The art installation fundraiser, which is running until 18 October in Brighton and Hove with the motto #BeMoreSnail, follows the 2016 Snowdogs initiative, which saw 44 giant dog sculptures inspired by the film The Snowman and the Snowdog installed across the city.
The 50 snails that have been placed around the area in the past few weeks have been painted by local artists. According to Martlets Hospice, the snail “encompasses the importance of slowing down and taking time to appreciate the things in life that make us smile”.
One Digital’s snail, Slimon, was designed by local artist and Turner Prize winner David Shrigley and is situated outside Brighton Dome.
Joint managing director Lynn Brazier said: “2018 has been a good year for us and when the opportunity arose to support one of the worthy local charities it was an easy decision to get involved with Martlets Hospice for this year’s fundraiser.
“#BeMoreSnail is a fun way to attract interest and generate the much needed funds required for Martlets, who help so many people.
“We are among 50 Brighton-based companies each sponsoring a snail. It’s a great occasion to get the family out and about and see how many can be spotted while taking in the many other attractions Brighton has to offer.”
The 50 participating businesses are hoping to raise around £500,000 for the charity between them, much of which will come from the snails being auctioned off after the event.
Each company will also look to raise money in various other ways during the fundraising period. One Digital will donate £1 from every job it handles in October, which Brazier said could raise around £1,000.
Brazier took over the reins of One Digital in 2016 with Steve Poland. Owner Stephen White, who started the company with Chris Staples as Digaprint in 1996, is set to retire at the end of 2018 though he will continue to own the business.
“At that time, they were one of only a handful of digital printers in Sussex so to still be one of the leading digital and now litho and large-format printers in the south is testament to their commitment and foresight,” said Brazier.
“They are also very decent people who are well respected by colleagues, suppliers and their staff. We have both worked for Steve and Chris for many years and will miss Steve’s knowledge and integrity but most of all his sense of humour. All of the One Digital team wish him a very happy and active retirement.”
In February One Digital bought a Duplo DC-646 slitter-cutter-creaser to boost its productivity and enable it to keep more finishing in-house.
The circa £2m-turnover business, which has 24 staff, also operates a five-colour B2 Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 74 and a B3 Speedmaster SM 52, a Xerox iGen 150 and a black and white Nuvera 120, wide-format equipment from HP, Epson and Roland DG, and a raft of other finishing kit.
