Printing Rainbows...

Speaks for itself...

2011-10-14T12:13:00.006Z

"Andy

It looks absolutely brilliant! Many, many thanks - everything so far has gone very smoothly. Gold blocking looks really effective.

The books are all in the right places for tomorrow - I hope you can come along, but I'll understand if not. I'll make sure Maslands is praised to the hilt!!

Once again, many thanks.
Mike"

Job Opportunities at Maslands Ltd

2011-09-07T15:53:00.002Z

We're looking for a couple of great additions to our team!

If you're a Print Estimator or an Office Administrator Extroadinaire... take a look on our website www.maslands.co.uk for more information!

Well done Team...

2011-06-22T16:48:00.003Z

'I just wanted to drop you an email & thank yourself & the whole team for the catalogue which we have just received! It looks great & this is down to the brilliant support given by yourself, Paul and all the people on the print presses.

Everyone here is thrilled so many thanks.'

Happy Customer...

2011-05-27T11:10:00.004Z

This is why we do what we do...

Hi Andy

I wanted to pass on the many thanks that I have just been given on the Kids Look Books.

They have been received so positively by the business and they believe they will be a real asset for the promotion of the kids range from the PR perspective! The fact that they were earlier too the account manager and PR Agency are delighted with.

(The account manager is walking around the building with one of the spares held to the chest with such love and pride you wouldn’t believe!)

Please pass on our thanks to the whole team Andy...

The Dream Machine...

2011-04-13T16:11:00.024Z

We Introduce you to 'Ani'!

We've only ever had Heidelberg presses - 14, we think, over the history of Maslands (it does go back a long way!!) - Good, solid, reliable German engineering. Now we have a new one, our Dream machine - The Audi R8 of printing presses - compact, sexy and powerful - although rather more friendly to the environment!! The Heidleberg SM52 Anicolor - one of only around 140 presses of this kind installed globally and the ONLY press of its kind in the South West...

So, what can she do? In brief, here are the benefits of 'Ani' at a glance...

Up to 90% less waste we save around 400 trees a year, compared to our competitors
100% Offset Quality thanks to consistent inking
Faster Turnaround with up to 40% faster job changes
Digital Quantities at TOP Litho Quality
Special Finishes

Want to know a bit more...

With it's revolutionary temperature controlled 'Anilox' inking units - which consists of fewer rollers, and works with absolutely consistent volumes of ink throughout the entire print process - 'Ani' produces print at a quality that exceeds even our expectations. With many of our Blue Chip clients, it is imperative that colour quality management is assured - 'Ani' hits the spot everytime, with impressive, even density of colour across the sheet and consistency throughout the run. Quality control, which can be complex and time consuming on a traditional press, is amazing on the Anicolor, often negating the need to run colour match proofs or to choose expensive spot colours.

We ourselves run digital presses, and whilst they certainly are impressive with short run, low value goods, there has long been a divide between this work type and the high end Litho work that we have historically produced. 'Ani' bridges this gap - We have a top quality machine, cutting-edge technology, that offers you incredible quality print, viable at digital quantities. As well as the ability to print on a greater variety of substrates than a digital press, still at top quality. We also have a coater and drying unit, shrinking turnaround times and enabling us to produce special finishes that can give your job that added extra impact. Versatile little number, isn't she...!

Along with 'Ani' we have also invested in a new automated folder and 6x station stitching line. With our advanced workflow, and the added benefits of our web2print and Web Approval systems, we have the advantage of being able to look after all of our customer's print needs, remain competitive and ensure quality.

Stop by and meet 'Ani' yourself - she likes to show off her curves ;)

FSC / PEFC / ISO14001 What do they mean?

2011-04-12T18:28:00.020Z

You've probably come across these terms before, they are all standards that we as printers aspire to. They certify that we are doing the best we can to ensure responsible choice of paper stocks and careful management of the affects of our print processes on the environment.

We don't have any of these accreditations!

