Season 2. Episode 12. Fiona Robinson from Print.com

In this episode of The Printerviews, I am joined by Fiona Robinson, the UK Country Captain for print.com. With over 20 years in the industry, Fiona has worked in almost every department of a print business, from sales and marketing to finance and operations. We discuss her journey through the explosive growth of the printing.com franchise network and how she eventually transitioned from being an employee to an employer by running her own print franchise.

 We explore the unique origin story of print.com, a pan-European platform that was co-created alongside 100 print professionals. Fiona explains how the business started with a domain name and a customer-first perspective rather than a printing press, allowing them to build a 'sweet shop' for marketing professionals. We also discuss the importance of the human element in a digital-heavy world and why print.com relies on 'test pilots' to refine their offering for the UK market.

Fiona shares her insights on the current resurgence of tactile print experiences, specifically in packaging, booklets, and gifting. We look at the challenges creatives face when specifying print and how tools like unbranded 'look books' help bridge the knowledge gap.

Key Takeaways

• print.com was co-created with 100 customers to ensure a customer-first perspective.
• Diverse experience across all departments builds a better understanding of the print ecosystem.
• To keep good staff, you must keep their roles interesting and evolving.
• Transitioning from employee to employer provides a vital perspective on supporting a network.
• Print is a tactile, physical experience that digital cannot fully replace.
• The 'no human eyes' rule helps identify which jobs need a sanity check.
• Providing choices for specific printing methods online gives trade customers more control.
• Physical 'look books' are essential for helping creatives understand papers and finishes.
• Packaging and gifting are currently seeing a major resurgence in the market.
• Successful print businesses focus on the creative experience, not just the product.