Alex Liggett, owner of The Vinyl Guys, set up the business from his spare room after leaving his career in the police. The idea for the company came from Liggett’s passion for race cars and he started making stickers for his own cars in 2013.
The Vinyl Guys has grown since then and continued to thrive during the pandemic. As a result, the company took on a full-time member of staff with over 20 years’ experience in the print industry.
Alongside producing printed vinyl wraps for vehicles and other wide-format print services, Liggett has been hosting Print Growth Workshops to teach others about the industry.
Now, in partnership with Signmaster Systems, Drytac and Metamark, The Vinyl Guys is preparing to open a new centre next month in Stafford.
(L to R) Chris Butler, production manager, Alex Liggett, owner of The Vinyl Guys
The centre will provide those in the industry with the opportunity to sign up, gain experience of a busy print business, get access to print experts and tips, and the space to design, print and finish work using the facilities at the centre.
Liggett explains: “Rather than blindly sending out artwork to different outsources like I’ve done in the past, and it come back with errors and that person not really understand the process of print, this way it may be a little bit cheaper for them so they can make more of a margin.
“In a future proofing way, it also gets them used to creating artwork that is print ready and understanding the process of print so when they do come to buy their own machines, they’re ready to go.”
Liggett became familiar with Drytac and Metamark materials from using their products in his own print work. Both companies are now backing the print growth centre, along with wide-format print supplier, Signmaster Systems.
Members will be able to access Roland machinery and software, as well as Drytac and Metamark substrates
Liggett will have a collection of Roland DG machines onsite including a brand-new Roland VG2-540 print and cut machine which members will be able to be trained on and use for their own work. Members will also be able to familiarise themselves with Roland VersaWorks software.
He adds: “My hope for the Print Business Growth Centre is that people can come and discover the amazing range of products they can create as well as from a business point of view, the impressive margins available to them. My view is that the industry is growing and it’s one that I want to be part of for a long time.
“Running this centre to help ensure that people are starting out in the best way, offering the correct solutions to projects, not undervaluing themselves when it comes to pricing and having access to amazing machinery that will produce top quality work, is my way of helping to support and strengthen the industry as a whole.”
The centre is currently being built and will be open in the first week of August. Those who would like to know more can contact Alex Liggett through the details found on The Vinyl Guys website.
If you have any news, please email carys@linkpublishing.co.uk or join in with the conversation on Twitter and LinkedIn.