We did, we were ISO 14001 certified. But it took such a long time to do all the paperwork (a management team member full time for 6 weeks, at least) we were being taken away from doing your job - so we decided not to renew it, our time with our clients is paramount.

We work to all the standards required for FSC, PEFC and ISO accreditation AND BEYOND! We can prove this to you if you need us to - but we'd rather spend our time with you and your job.

We are passionate about looking after the world we live in and committed to reducing the effects our printing operations have on the environment. We continually review our policies and keep up-to-date with new ideas, being green is an ongoing commitment...

Our recent £1m investment in cutting edge technology means we save around 400 trees a year (compared to our competitors)
We use FSC, PEFC, Recycled and Renewable Stocks as a standard
We use chemistry free plate making
We have been printing with bio inks for nearly 15 years
Our presses are optimized for low alcohol usage
We sort all of our waste and, where possible, recycle it

We might not have the certificates, but we know we go the 'extra mile' for our planet. Take a look at the official websites and what they have to say...

FSC stands for the Forest Stewardship Council - www.fsc-uk.org - Founded in 1993 in response to public concern about deforestation, the FSC is an international, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests

PEFC stands for Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification - www.pefc.co.uk - PEFC UK Ltd was established in 2000 and is a member of PEFC International, an international non-profit, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) through independent third-party certification.

ISO 14001 - www.british-assessment.co.uk - was introduced in 1996 as an international standard to evaluate an organisation's environmental management systems. As such, it has similarities with ISO 9000 which is internationally recognised as the premier quality assurance award.

Web2Print.... Have a fiddle!

2011-04-08T12:05:00.006Z

We could save you time and money with web-to-print... PROMISE!

Web-to-print enables companies to print merchandise using pre-agreed templates of stationery, without having to submit separate pieces of artwork.

Web-to-print is an innovative new concept that allows clients to upload artwork, or amend pre-set templates by changing graphics and designs and editing them online"

You can instantly amend or approve proofs, place orders from pre-set price matrices, and even receive your product in less time than it takes conventional printers to take your order and process a proof!

Incredibly advantagous for business that have multiple branches as orders can be managed by dedicated branch users, with overall admin control for min/max order quanities/values.

We can build you your own demo site, branded and controlled for you (no obligation), but if you'd like a little sneaky-peak first, click HERE and launch our own generic demo site for a hands-on play around! Just register as a new customer to enter.

Give yourself a break and buy what you need, when you need it, easily and hassle free!

If you think web2print would be great for your business, give Louise a call on 01884 252613

[Cue Jingle] "Printing Offer of the Weeeeek"

2011-04-08T11:19:00.009Z

BUSINESS CARDS... Who needs them?! YOU DO!

Business cards are one of the most important marketing tools you'll ever create.

You hand out your business card to prospects and customers. You tuck your business card inside presentation folders, drop it in letters and use it in a myriad of other ways to let people know who you, what you do and how they can find you.

Your business card also, inadvertantly, gives all those who receive it an instant first impression of your business - Do you want to hand over a badly designed, unclear layout, with photocopy quality print on tatty dog-eared, flimsy card? What's that prospective client going to think?! Erm.... (cringes)!

They are not a waste of money - and it's not that expensive...

We can print you 500 business cards in full colour and on both sides - on TOP quality FSC 400gsm heavyweight board PLUS matt lamination to BOTH sides(!!!) for just £39*

If you need help with the design we can do that too, with costs starting from as little as £15!!

Give us a call for more information 01884 252613...

Quick then!

Social Media - Why do we do it? (Even though we're printers!)

2011-04-04T09:20:00.017Z

Yes, we are printers! Producers of fine brochures & flyers, business cards & price lists. We can make any latest offer look amazing and send it to an endless list of recipients, in the tightest deadlines. And we do, frequently, for our clients and for ourselves.

But if you've read our blog and looked at our website, you'll know that we're a family business, a big happy team. And, yes, we can send you a beautifully printed pieces of paper, samples that show exactly what we can really do for you. But they don't tell you about us, about who we are or that we're a great bunch! They don't give you an insight into our personality or the ethics we work by. So, we joined the social media konga.

