Networks, Security book. Nick is a highly credible experienced professional in the world of data and online security, his career progression has given him exceptional experience and it shows. This was part of the enabler in creating a marketing tool, which worked not just on the levels as identified in project number 3 above, but to a higher level. The two-way engagement we had, sparking ideas to deliver, measures, controls, engagement monitoring tools, goes beyond what I call an “ink on paper” print house and makes us a partner delivering marketing support in a realistic SME business environment.

Overall, we love the diversity of what we do, the magic it creates, the journeys it enables for others to progress their objectives. So, if you need the magic of transforming your engagements with real people, with real meaningful physical touchpoints, we have some stunning ways and means. Oh and I should have included this project, for Lee at Fordies Detailing…

What have we learned from 2021?

5 December 2021 Stuart Nimmo

Calendar years often give us the point to review things, as one year closes and the new year looms, we all ponder and think on how things have worked, what we’ve achieved and importantly start to plan for the year ahead.

So, what has 2021 taught us? The overriding one is facing and meeting the challenge. Trying to evolve in a world of a pandemic has delivered more challenges than any of us would have thought we could have faced. Not just the change in how we do business, the old days of endless face to face are now supplemented with zoom and teams calls, which does have its benefits, but also presents new non-verbal communication messages being missed. Volatility has become almost a norm, with the dynamics of global markets playing out even more in local situations.

We’ve seen positives from 2021, environmental issues have significantly risen on the agenda. Responsibility around what we do is now, is a more profound part of decision making. I know from discussions with potential clients, this does impact decision making processes. This rightly leads on to the first of the hot factors of 2021;

“How” not “what”

We’ve been saying this for some time. The chains of communication have changed a lot, regardless of whether you are solely digital or a true marketing mix, with physicality and digital working side by side. When businesses have used a more carefully crafted approach, they have cut through the marketing noise, which has become more prevalent.

The noise

Not in decibels, but the sheer volume of communications using very similar channels. I accept this blog is within one of those channels and might be read more by bots than actual humans. So where are the decisions made? When digital communications, when so copious in quantity push intelligence as pure data, and decision-makers potentially struggle to harness appropriate knowledge? We come across some intelligent businesses who are riding the wave of innovation to grab attention to actively start building new genuine business relationships.

Relationships matter

This has long been spoken about, how people like people. It is true; however, the new world of 2021 certainly has elevated this to a different meaning. Collaboration, collective working, have evolved to see these as critically developmental for small businesses. Long gone are the days of the customer-supplier relationship, it’s more about working together than being hard-nosed and pushing. Equally the individuals who still pursue this have found their worlds shifting more. Respect is something that works both ways and is earned through behaviours on many levels, in which physical 1-1 relationships are king.

Reality of authenticity

This might seem an odd one, but this in my eyes has developed real credence during 2021. Faking it to make it, is probably dead. Authenticity, reality, being honest, truthful, values-driven create stunning meaningful relationships. I’ve seen a few interesting examples in 2021, first one, who earned serious respect, for wearing his brand values of who he is, what he does, is Lewis Ellis, so much so we asked him to be our guest speaker at our 2021 open house event. Blazon in his delivery, is down to earth, challenging in new refreshing ways, not to everyone’s cup of tea, but serious about cutting to the chase and creating action. Taking a different viewpoint on the reality of authenticity, Thomas McGowan, watching him redevelop his business, utilising time wisely to review, plan and implement has been a beautiful example of delivering true what you see is what you get philosophy, his branding and positioning are now very strong to move him forward with becoming more of the authority and inspiring person he is. So, taking a step back and reviewing how you present your personal brand will be well worth some time spent.

Local matters

This hits on so many different levels. Local is now where things are, the challenges of seeing big names from the high street disappear, made us realise how fragile they were. They were hanging on the brink before the pandemic and it didn’t take much to realign where the world of business sits. I’ve said for 3 plus years, it has been getting highly polar, small niche businesses deliver more in the way of service than any online web megalith of a business. The ethics of environmental factors of buying local and reducing good mileage is also a significant part of this. We now carry ranges of stock, which are British made, where we have minimised the journey of product manufacture into us, and thus onto our customers. Local also matters after discovering how much of the goods we used are reliant on containers moving them around the world. Was 2021 the point where globalisation had its reality check?

This blog is the first part of our review of 2021. We’d be interested to hear your comments and thoughts on what matters to you, if you found this on a social post, please tag comments appropriately. Equally, always open to having a chat.

Transformation…

25 July 2021 Stuart Nimmo

Easy to say but takes some planning and progression.

Some people say I am very demanding and my benchmark is high, or aspirational, but standing still and not aiming high does not get you anywhere. Even though we’ve reached a level that is now more comfortable than where we were 18 months ago, I am still keeping my eye on the ball, and looking to reach further.

One part of HAD-Print which has needed stretching is our bindery/print finishing capability. 2-3 years ago, we were most definitely at a point of hard graft over, working smarter. The last period has seen significant changes. The addition of a professional OPP laminator has added more scope to our final presentation of our jobs and projects.

One of the biggest changes has been the addition of a Duplo DC-445 creaser and inline F1 folder. To some, it might be a statement of really? Yes, the productivity gains have been exponentially significant. We’ve had creasing and folding machines previously, however, the inline nature of one action after another is a significant milestone jump. The fact we move seamlessly from one specification to another within minutes, from the heaviest cards through to lightweight leaflets. I know from when I started in the trade in the early 1990s this level of inline automation and handling the level of variances stocks would never have been dreamed of in this level of equipment.

Whilst this is a tangible investment, I will say a smart investment, as our capacity and ease of throughput, now meets some of our more demanding customers. Yes, we have found coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer people have planned their actions, thus we are working more reactionary than ever before.

I know we have only just touched the surface of the potential we can achieve with this bit of equipment, as fold combinations and ultimately 7 months in, we are still on the learning curve. We’ve discovered ways and means of finishing materials from sizes we never thought we do before, like A4 6-page brochures, even stretching up to 8-page brochures (however this is out of specification for the machine!)

Interestingly this piece of equipment has allowed us to springboard the rest of our print finishing capability. This is essential to us preparing the covers for our recently added Duplo DB290 Perfect binder.

The level of pride of what we now deliver is so much higher, I look back from where I started in the trade, and what we achieve here at HAD-Print is impressive for a print business of our position. The variety of products is more than the B1 Litho house I worked in 20 years ago, and significantly more than at the start of my career. As I write this, we are implementing and learning the quirks and best options around our entry-level digital die-cutting table. Again the accessibility of what we can do, which was the preserve of larger print houses now is easily accessible.

I don’t knock the humble beginnings. I remember one print broker being highly dismissive of us at the beginning of 2017, however I know I’m not chasing him for work, as I believe in working with people who are on equally interesting journeys of progression. Our offering has evolved, progressed and is now able to deliver exceptional results.

What’s your journey? Are you ready to engage your customers with some different? Why not start a conversation with us, and let us help you add something tactile to your customer’s engagement with you?