An idea to produce and sell personalised mobile phone cases led a chain of mobile phone shops to change its business completely and go into direct to object printing.
Hampshire-based online mobile phone case customisation store, Mr Nutcase says it is going from strength to strength since its investment in Roland’s VersaUV LEF-20 flatbed object printer late last year. The company specialises in the personalisation and customisation of phone cases and tablet and Macbook covers for both the general consumer market and the high volume B2B, corporate and promotional sectors.
Says Edward Ockleford, managing director of Mr Nutcase: ‘We initially started out life as a small group of successful mobile phone shops. However, a couple of years ago, we saw a gap in the market for offering phone case customisation as an added value service to clients who were purchasing phones or taking out contracts. We initially invested in a VersaUV LEF-12, and this side of the business then took off, exceeding all our expectations.
‘Last year, due to the huge success of the phone case customisation business we made a strategic decision to divest ourselves of the phone shops and focus solely on phone and tablet case printing. To this end, we stepped up our production capacity by investing in Roland’s VersaUV LEF-20. Since then, the business has grown exponentially and the machine is running 24/7 to keep up with demand. We keep pushing this machine hard and it keeps performing.’
Mr Ockleford believes his business to be the only UK provider offering such an extensive range of phone case models for personalisation. ‘This is where our real USP is in the market,’ continued Mr Ockleford, ‘and is no doubt fundamental to our steep growth trajectory. We have chosen to do one thing and do it exceptionally well and this has brought us tremendous success. But to do this, you must ensure you have robust technology that can deliver on your promises. Your whole your reputation relies on it. With the VersaUV and Roland’s support we have exactly this.’
Able to print directly onto any object and substrate up to 100 mm deep, the VersaUV LEF-20 is a new profit-making device for printing onto just about any 3D object. It can be used to create unique and highly desirable items, including personalised stationery, key rings, golf balls, mobile phone covers, awards, USB sticks and other giftware and promotional items. The LEF-20 also enables users to print onto industrial components and electronic devices, or even create stunning decorative wedding album covers.
Accepting media up to 538 mm x 360 mm in width/length and 100 mm high, virtually any item can be printed on the LEF-20, including substrates such as acrylic, wood, board, metal, plastic, PET, ABS, canvas and even soft materials like TPU, leather and fabric. The LEF-20 uses Roland’s ECO-UV inks in CMYK, white and clear formulations. White ink can be printed as a spot colour, or behind CMYK to deliver stand-out colours on dark or clear materials. Plus, clear ink can be layered for embossing or varnishing effects and also used to create a matt finish. Resulting prints can be highly ornate, decorative or innovative, offering high margin products.
Mr Ockleford says the company has big plans for 2015 and his VersaUV machine is central to these plans. ‘We are in the process of finalising a white labelling solution that other online providers can plug into, take orders from and then we will fulfil these orders. In addition, we are also launching the Mr Nutcase service in Germany, which is incredibly exciting and will ensure 2015 is going to be a milestone year for us.’
As part of its ‘always innovating’ philosophy, the company has also launched an Artist Affiliate scheme with local colleges, encouraging art students to submit designs, and when the designs are selected by customers for their phone case, the student receives a royalty. ‘This has been a really exciting initiative and one that has captured the imagination of the students involved. It’s our way of demonstrating to students that creativity is important in business and that it also pays,’ concluded Mr Ockleford.
Rob Goleniowski, business manager for Sign & Graphics at Roland DG, commented: ‘Mr Nutcase is an excellent example of the type of entrepreneurial company that is critical to the future of the industry. This is why the LEF-20 was designed – for businesses that are creative, nimble, highly professional and relentlessly driven. Ed and his team spot an opportunity and just go for it, and it’s a real pleasure to be working with them.’
