Hot off the press ...

Tuesday, 21 October 2003

DTP Design & Print

Steve and Jo Laws have moved a long way in the past fourteen years: both geographically and professionally. Branching out from a successful career in education - Steve worked as a head of humanities in a secondary school in Swindon - they have built up a thriving desk-top-publishing printing business. On Monday 3 November 2003 they will open their new offices of DTP Design and Print in Chapel Court.

In search of quality of life, the couple moved to Winteringham, where at first they both continued to work in education and pursued their printing business as a spare-time "cottage industry". It took a lot of hard work at first, but they built upon their in-depth knowledge of education and began to build up a growing business printing educational materials and teaching aids.

The demand for special needs publications lead to them looking for a larger working space which they found in a property in Barnetby with a large garage. Subsequent expansion has meant that they have outgrown this and have now moved their business to the stylish offices in Chapel Court.

When the business began in 1989, the couple invested in what was - at that time - a state-of-the-art MacPlus system, which had a nine inch screen and a £2500 laser printer. They set the type on the laser printer and photocopied this. With time, they needed to purchase a Risograph digital duplicator to reduce costs and increase production. It also gave them the ability to print 'spot colour' - i.e. black and white with extra colours by changing a print drum. Since then they have further invested in high-technology equipment which lets them produce short print runs economically with a very short turn-around time.

Steve sees their flexibility and cost-effectiveness as their greatest strengths. With their extensive experience they can offer practical advice and the most effective service to businesses in the Brigg district.

Steve has plans in the pipeline too of selling both their study guides as well as educational puzzles and equipment from their new offices.