In this column Digital Printer learns more about the men and women working behind the scenes to make digital print great. We find out about them, their careers and their thoughts on the industry. This time it’s the turn of Solopress managing director Simon Cooper.
Mr Cooper joined Solopress as managing director a little over a year ago, having previously served in the same role at Tradeprint and Exaprint.
Name: Simon Cooper
Job title: managing director
Company: Solopress
Location: Southend on Sea
How did you end up working in the paper/print industry?
I fell into the industry after finishing school and without a clear plan for my future.
What was your first job in the sector?
General dogs’ body; sweeping floors, filing plates, running errands.
What are your future goals?
I’d love to grow Solopress until its turning over £100m in the UK.
What innovation/technology in paper/print is making you most excited?
I couldn’t narrow it down to one innovation. I love how running a printing business requires the perfect balance between all the different facets of people, equipment and software, it’s rare that they all chime together in harmony but when they do it’s a sweet feeling.
What is the biggest issue/challenge facing the industry?
Costs increasing whilst selling prices and available volumes decrease
What advice would you give to someone just entering the industry?
Be curious, always say yes and admit and learn from your mistakes.
What has been the biggest change since you entered print?
Job aggregators like us, selling print over the internet.
If you could go back and seize one opportunity you missed, what would it be?
I should have set up my own business many many years ago.
What one thing should the industry do to ensure its continued success?
Continue meeting customer demand. The products that will be relevant in the future may be quite different to the products that are relevant today, we’ll all need to keep adapting to the changing demand.
Do you belong to any industry bodies or trade organisations? Why?
We’re a part of the BPIF. They help us with HR and Health and Safety.
What do you enjoy most about working print?
I don’t believe there is another industry where a customer has the ability to specify a bespoke product in less than a minute through an online portal at 5pm in the evening and receive those bespoke manufactured goods the next morning at 9am. I think what we achieve in our industry is second to none.
If you are interested in putting yourself for People in Print, please contact Charlie Kortens at Charlie.k@whitmar.co.uk
