News

Gandalf The Grey - 14 January 2009

Are we to infer from your report that Wyndeham has lost the contract and that it has been awarded to Fresh Media, rather than the Telegraph taking it 'in house?'

Wyndeham cannot have lost it on the grounds of efficiency. They have the most competent and hard working employees I understand. I wonder if it follows then that they have lost it on price. If so this brings me back to a previous point I made to Stuart Cooper that the only way these repro outfits can compete is by undercutting each other, and the only way, as I see it, that they can do that is by making their employees work even harder for less. I doubt that any of the Wyndeham directors would have taken any wage cuts and their staff are already working to maximum capacity.

If we leave out the question of inter company personalities and politics the only other reason I can see is that possibly the Telegraph sees Wyndeham as being not financially viable.

The lack of any comment from Mr Utting, Barry FitzPatrick et al, usually so eager to blow Wyndeham's trumpet, will inevitably lead to speculation of this kind.

It's a pity your report couldn't have been more comprehensive.

Mr P. Turner - 15 January 2009

Yet again more bad news it would seem for Wyndehams ailing pre-press arm. Lets look at the positives though. This seems to show FMG is going from strength to strength. Simon Bergs Team are certainly going ahead at a blistering pace. Their asset management system coupled with their up to date VIP system really does show that investment where it counts really can make the difference. I would imagine the Telegraph were tempted to go in house but why do so when FMG can prove a valuable asset at a reasonable cost. Good luck Fresh, good start to the year.

Tim Riddle - 15 January 2009

Mr Economics, At least Wyndeham Pre-Press are still employing skilled UK operators. FMG uses Indian sweat shops to produce its work - that's why it can undercut WPP's rates. And by the way, if VIP4 is really going at such a "blistering pace" how do you explain Emagine winning all the PPA and Print Media Management awards last year which were voted by the publishers?

Robert Marsden - 15 January 2009

Good lord. The inaccurate, vitriolic ramblings of the defeated..

In order to win a competition, you have to enter a competition. In order to enter a competition, you have to have the time on your hands to do so.

Where Wyndeham clearly had time, FMG were busy being innovative ad visionary.

No Riddles. Just plain sense.

Mr P. Turner - 15 January 2009

Bold statement Tim, can you assure us though that Wyndeham itself doesn't outsource work to developing countries?

Good point though from Mr Marsden, and like he say's it's a point he's making, not a rambling defeatist riddle - just good old common sense being spoken.

Mr P. Turner - 15 January 2009

....oh and by the way Timothy, another better measure of success isn't award ceremonies it's customer base. Ever heard the saying 'The people will vote with their feet.' Seems like an awful lot of people have been voting of late and FMG are doing a good job of marching those feet through their doors with innovative, forward thinking - well planned and well managed facilities.

Farther Record - 16 January 2009

Come on Mr Marsden - didn't FMG enter those same competitions? This would suggest it is you being inaccurate and vitriolic. The main pre media players peak and trough with the carousel system of work placement the large publishers operate, and sure as night follows day, the work will move to and fro for the foreseeable future.

david ward - 16 January 2009

For the record!

FMG didn't enter any Print industry awards during 2008, including PPA and Printweek!

Gandalf The Grey - 16 January 2009

I am told by a reliable contact at the company that Wyndeham did indeed attempt to outsource their repro about 4 or 5 years ago. When the repro arm was still basically Graphic Facilities with GH and BF at the helm. They sent it to Russia after several Russian operators came over under the utmost secrecy to learn the ropes at their base in Bow. It didn't work apparently and lasted a relatively short time before being abandoned.

I doubt they would go down that road again although you never can tell with Wyndeham.

Mr P. Turner - 16 January 2009

If at first you dont succeed - try try again, just not in Russia, somewhere cheaper and more efficient. Thanks for helping me prove my point too Mr Ward, I imagine FMG didn't enter because good work is it's own reward!

