The Shop was soft launched last month with a newly recruited team of 14 staff, headed by SP Group’s former business development director Neil Jenkinson.

"The marketplace is tougher predominantly because, not only are we up against other printers, but also print management businesses, and now media agencies that are diversifying and offering end-to-end solutions," said Jenkinson.

He added: "It was becoming harder for SP, as a print specialist, to compete credibly and talk to specialist brands about shopper behavior and how best to respond to those needs, not just through paper and print but through other display opportunities.

"To be taken seriously we needed to create a specialist division offering expert help."

The Shop has been set up to offer clients a more integrated service earlier in the planning process, so rather than simply creating POS displays the service offers shopper marketing strategies as well as retail design and permanent display options.

Part of the new service includes the supply of components, such as electronics or metal fixings, needed to complete permanent displays.

The new business operates as a standalone division based at SP Group’s Redditch print facility, but with an increasing presence in London as new business in the capital gains momentum, according to Jenkinson.

The Shop is already working with existing SP Group clients including Holland & Barrett, M&S and Britvic and Jenkison said the new creative offering would run seamlessly alongside SP’s print and production services.

"The acid test of our success will be our ability to bring on new clients that SP could never have done on their own. I’m hoping to build this into a £5m business within one year and I’m confident we can deliver that," said Jenkinson.

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