The teenage print tycoon of Canvey Island
The print industry is often trying hard to entice the younger generations into the sector, and now, one teenager is tackling the world of print with his Roland DG kit all by himself (well, with a little bit of help from Dad).
Thursday, 11 Jan 2018 15:25 GMT
Joe Smith was just 15-years-old when he set up Flash Design on Canvey Island, which is just off the coast of Essex in the Thames Estuary
Flash Design, founded by Joe Smith, originally catered for local football teams, supplying sports apparel for teams that Smith had even previously played for. Now, with growing interest, the company has expanded and offers a variety of printed products, included hooded jumpers and signage to the community of Canvey Island.
Smith was using a Graphtec plotter to produce his range of products, but in 2016, wanted to expand the business and needed to invest in new technology. Since Smith was only 15 at the time, his Dad had to make the purchase due to the inability to have a business account until he was 18.
You can’t get a business account until you’re 18, so all of my purchases and invoices have to go through my Dad’s business for the time being”
The kit that Smith decided to invest in was a Roland DG True Vis VG-640 64? inkjet printer/cutter, after visiting the Roland stand at Sign and Digital UK.
In an agreement with his Dad, Smith rents the machine since he needed a little help with the accounts. He explains: “You can’t get a business account until you’re 18, so all of my purchases and invoices have to go through my Dad’s business for the time being.”
Smith adds: “My goal is to provide a superior customer experience and offer tremendous value for my customers. Everyone I met with at the show recommended a Roland printer as being the ideal solution to meet my needs and to be honest, Roland was the only brand I considered.”
If you have an interesting story or a view on this news, then please e-mail
news@signlink.co.uk
Follow Genevieve on:
