Intec Printing Solutions Newsletter
Online, August 1, 2012 (Newswire.com) - In search of positive news, GCC countries deliver
Many new partners in the Middle East and Africa are now selling the Intec range of printing solutions.
This is the result of an event hosted in Dubai by Altech International, the Intec master distributor in the Middle East.
More than 60 dealers attended as well as Intec founder and Managing Director Ian Melville and International Sales Director Kerry Button, who visited as part of their trip to the Arabian Peninsula.
Altech has now placed a significant order to cope with the subsequent surge in demand for Intec printers.
As a consequence of the successful open house Al Abbas Group - one of the biggest names in this part of the world - has become a new Intec partner. With 1,500 staff at 18 member companies and seven associate organisations, the IBM authorised distributor and service centre was established in 1967.
"It was a pleasure to meet Vice Chairman Ismail Ahmed Al Abbas at his headquarters in Dubai," says Ian Melville.
"Mr Al Abbas oversees an enormous business empire and I am delighted that his group is now associated with the
Branch Head Al Abbas Oman, C. Sarit, Intec Printing Solutions International Sales Director, Kerry Button, Al Abbas Group Vice Chairman, Ismail Ahmed Al Abbas, Intec Printing Solutions Managing Director Ian Melville and Altech's General Manager Philip Johnny
Intec brand. They will initially be offering our systems in Oman and then elsewhere."
Kerry Button adds: "Following the sales training that I delivered at Al Abbas Group and the subsequent open house, I am more than happy with the commitment shown by the company. It's very exciting. We're already seeing results. There's so much positive news in GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE) right now."
Al Abbas Group also distributes furniture, carpets, digital cameras and electronics. It has 30 retail outlets. The group is also the master franchisee in the GCC countries for the popular Marrybrown fast food restaurants.
GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in the UAE (United Arab Emirates) is hovering around the 5.1 per cent mark compared to UK output, which has fallen by 0.7 per cent leading Michael Saunders, Citi economist to call it a "depression". Saudi Arabia is home to 20 per cent of the world's proven oil reserves.
"We'll put your name in lights," they said
"But we didn't take them seriously," says Paul Fripp, European Sales Executive at Intec Printing Solutions Limited. Yet that's exactly what Digital Labels, the Intec partner in Romania, did the moment they started selling the Intec range of printing solutions.
The eye-catching neon signage on the side of their prestigious offices really does shout about its new relationship with Intec and certainly stands out from the crowd, which of course is what Intec printers do, as well.
Popular open day in Germany proves worthwhile
An open day in Germany where the Intec MMC350 was displayed, proved successful.
The event at Colormatch saw a number of prospective customers and dealers attend to see demonstrations by Andy Withall, Technical and Training Manager. Paul Fripp,
European Sales Executive gave a presentation and sales training on the Intec range.
"Everyone that attended was impressed with the capabilities and functionality of the Intec MMC320," said Paul. "They were surprised that it could actually print on card and board."
DOC is the Intec distributor in Germany.
The runaway success of the mighty DMP450
"I really like the feed system," says Cy DeVilbliss of his new Intec DMP450.
"I have been looking at envelope printers for a while and it was the input and output units that pushed me over," adds the owner of Wonder Press in North Market Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee in America.
This represents the first Intec installation for RJ Young, the office supplies company in Nashville.
According to Intec Founder and Managing Director Ian Melville, the Intec DMP450 has now become the most popular model globally.
"We are experiencing record sales," says Mr Melville.
"Clearly the DMP450 is what envelope printing businesses are looking for. A combination of versatility and keen pricing has secured its place in the hearts of many jobbing p r i n t e r s and also e n v e l o p e and mailing houses."
FREE variable data software for three months
"Targeted mailings have a far greater impact and subsequent hit rate," according to Terri Winstanley, Head of Marketing and PR at Intec Printing Solutions Limited.
"Personalised envelopes containing special offers to relevant recipients, for instance, discounted gym memberships to fitness fanatics or meal vouchers for food lovers, can be easily produced with a clever piece of software called PrintShop Mail Suite," she explains.
"This well established industry leading solution is now readily available worldwide thanks to an agreement reached between Objectif Lune, the Canada based developer of the software, and Intec Printing Solutions Limited."
Ian Melville, Managing Director of Intec Printing Solutions Limited, adds: "This arrangement is entirely unique to Intec Printing Solutions.
"With its excellent international relationships, Intec is well placed to offer this superior and well-established variable data solution not just to all Intec partners around the world and their Intec customers but to non-Intec users seeking a better, more user-friendly solution that delivers greater results.
"While most of Intec's international partners have already signed up to offer this software there is still an opportunity for the remainder to commit, introducing them to a new revenue stream," he says, adding: "Print Shop Mail Suite makes our printers
even more versatile."
For three months from August 1 to October 31 every new Intec printer will be shipped with a complimentary copy of PrintShop Mail Suite variable data printing software.
"The dongle, loaded with 5,000 free credits, is a great way of trialling PrintShop Mail Suite," says Terri.
"Once the credits have been used, the dongle can be easily topped up on a pay as you go basis or the most cost effective solution, a one-off payment, buys unlimited lifetime use," she concludes.
Push for new partners
In a bid to strengthen the worldwide Intec partner network and make the range of Intec printing solutions more accessible, the Intec website: www.intecprinters.com now includes a button link to the new partner sign up form, which makes the whole process of becoming an Intec partner so much easier. Simply register your interest and any other relevant supporting evidence and a member of our sales team will contact you.
