The self-declared 'fastest-growing large-format print company in the UK' spent just shy of £1m on the new Lincoln premises, nine miles south of its current site, a further £200,000 adding a 420sqm extension to it, and around £400,000 on four new pieces of kit.
It will begin the move on 31 October and expects to complete it five days later.
The new premises will total 2,600sqm, including the extension and a 330sqm second warehouse, which is 1,850sqm bigger than its previous premises and 2,460sqm larger than the premises it first used in 2011.
According to YPP group managing director Stuart Maclaren, the move has been in the pipeline for around 18 months.
Maclaren said: “In terms of reasoning, YPP is growing quickly at the moment, from having one machine when we started to soon having eight machines full time.
“We realistically should have moved six to eight months ago but we added a container at the side of the current building, moved things around and maximised space.
“Trying to find the right building wasn’t easy. We looked at a number all across Lincoln but it’s quite hard to find property here that you can buy freehold. We found a few farm conversions that had the space at a really good rate but no internet or phone.”
26-year-old Maclaren also stressed that the new building, positioned far nearer the centre of Lincoln and close to the A46, would be better for taking delivery of containers and accommodating those travelling up from London.
Most of YPP’s 26 staff will now be located closer to the site. It has recruited three more in the past two weeks and will be recruiting a further five over the next few weeks in a number of different departments.
The new site will house YPP’s current roster of kit, which includes a number of Mimaki machines: two JV5-320DS dye sublimation printers, two TS34s and two CJV30s for printing on PVC.
It will be installing an LED-UV UJV55-320, a JFX200 flatbed, a Heatsealer 320 rotary press and a dye-sublimation paper transfer for a new range it will be launching next year. All machinery will be installed by the end of 2016.
The new machines have been purchased through Mimaki reseller RA Smart, which has been supplying the printer since it was founded.
“We like Mimaki as a brand and have worked with it since the day YPP was created,” said Maclaren.
“The LED is something very different. It is cheaper to run, 3.2m wide, and it should help us increase production and reduce cost at the same time. Also, the service from RA Smart is second to none; it’s all about having that reliability factor.”
With the purchase of the new kit, YPP will be looking to give a further boost to its Christmas brand The Santa Sacks, launched last year. It took 24,000 orders in 2015 and Maclaren is aiming this year to almost triple that to 75,000. The new building has a dedicated production suite for The Santa Sacks.
Last year, YPP turned over £2.8m, which includes revenue from its other businesses, Santa Sacks, Flag Wizard, Event T's and Your Promo Partner.
“I started this when I was 21 and five years on we are one of the biggest flag producers in the UK and whenever we launch a new range we go up again,” said Maclaren.
