The Flag Wizard has become part of the YPP Group and will trade as a division of the company, based at YPP’s headquarters in Lincoln.
The Flag Wizard was established by entrepreneur Steve Hannant in Norfolk over 28 years ago and supplies hand-finished flags, banners, bunting and exhibition display systems.
Both companies had worked together for several years, with YPP operating as the company’s main print supplier. Hannant and his wife are moving overseas to be close to their family.
YPP bought the client list and goodwill from the husband and wife team, which outsourced all its print needs and made a turnover of around £150,000.
YPP, which has been running three-and-a-half years, has 21 staff and a turnover of £1.3m. Managing director Stuart Maclaren aims to push turnover up to £1.8m by the end of next year.
“Having worked with Steve, I appreciated his dedication to clients, his energy, enthusiasm and industry experience,” said Maclaren.
“He mentioned he was looking to move to Australia to be close to his daughter and was I interested in taking on the company. We both knew it made sense.”
To support the expansion YPP has bought a used high-speed large-format Mimaki TX400 printer to increase the company’s annual textile print capacity by around 50,000sqm.
The former demo machine cost £35,000 from RA Smart, runs at 60sqm per hour and will push YPP into new work including indoor backdrops for expo stands. A new machine costs around £58,000.
The kit joins other Mimaki gear including a TS1800, TS34, and a 320. The company also runs a Mimaki JV33 and a CJV30 for printing on PVC.
YPP recently produced one of its largest ever banners, 225sqm in size, to help Norwich City Football Club celebrate 80 years at its home ground in Carrow Road.
The 15x15m job was printed on the Mimaki 320. The banner was made up of five parts, stitched together by the YPP team and then dispatched, all within 12 working hours.
“At age 26 I'm one of the youngest managing directors and started up when I was 21. We started in the middle of the recession.
“And this helped shape us for the better as a company: we were careful not to jump with both feet but took it more cautiously. The last thing you want is to start and then go bust.”
