Nov 2005

With household names as clients, Amberley aims to boost its business even further, says Philip Chadwick

Two and a half years ago, Dorset based Amberley Labels took a leap of faith. It invested in an HP Indigo ws-4000. Today the label printer believes the decision has helped it get closer to its customers, create some eye catching pieces of print and also allows it to differentiate itself in what is a competitive market.

“The market is very fragile”, explains business manager Gary Fitch. “The retail sector is also fragile, but we have to stay focussed. It’s our strategy to lead, not follow”.

That approach began after a management buyout following the previous owner’s decision to retire. Part of the new owner’s strategy was to look into the digital production of labels. It was a far cry from when the business was set up 28years ago. Back then the founder and owner, as Fitch puts it, “literally set up in his shed at the bottom of his garden”. The company now has a turnover of £5m and a workforce of 65.

The ws4000 was installed in 2003 as the firm believed that it could be used in a way that would benefit its customers. “We had to learn what it could do and we put in a lot of work understanding the press technology”, says Fitch. “There was speed, the turnaround time and flexibility. Customers especially like the quality”

Published in PrintWeek 17th November 2005, Page 22.
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