The artist runs Robin Sprong Wallpapers in Cape Town, which has 10 years’ experience producing custom-designed and photographic wallpapers, printed canvases, fabric prints and what the company calls “surface design”.
The company also represents a network of designers and photographers in South Africa.
PressOn, based in Chatham, Kent, firmed up an agreement to print and sell Robin Sprong Wallpaper designs under licence soon after becoming the first buyer of HP’s new Latex 3500 at Fespa and winning the People’s Choice and a gold award at the Fespa Awards in Cologne last month. At the show joint managing director Andy Wilson told PrintWeek he chose the 3500 partly because of its ability to print two large rolls of wallpaper with high-quality inkjet with minimal staff supervision.
The Kent company met Sprong when attending textile trade fair Heimtextil in Hamburg in January.
PressOn joint managing director Nigel Webster, who has led on the deal said: “It’s a completely new direction for us. We looked at Robin Sprong as something new and different than rather than the existing and long-standing Victoriana which is a staple of the UK suppliers.
“They are quite arty and have lots of original images. They’re in Cape Town so have that coastal and surf vibe. It’s fresh point of view.
“We’ve been printing wallpaper for years and years as a reaction to whatever the client wants. Now we’re looking at providing the products as well as the service. We’re not just selling off-the-shelf wallpaper, it’s almost designed with a bespoke element in mind.”
PressOn is not aiming at the consumer market at this stage. Rather it wants to sign up with trade interior designers who are looking for top quality prints for hotels, corporate headquarters, restaurants and high-end private clients.
Webster said printing digitally meant that short runs and flexibility with orders were no problem.
“We can make it to order if needs be, hundreds of metres in days, that’s what the HP equipment will do,” he said.
Wilson said PressOn saw bespoke wallpaper as “a really strong growth area once it starts to take off. The technology exists now”.
Wilson and Webster established the business in 2000 and it now employs 26 staff. The wide-format digital printer moved to larger premesis last month to accomodate business expansion. Turnover has grown by 37% to around £3m in three years. In the same period it has invested over £900,000 in new machinery.
