PrintRepublic was officially launched at the beginning of this week claiming to be the "print-friendly" website.


The firm is initially offering consumables and equipment sales and hopes to shave up to 20% off the cost through supply chain efficiencies.


It also aims to build a community of printers around its site with website design and hosting, and links to other services including recruitment, used equipment, training, finance and business advice.


"We have two aims - to cut costs and improve efficiency," said managing director Peter Petyt. "We are the printer's ally. Whatever printers come to us for we want to deliver - anything we can do to help printers maintain their
margins."


Its range of consumables includes film, plates and pressroom chemistry. Plates and chemistry are supplied under its own RedLabel brand, with film from Agfa, Fuji and KPG.


"We will offer a no-frills approach to consumables," said director of sales David Knowles. "You can comfortably save 15%, and in some cases 20%. We're not slashing margins, we're cutting distribution costs. Existing suppliers have overheads of 500 staff and 80 vans on the road. There are more efficient ways of doing it."


PrintRepublic is allied with other firms include John Roadknight's Internet-based secondhand site, which is about to launch PressXchange.com; recruitment site Print-people.com; and credit checking agency creditcheck.com. It has an alliance for new pre-press and digital print equipment with RES.


The firm has already signed up 100 customers and hopes to sign up another 100 per month. It is aiming for a turnover of 4.5m by the end of its first year.


Story by Barney Cox