YES, we want Maslands to continue printing for another 133+ successful years. YES, we want you to choose us as your preferred supplier and YES, we want you to know that we are good at what we do! But we want you to choose all of these things because you've had the opportunity to see that we are a genuine bunch of people, who genuinely care about the job we do and the clients we work for.

Social media has become the new way to promote, connect and brand a company. "If your company is not using twitter then your company is going to miss out be crushed" is a quote I recently happened upon. Even twitter themselves realise the power of using twitter for your business, so much so that they’ve set up a special twitter 101. Twitter say...

We want to connect with people, some we know and some we hope to. We want to gain knowledge, advice and smiles from the information people share - and hope others will similarly benefit from our own skill, experience and news.

Hopefully one day you'll need something we can provide and our name will pop into your head... or twitter feed!

Follow us here!

We've identified the culprit!!

2011-04-01T15:05:00.002Z

OK.. so whilst most of the goings on in our previous post have all happened and we do all wonder if Percy is indeed in our midst...

It appears that it wasn't him sat on the stairs last night, eyeing Shaun at work - but a rather more slippery suspect leaving his mark!!

Hope you had a fun day! ;)

Any explanations?

2011-04-01T08:10:00.006Z

So, we have something REALLY weird going on!

Going back through the ages of Maslands, we had an employee called Percy Thomas Gale - dear old Percy. Percy worked with us for about 20 years and died circa 1985. Percy loved it with us at Maslands, a compositor back in the days of letterpress. We've often wondered if, after his death, Percy decided to come back and stay around the comforting aroma of fresh ink and paper.

Over the years we have experienced several 'anomolies' which we have always tried to explain with fact and logic - power surges, drafts, practical jokes! To name a few occurences - normally during late and night shifts or early starts - the photocopier has lit up and the scanner moved across as if taking a copy, but the power to the machine is not on. The 'lunchtime' football has been kicked across repro overnight. A team members loose tea change was stacked into neat orderly piles. I myself have sat at my desk on an overnight shift and listened to the doors swing and bang below me, as if someone had entered the repro department, only to check CCTV and see the only other member of staff stood loading his press. Doors have swung open vigorously before they have been touched. There have been loud bangs on the delivery entrance as if a driver is waiting with a load, only to discover no-one there and nothing showing on our CCTV when checked. Most frequently mentioned is the sight of someone walking across the mezzanine only when you look up, no-one is there (very recently mentioned by a recent temp worker, covering a night shift, who had no idea of our spooky happenings!). There is a general feel, when all is quiet, that you are not alone.

So you're probably thinking we're all mad, falling for the supernatural hype!! However, when an employee forgot to clock out yesterday, they asked if we could check CCTV to log the time they left. Not a problem... Just can't explain what else Tash saw on the CCTV!!

Now we really are all very rational people, but we're stumped! IS THIS PERCY?! (bottom right frame, click to zoom)

Special Birthday Wishes to a VERY Faithful Old Friend!

2011-03-31T12:12:00.007Z

Reaching a grand old age of 50 this year our old and well loved Platen is one of the 14 heidleberg presses that we have owned over the long history of Maslands.

Bought brand new in 1961, our platen has spent all of his well-oiled days in the Maslands factory, alongside the ever changing Litho & Digital technology which surrounds it. Lulling us, as kids in our buggies, to sleep with its hypnotic and beautiful mechanical movements, whirrs and sounds - whilst pounding out the copies with precision, impression after impression.

Happy Birthday Platen, we love and salute you!

Welcome Praise...

2011-03-31T08:57:00.007Z

We're all so quick to complain these days... Brr, it's cold, urgh it's raining, 'that' costs too much, 'that' took too long... But, aside from the furrow of depression the country seems to have got into and ever optimistically looking for the good in every situation - When someone does say 'you know what, that was great', the praise seem all the more worthwhile... well done Team, well deserved!

