4c, which stands for create, consolidate, collaborate and communicate, is headed up by managing director James Mollard and has 10 staff. It will use httprints e-Procurement and e-Catalogue software to manage print buying. Polestar and httprint share a common backer in Investcorp.
In April 2002, in his speech at the Comprint conference, Polestar chief executive Barry Hibbert warned printers to be aware of the rise of print management. He said the industry was suffering because outsiders had seen a gap in the market, come in, eroded industry returns and then sat back and watched us beat each other up while they reap the benefits.
Successful print suppliers will not be manufacturers but service providers, he said.