Stu - 18 January 2009

Good luck to the guys who work on the Telegraph titles that are going with them to FMG i know you will carry on the good work. In regards to the debate going on here about the virtues of VIP and Emagine it's an irrelevant argument with the Telegraph as it is produced using their own in house publishing system.

Mr P. Turner - 18 January 2009

So your saying Mr SC that FMG couped the contracts over Wyndeham only on the merit of how they manage their accounts/client relationships?

If technology has nothing to do with it surely it must boil down to 'good old fashioned customer service'.

Nice to know though that the guys working on the shop floor will be able to continue their service to the same client and learn new skills and better techniques over at FMG.

Breaking wind.. - 19 January 2009

Interesting to see the old prepress rivalry is still alive and kicking in the UK...

Gandalf The Grey - 19 January 2009

Timmy Riddle,

The words "Indian sweat shops" conjur up an image of small dark skinned natives clad in loincloths and turbans working in hot dusty conditions with no windows or lunch breaks. Not dissimilar to Wyndeham then.

Stu - 19 January 2009

I'll put my post back up for you Mr Eco so you can read it again properly.

Good luck to the guys who work on the Telegraph titles that are going with them to FMG i know you will carry on the good work. In regards to the debate going on here about the virtues of VIP and Emagine it's an irrelevant argument with the Telegraph as it is produced using their own in house publishing system.

Now i may be reading it wrong, but at no point there does it say anything about how FMG won the contract due to how they manage their accounts/client relationships. In actual fact the fellas who currently manage the accounts and deal with the client are also going over along with the guys who work on the shop floor.

Best of luck boys, i enjoyed working with you on the Telegraph titles. Reckon you will be showing them some new techniques with the way they are produced!

Farther Record - 19 January 2009

Well said Stewart, hope the Telegraph guys don't get ousted too soon! The VIP/Emagine debate is rarely relevant as they are solutions pitched to specific audiences within apposite markets. Gandalf - I've spent plenty of time in India and believe me old chap, the T&C's at WPP are far more pleasant than most outfits in the UK, never mind the sub-continent. Mr Ward, weren't FMG at the PPA awards with a Ceros entry last year?

Mr P. Turner - 19 January 2009

Not that i'm reading it wrong SC, just the way you paraphrase and infer things with a lot of undertone, if I am indeed reading it wrong maybe that has something to do with the way you structure your comments. This is a medium for the media, and as such a little reading between the lines is oft called for to gain the whole picture. My comment was also based on a broad range of comments on this board, not just yours so apologies for upsetting your apple cart, I think you'll find it was not intentional.

Your comment on showing the FMG boys a thing or too seemed a little bold though, remember FMG have offered the olive branch to these workers in a time of huge uncertainty, it would be unwise to jeopardize their position with your views.

And remember SC, FMG will always be a potential employer to someone like yourself, as you obviously work in digital media from your posts.

Don't say anything that could hurt a potential interview for yourself with them further down the line.

Good luck to the Telegraph boys and best of luck in your new careers within FMG i'm sure it will be a long lasting and challenging experience.

And Farther Record - what were you doing in India - recruitment drive or just a nice holiday?

Farther Record - 20 January 2009

Evening Mr Economics, wouldn't have been much of a holiday visiting production facilities eh? Long may FMG and WPP prosper, while many of the posts here suggest one would prosper without the other I can only propose to the forum nothing would drive the publishers in house faster than a monopoly, at any cost.

Mr P. Turner - 21 January 2009

Thats a mighty proposition you make there Mr Record. The trouble is, whilst competition is a great thing - the upper echelons in power ultimately sign off the shop floor workers demise. And while you have the few fighting for the many, ultimately willing the other into administration, we all fear it's a matter of time, not if - but when, the last chips will fall.

Your right about the holiday, would have been a bit of a sad excursion, but then there's nothing like broadening your horizons by seeing how others manage the same task

Mr P. Turner - 01 February 2009

Well it's been a few days Mr Record, your silence say's more than words ever could.