Hi Andy,

It's very rare to get any acknowledgment from people within Clarks regarding positive feedback but for the first time ever I have. (please see email below).

I wanted to forward this on as it's not just down to me and to say thank you for your help in delivering the notebooks and postcards at such short notice.

Thanks again, Kate

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just a quick thank you on behalf of the Supply Chain team, Mel & Kate really went the extra mile for me this week in helping pull together some things for a Supply Chain Event. Thanks to them the day looked professional and was well received by the team. Kate especially pulled out all the stops to get some material from an outside supplier for a tight deadline.

Thanks again, I am sure to ask again in the future!!!

Blue Peter Moment...

2011-03-29T09:36:00.002Z

Here's one we made earlier...

Moors Youth Team at Unveiling of Adam Stansfield Stand

2011-03-17T13:38:00.000Z

The promising Moors Youth Team, sponsored by Maslands, have had a great season, holding their position mid-table and staying hungry for the lead.

Proud in their kit, the Moors Youth Team were honoured to be involved in the unveiling of the Adam Stansfield Stand, at Elmore FC's Horsdon Park.

Tiverton club Elmore dedicated the structure to Stanno's memory to show that the popular forward will never be forgotten there. A crowd gathered to see the unveiling, which took place before Elmore's match on Saturday 12th March against Hengrove Athletic.

Making the Cover!

2011-03-16T14:04:00.005Z

I'm making the news again! Shame I don't photograph like Kate Moss... but at least the competition is thin on the ground, not another female to be seen anywhere amongst the leaves....!

Web2print... What's it worth?

2011-03-15T10:20:00.014Z

How would a tailor-made web2print site benefit your company?

We like the personal touch of meetings, phone calls and email – we like to know that you're happy we have understood your project and appreciate what you need to achieve. We don’t ever want to lose this element of our business – it’s what we’re good at...

...but we also appreciate that time constraints in today’s working environment become ever more demanding and there are some jobs, office stationery orders for instance, which can be made much quicker and easier for you - saving you both time and money.

We've added web2print ordering to our range of services so that we can offer you more options for ordering your print, letting you choose whichever method works best for you and your product. Our web2print systems are bespoke, designed specifically for you – unique and personalised to give you the benefits that you need.

Your site is branded with your company logo, imagery and colour scheme. You can choose which products you do or don’t order through your web2print site. We can set minimum and maximum order quantities and values, allow certain users access to certain items. You can pay by account or by card. The site is custom-made to work to your advantage. You can order any item through your web2print site – stationery, direct mail, newsletters, leaflets, business cards. Orders can be placed by anyone, from anywhere with a PC and internet connection. You can upload your artwork or create your designs online. Stationery items can be ordered and personalised, across many offices, without any danger of affecting corporate branding. Proofs can be checked and approved quickly and simply before order completion...

FLEXIBILITY – tailored to your individual needs
CONTROL – access to all brand elements within layouts
ACCESSIBILITY – anyone can use the system, from anywhere
SIMPLICITY – user friendly, fast set up, review, approval & order
EFFICIENCY – save time with print ordering
RESPONSE – meeting your needs needs 24/7

We could keep listing the benefits, but again, time is money! We'd rather show you a demo site where you can have a go at ordering some items and see for yourself how it could work for you.

Interested? Give Louise a call on 01884 252613 and ask for a demo web2print site, no charge, no pressure, so that we can show you, first hand, how we can make print easier for you.

Writing Specifications for Printing Quotations... AND Avoiding Hidden Costs…

2011-03-14T14:06:00.007Z

Printing quotes are ‘estimates’ that you can use to work out a budget for your printing project. Quotes are entirely dependent upon the information that you provide, missing information can provide you with non-comparable quotes from different suppliers ‘filling in the blanks’. So, how do you describe your job to your printer to ensure you get the most accurate price quotation? What information should you include?

