Investment made to ensure the company maintains its promise of guaranteed next day delivery.
Hippoprint’s Anthony Wood (left) and Hybrid’s John de la Roche with the new Mimaki JV400-160SUVWith its unique pink hippopotamus signature, UK based Hippoprint has built a unique brand that stands out from the crowd and given it an identity that's as strong as its product. When that product is an absolute guarantee of next day delivery on its ever expanding range of printed materials, company owner Anthony Wood is totally committed to investing in the right systems and technology to ensure this happens.
Hippoprint produces everything from traditional business stationery and leaflets, to stickers, pull up banners and t-shirts, so its wide format capabilities are understandably strong. Currently on a program of replacing its printer arsenal with Mimaki solutions, Wood decided to take an early look at the new JV400-160SUV on a recent visit to Mimaki's UK and Irish distributor, Hybrid Services with reseller Granthams.
The new machine had only just arrived in the showroom, but Wood was very impressed with the trials the Hybrid and Granthams technicians were running on the printer. Based on his positive experience with existing Mimaki equipment – he ordered one on the spot.
"Being the first print company in the UK to install a 1.6m JV400-SUV means we stay at the forefront of the rapid turnaround sector," explained Wood. "We need the capability to instantly finish prints and get them to our customers the next day."
The Mimaki JV400-SUV features an extensive colour gamut, distinct glossy print and a highly durable finish – perfect for work that Wood envisages Hippoprint producing. "We frequently supply high colour posters and pull up banners with large ink loads but it can be a real challenge to finish them the same day as they're printed," he said. "The SUV means we can print and send within a matter of minutes and with 95 per cent of our orders coming late in the day, it takes a little bit of the pressure off."
Now employing over 20 staff, the company was formed in 2009 when Wood – having rescued another print business some five years previously – was approached to create a web to print setup from the ashes of a further print company. With web design skills in house, the company invested heavily in a bespoke back end and started off building a brand that's considered unique in the UK printing market. "None of our competitors have Hippoprint’s structure and approach to business," suggests Wood. "Very few people really understand the value of integrated marketing so we try to practice what we preach."
Hippoprint’s Anthony Wood (left) assesses the new Mimaki JV400-160SUV assisted by Hybrid’s John de la RocheLike many other companies, retaining customers can be a test for any online business, but Wood has created a real loyalty from customers who have bought into his ethos. "We're here to provide the absolute best service for our customers so we'll do crazy things to ensure it happens," he added. “Whether that's meeting customer's trains with boxes of business cards as they travel through railway stations or swapping unused stocks of obsolete paper for homemade cake with local artists and schools, it's a commitment that's paying off. An order from Kensington Palace appeared in his inbox recently, proving that a combination of great customer reviews and a significant investment in marketing goes a long way to getting royal approval.
"We take a pride in our niche," concluded Wood. "Hippoprint is simply about being the best and fastest printers."
Hippoprint’s website – www.hippoprint.co.uk – provides a one-stop shop for business stationery and promotional products. The full range of Mimaki’s products can be found at www.hybridservices.co.uk and authorised Mimaki reseller, Granthams, can be contacted via www.granthams.co.uk.
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