Chief executive Tony Rafferty said the figure was up 30% on the same period last year, and was a reflection of its customers confidence in the companys product offering.

Despite the growth in sales, he said Printing.coms sales volumes were 20% under those of the market leaders, and around 1% of the overall market. There is still considerable room for growth, he said.

As part of the companys on-going expansion in 2004, it will launch its Business Booster store card in early February, which Rafferty said is the first of its kind to be used by printing outlets.

The card would replicate a buy now, pay later store card, where small business can have the option of spreading the cost of their printing over a period of months, he said.

Customers can either pay the whole amount off in full or choose to spread payments, where interest will be incurred like any store card.

Rafferty said the credit levels for different businesses would vary, depending on their size and turnover, and only once all appropriate credit checks had been carried out.

An additional exclusive franchise agreement has also been taken out to cover the Reading territory, and several other territory franchise agreements are now nearing completion.

In the four-week period to 7 December, Printing. com achieved net invoiced sales of 831,000, a rise
of 21% on the same period last year.

Story by Andy Scott