The homepage of the Intec website now also includes a News Flash link for the latest Intec news.
Congratulations and jubilations
Congratulations.ie has installed an Intec XP2020 heavy stock digital printer at its production facility in Waterford City, in the south east of Ireland.
"The new unit will allow Congratulations.ie to enhance product quality with its ability to print on heavy card and on a wider range of unique materials," says founder Teresa Connery, who established the business in 2004 as an online alternative to traditional card shops.
"The new system will compliment our creativity and allow greater flexibility, which is very important to us."
Paul Hopkins from Digital Print Business (DPB), which supplied and installed the specialist printing system, adds: "I am delighted with the installation. From the moment I met Teresa I understood how creativity, consistency and print quality were critical to her business and that the perfect print solution for her would be the Intec XP2020 supported by DPB."
Peter Swann, Intec Channel Manager for the UK and Ireland, says: "This is another good news story from Ireland. Despite challenging economic conditions Paul Hopkins at DPB is a proactive Intec partner, who frequently delivers results. For him, any obstacles exist to be overcome. He's the type of partner I like working with."
Congratulations.ie is a source for a variety of handmade contemporary, Celtic and floral wedding invitations, wedding announcements and ceremony booklets.
Envelope printing in the States
"Intec is the reason we can handle such demanding workloads," says Bill Raspe, owner of Office Express in Evanston, Illinois, USA.
"We bought our first Intec - an HPP500 - in 2010 and we were so happy with it that we purchased a DMP420 a few months ago. We specialize in very fast, very short runs and the Intec printers make this possible," he adds.
"We use them purely for envelope printing. The largest jobs we have run have been for 2,500 envelopes - and we've done this a few times, now."
The company, which has "tens of thousands of customers" employs three staff and has been trading for 12 years.
Sensible introduction in India
Interest in the Intec range of printing solutions is gathering pace across India, after industry heavyweight HCL Infosystems became the Intec partner for the country.
The company, part of the multi-billion dollar HCL IT group, is following a well considered strategy of building confidence in the brand in this new market. They are doing this by attending carefully selected exhibitions and roadshows.
The first of which was the Photo Today exhibition at Bangalore where HCL showcased the Intec XP2020.
"We received a good review on the product and many customers satisfied their curiosity on heavier GSM printing by seeing the demo on the machine with their files," reports Umang Singhal, Product Manager at HCL Infosystems Ltd.
"We were able to generate hot enquiries for the product," he adds.
Kerry Button, International Sales Director at Intec Printing Solutions Limited, says: "Their efforts are paying off and I expect to see much more substantial results in the near future. We are delighted with the progress HCL is making.
"After the training that myself and Andy Withall delivered their expert team are now doing what all good partners should do - they are slowly introducing the range to customers, which is a very sensible step indeed. It is all about ensuring that they do not over promise and under deliver and I am confident in their abilities. I am pleased with their progress - they're doing a sterling job."
UK government minister requests Intec meeting
When it comes to export, the team at Intec Printing Solutions knows a thing or two about it. And so they should, as the company has been sending goods around the globe for the last 20 years.
On hearing that Intec has just been recognised as a top 500 distributor in Europe, UK Business Secretary Vince Cable congratulated the company and requested a private meeting to hear of issues it faces during the export process.
"Good communication is the bedrock of our business," Intec Operations Director John Anderson told Dr Cable, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. "It ensures that we can keep in regular contact with our network of partners through video conferencing, Skype and email. As a company we have been severely hampered by slow or no connection speeds due to our broadband connection.
"It really is frustrating and embarrassing that connection speeds in Dorset are so slow when they are considerably faster in many developing countries," said Mr Anderson.
During the event in Bournemouth, which was chaired by Robert Syms MP for Poole, Dr Cable said that he was keen for good communication to prevail and that this would hopefully happen when the 4G networks become reality. He added that he hoped Intec "continues to go from strength to strength in the future". There was also discussion about the complicated process of export to China.
"We should be exporting to China and India but we are restricted by red tape," said Mr Anderson. "The British government, on our behalf, could be ensuring a smoother and more balanced path."
Intec Printing Solutions Limited is listed in Distributors in Europe - The Top 500, a report produced by IT Europa, the news and market intelligence specialist.
The report spans 38 countries and represents the most detailed view available of this key market sector, according to IT Europa Publications Ltd.
"The European market for IT products, including printers and consumables, has been highly competitive over recent years and the role distribution plays is crucial in increasing efficiency and ensuring cost-effective delivery," said IT Europa Editor John Garratt. "The IT Europa Distributors in Europe - the top 500 database report provides detailed profiles of the leading distribution companies in Europe and every organisation within it has worked hard to build and sustain a business that delivers real value to its customers."
Peter Scott, Chief Executive of Dorset Chamber of Commerce & Industry, added: "It is a significant achievement for Intec Printing Solutions to be included among the top businesses in a sizeable sector which is expanding at such a rapid rate, and with such wide European and global reach."
Total revenues for all companies included in the Distributors in Europe - The Top 500 equal £112.47 billion ($174.23 billion or €125.47 billion) during the 2011 financial year, with a total staff figure of 75,614. Overall, total revenues of all companies increased 20.64 per cent in 2011 compared to 2010, and since 2009 to 2011 the market has increased by 36.26 per cent.
Visit the Intec website at www.intecprinters.com to listen to John's radio interview on Wave 105.