The idea was put together by managing director Amanda Strong and marketing department head Graham Townend as Strong identified charitable giving as a key tenet of her Derby-based company’s identity and purpose.
Across June, a number of events and fundraising drives were arranged with the support of a range of local charities to bring in enough donations to reach the £30,000 target. This culminated in a gala dinner at which half of the total was raised in a single night.
“It is jolly hard work to organise something like this and I would not recommend it for the faint-hearted, but I think it is imperative that businesses support the local community,” Strong said.
“We thought we needed to do something to mark our 30th year but I did not think something like this would be possible, given how time-consuming my job as managing director can be. But we got the publicity out there and the support from the charities and our local business partners helped get the word out there.
“Our business has changed a lot over the years, but we are always looking to thrive and offer something else to our clients.”
She concluded: “After 30 years, we have a fantastic client base, but spend-per-client has gone down as there are more ways of marketing now, so we will continue to expand our base and diversify our offering so we can offer the whole package.”
All charities chosen by Mercia were either local to the Derbyshire area or carry out work that affects the local community. Key selections were the Derby County Community Trust –who received £5,000 from the fund – alongside Treetops Hospice Care, Children First Derby, Breakfast Club and Big C Little C.
Running five-colour Mitsubishi B2 and Heidelberg B3 litho presses, a Xerox digital printer and a large range of finishing kit on its 1,115sqm premises, Mercia Image Print employs circa 19 members of staff.
