Italian print group Longo has made its first move to set up a sales operation in the UK.
The 25 million turnover web and sheetfed outfit is adopting a softly-softly approach by hiring three consultants to promote its name and services. They are not on the payroll and Longo has no premises in this country.
The eventual intention, according to consultant and UK spokesman Maurice Snowdon, is to have a sales function in Surrey. Orders will be taken there and printing will be handled in Italy although proofing will probably be done in the UK.
The group said it had landed its first deal as preferred supplier for an unnamed Surrey company which produces CD-roms and offers a print and packaging service. Longo sees the strength of sterling against the euro as giving it a competitive edge, although Snowdon admitted: "They are only marginally cheaper at the moment."
Longos main markets are Germany, Switzerland and Italy, with 400 staff at its headquarters in Bolzano, northern Italy and a digital printing facility in Munich. "They are possibly looking to buy a UK company in the longer term," Snowdon said. "They perceive that this is where they want to be."
Harald Longo, one of three brothers who run the company, was not available for comment.