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Printing.com looks Down Under for new production partner

Josh Brooks, PrintWeek, 03 April 2008

Printing.com, the AIM-listed franchise business, is expanding its overseas reach with plans to set up an operation in Australia this year.

The company, which runs a printing hub in Manchester and already has operations outside the UK in France, Iceland and New Zealand, is planning to set up in Australia later in the year and is currently looking for a production partner in the country.

In France, the firm now has five franchisees and expects its activities in the country to turn a profit this year.

Printing.com's latest expansion plans were revealed in a trading statement this morning (3 April) which also announced a new initiative to start selling personalised merchandise such as pens, mugs and work clothing.

The Network Partner scheme allows producers of merchandise products to sell their wares through the Printing.com network.

Under the initiative, Printing.com receives a licence fee, merchandising fees and royalties on sales from the network partners.

A number of licences have already been granted for the service, which is expected to kick off in June.

The City responded well to today's statement, which added that the granting of bolt-on franchises had continued this year at a "buoyant rate" and that results for the full year would be in line with expectations.

Shares jumped this morning from an opening price of 39.25p to 42p, while analyst Brewin Dolphin said the statement was "solid" and recommended investors to buy shares in the firm.

Comments

Simon Biltcliffe- Webmart - 03 April 2008

Global in the future as long as the investment is minimal ( as per this) to set it up.

Print is a global commodity and deserves a global approach to selling it. We are finding a scary number of overseas visitors working prices out on our site; god help if any of them order... yet!

Good to see the UK leading the way- well done guys/gals.

Simon Biltcliffe

WEBMART Ltd.

www.FreePrintManagement.com

another printing .com without a fee in site!

Andrew McCourt - 04 April 2008

It's a great business model and beautifully executed in Europe but I'm a bit surprised the 'City' sees it as so significant. Australia is 20 million people spread over the size of Europe with at least 600 miles separating each of only eight major business centres. Its printing industry,effectively in decline, is dominated by 4 major consolidated groups and 3 or 4 very well run franchises at the smaller format end.

A new entrant will find things very very tough indeed but I suppose with the right 'hub' partner the slide into market will be easier.

I would have thought the 'City' would be more excited by a propsed entry into Canada or the US; or India.

Arthur Heaps - 04 April 2008

Not for me to disagree with Andrew, but find the right print hub partner along with the right bolt on's

printing.com will blast them. There is 1 very well run franchise the rest very so! so!.

If they need any tips ...just ask.

By the way it is fantastic here as well!

Jack Sheperd - 04 April 2008

It is a great business model but is being operated in a smaller way in the UK by others as well.

Andrew McCourt - 07 April 2008

Arthur - I'd love to know the name of the one and only 'very well run' franchise in Oz? Worldwide Online? Kwik Kopy? Snap? FedEx Kinko's? Then add PrintWorks (loosely franchised in OfficeWorks stores) and the new OFIS by Harvey Norman (definitely franchise) plus a few others such as the groups of offset printers getting together with one digital hub.... an imbroglio of highly profficient competitors if you ask me. Australia has been a graveyard for many international marketing entrants who did not do their local homework properly, or imagined it to be an island just south of the Isle of Wight! Competition is a good thing, but what works in Europe or the US does not always work here. Printing.com's success in New Zealand is largely because the Kiwis imagine their islands are in the North Sea anyway and Auntie Helen is the re-born Maggie Thatcher with changed political stripe ;-)