---

The Print Search facility is located a mere stone’s throw from Manchester United’s Old Trafford ground – something that isn’t lost on the specialist print management company’s managing director David Beale. Beale, a Hull City fan, says that some 45% of the company’s client base is in the North West, including United as well as its local derby rival, Manchester City.

The rest of its client base is national and straddles a number of sectors, including hospitality, leisure and the pub trade.
Beale knows better than to put all his eggs in one basket. He says the strategy driving his £7.2m-turnover company is to go after several niche opportunities and not to limit itself by having customers in just one trade.

He joined Print Search in January 2007, before carrying out an MBO in October 2008 via an acquisition vehicle, DCB Group, which now has plans to acquire a Scottish printer, possibly within the next few weeks. Beale says the two businesses are in the final stages of due diligence. "It is a massive opportunity and will boost our market offering
significantly," he adds.

Print Search is also looking to add value organically; in the pipeline it has plans to acquire environmental credentials and it is on course to gain FSC, PEFC and ISO 14001, in conjunction with Manchester United’s programme ‘Reds go Green’, in January 2011.

Beale explains that as a business, it is important to take environmental issues seriously, but adds that there are more reasons for working in a more sustainable manner. "It has also reduced our costs, and we believe that in the long run it will save us money," he says.

"FSC has been something quite new for us and we have made a few changes that have been implemented straight into the business. It is all part of the bigger plan."

Social responsibility
The business is also looking into its carbon footprint and has just started to engage in a carbon reduction scheme. It aims to offer customers a chance to adapt this into their business relationship. "Environmental certifications are becoming more prevalent in the market and clients are increasingly asking for proof of sustainability," he explains.

Training for the company’s 37 staff has also been high on the agenda. Over the past two years the company has invested £25,000 in developing staff skills.

Print Search is also investing in new equipment: an Océ Arizona wide-format flatbed press and an Océ colourwave are both due to be installed at the Old Trafford site at the end of November at a cost of some £250,000. Print Search is also considering investing in either a Xerox or Indigo cut sheet colour machine in the near future.

Beale says the new machines will add much-needed capacity to the company’s digital output. Around 45% of the company’s current work is for the hospitality and leisure sectors, alongside the work for the football clubs. Another 40% of the output is for multi-site business with more than five locations, professional services and construction, while the remaining 15% is mixed sector and local business. Beale is also exploring other areas, including joint ventures with companies including stationery suppliers.

Phoenix frustration
However, one of Beale’s gripes in moving forward as a print business is the current relationship with the banks. More specifically the ability to get finance that matches his company’s ambition. Beale says he doesn’t know whether this is because banks are withdrawing from the print sector as a whole, but adds that it is "very frustrating".

Another gripe is a popular one among print business owners – phoenix companies. Beale takes particular umbrage at the fact that the rise in paper prices is at least partly a result of the bad debt that paper merchants derive from phoenixes. "Why are the merchants still supplying the phoenix companies?" he asks.

With all the firm’s plans, 2011 looks set to be an important year for the business. "Digital is one of the areas with the biggest change, and we’re looking to embrace that", Beale says. And what with its Scottish opportunity looking set, Print Search is well on its way to living up to its ambitions.

---

PRINT SEARCH FACT FILE
Managing director David Beale
Location Trafford Park, Manchester
Clients Manchester City FC, Manchester United FC, Leggetts, Yates Group
Staff 37
Turnover £7.2m
Sectors Leisure, hospitality, pubs, hotels, sport
Products and services direct mail fulfilment; graphic and website design; storage, warehousing and distribution