Terrye Teverson, managing director at KCS Trade Print, says that any form of business should have a simple focus. "Regardless of what market you are in, there will be huge overheads or pressure on prices," she says. "Everyone knows things are tough. But, as with anything, you have to look at what you do well and make contact with as many people as possible."

And Teverson should know. For the past few years she has split her time between being a printer and a politician. In both aspects, you have to be upbeat and in control, even when it's grim. "It's a rough trade either way," she says.

Teverson started Cornwall-based KCS Trade Print in 1981, offering computerised accounts for small companies. She set it up from home after realising there was a gap in the market to sell computer consumables and print to local businesses. In the 1990s, the company expanded with the purchase of a business in Launceston.

KCS Trade Print turns over £1.8m from its specialist high-quality integrated card and label products and continuous businesses forms. In October 2008, it diversified into digital print after installing two Mimaki JV5 machines and an Epson 44inch wide-format printer, and today it is FSC-, ISO 14001- and PEFC-certified.

As if running a print business wasn't challenge enough, Teverson also campaigned as the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Truro and Falmouth. In May, the seat, which had been held by fellow Liberal Democrat Julia Goldsworthy, was lost to the Conservatives by a narrow margin. Teverson was devastated.

"Friends and family tell me that you shouldn't think of it like that, that you still have your children, your husband. Everyone is healthy. But when you have campaigned so hard for something, for it to end like that, it can feel like bereavement," she says.

Teverson joined the Lib Dems in 1990, starting out as an independent councillor in Breage and Germoe and then standing as parliamentary candidate for Falmouth and Camborne in 1992 and 1997. The one thing that really gets her down is voter apathy. "Some people don't see a general election as very important, they don't realise the amount of time and work that goes into understanding the concerns of the electorate and making sure that you can change things."

Asked what the government can do for print, she says that there should be more funding made available for SMEs trying to train staff in-house. "There is little support and it is also expensive for the business. SMEs are the backbone of Britain, and as they employ a lot of people they will be the ones that make Britain profitable again," she says.

Tighter controls
Furthermore, Teverson believes there is more legislation needed on pre-packs, as currently too many people walk away from failed businesses only to set up another business a day later. "This is depressing prices for companies that have better business practices," she says. "There are people that genuinely go bust because they are owed a lot of money and so they go down because of debt. Then there are those people who run their business poorly, way below the market line."

She adds that a lot of this is to do with businesses having little understanding of overhead and investment for the future.

Large print management companies are also an issue. "There has to be a move away from the print management system where there's no form of relationship," she argues. "Building a business is about going out and meeting people, and that can revitalise a business. Instead, print management businesses make it incredibly, extraordinarily difficult even to deal with them. They don't think of the long term," she says.

Teverson's philosophy for business is very much centred on getting back to basics and being able to support people. "At the moment, there's no getting to know the company and helping their business grow, and I think we should get back to relationship selling. That's what made it fun to be in business."

She also believes the print industry should start marketing itself more effectively as an environmentally friendly sector. "It hasn't been very efficient in its marketing so far. A lot of the public still believe that paper is made from cutting down the Amazon. We really don't push our corner."

Printers need to come up with new and innovative ways of doing things, she adds, and then get themselves through the door. "You just have to get on with it."

KCS Trade Print
Managing director Terrye Teverson
Staff 23
Turnover £1.8m
Location Launceston, Cornwall
Established 1981