Using its HP Latex 360 printer, the Wellington-based general print house is currently engaged in continuous production of the yellow sticky labels emblazoned in black text as its community outreach initiative has gone viral.

The company continues to operate for the time being with the support of all 23 members of its staff and is using its resources to help those in need as Covid-19 continues to impact on daily life.

Carly Press managing director Mark Gladstone-Smith said: “The idea came about as more events were getting cancelled, more jobs were being dropped and more people were isolating. My wife is pregnant and my parents are in their 60s so I am aware of the dangers of the virus.

“I drove past an elderly lady’s home and saw her putting a paper sign up saying she was self-isolating and I thought we could do something better. I have seen similar schemes where people have been profiteering and I made clear that we were not going to do that, this is for the community.

“We are trying to prepare our staff for the worst, but we want to stay open and will continue to do something useful so long as it is safe and viable to do so.”

Carly Press was initially using its own staff to distribute the labels to homes, but as demand increased it began to use the Royal Mail. Eventually, other local businesses offered up their own staff to help out with distribution.

Early last year, the company acquired nearby print firm Colourtone in Taunton. With the group now fully-integrated, Colourtone’s site has been converted into storage and all production has moved to the Wellington headquarters.

With one eye on the uncertain future, Gladstone-Smith said Colourtone had been a “successful acquisition, and likely not our last”. Carly Press currently turns over circa £2.1m.