Along with your contact information and the name of your organisation, your quotation request should include the schedule of timings for your job: when it will be ready for press and when you will need it delivered. You need to tell the printer whether it is a new job or a reprint, and if it is a reprint whether any changes must be made.

Note if design is required, or artwork is ready for print - if so how will this be supplied, and what kind of prepress work you expect to be done. For example, if you are providing FPO's (for position only) of photos you want the printer to scan, let the printer know this, and specify the level of proofing you require – PDF, Lo-res or Hi-res.

Note the number of copies you want printed, the size of the job (flat and folded) and the number of pages. If the job is a brochure, remember to count both sides of each page. If you are requesting an estimate for a book, note whether it is a self-cover book (no extra cover) or whether it has a cover of a thicker stock.

When specifying the paper stock on which your job will print, note the weight, grade, color, finish – uncoated/silk/gloss/etc, and any other information you have. If you want the printer to suggest cheaper, alternate stocks, note this as well. Remember to specify cover and text stocks separately. Tell the printer the level of quality you expect: basic, good, premium, or showcase.

Note separately what colors the text pages will print and what colors the cover will print, specifying whether the colors are process (full color) or PMS spot colors. If your publication will include any coatings, such as lamination, Spot UV or varnish, tell the printer the percentage of coverage required and whether they will be a matt or gloss finish. Any extra services should also be noted, such as embossing/debossing, die cutting or foil stamping – any of these processes can be costed as optional extras, should you want to keep them separate in your quotation.

Don't forget post-press work: finishing and binding. If you want your job trimmed and folded to a specific size, note this on your request for quotation, and describe the type of fold (wrap fold, accordion, double-parallel, etc). If your project is a book, specify the type of binding, including saddle-stitch or side-stitch, perfect binding (and burst perfect binding), GBC or plastic comb, spiral wire or plastic spiral (or wire-O), or case binding. Tell the printer also what edge the book will be bound on, and be sure to mention any scoring, perforating, laminating, numbering, drilling, etc.

If your job is complex and includes special hand finishing, such as inserting, pockets with builds, etc., it’s always a good idea to make a paper dummy for the printer. It's always easier to communicate your printing needs when you can hand the printer a three-dimensional sample showing exactly what the finished product should look like.

Finally, specify packaging and delivery. Tell the printer if you will need any samples, where the job will deliver to, or if you expect the printer to enter the finished job into the mail stream. Labeling, ink-jetting of address information, etc., would be included in the specifications at this point. Bulk packing, shrink-wrapping, and maximum carton weight should also be noted.

There is a lot of information to include on a complex print project, but the more specific you can be, the less likely you will be to receive additional, unexpected charges on your bill.

Don’t forget though, there are many variables involved in the production of a printed article, and there are many junctures during the process, where changes to the specification can take place and each spec change will effect the final price you have to pay. Some of the most common variables to keep in consideration are...

The number of copies required
The type of paper used
The weight of paper used
The type/level of proofing required
Extra proofs/plates required
Additional in-house design, pre-press work or authors corrections
Changes to the size of the document to be printed – finished document measurements & page numbers
Changes to the number of ink colours used within the document – 4 Colours Process, Spot Colours
Changes to the coverage and complexity of any special finishing
Changes in delivery details – changes to print specifications affecting final weight of the product can also incur increases in delivery costs.

Before you change any element of your specifcation during the production process, check the cost with your account manager. Nobody likes an expensive surprise!

Making the news... Good News!!

2011-03-04T13:00:00.008Z

Was sat at my desk sipping coffee the other morning, flicking through the latest Heidelberg publication, and was (more than) a little surprised to see myself staring back at me (nearly spat coffee on my keyboard!!) - Little pink cheeked, but BRILLIANT!

If a Job's worth doing, it's worth doing properly...

2011-03-02T12:13:00.002Z

Finishing touches can make all the difference between something that simply 'does the job' and a job that really stands out from the rest.

Spend £100k on a home extension… but it won’t look like it if you don’t pay a professional decorator the final £5k to skim your walls, tile your floors or paint your walls because you think you can do the ‘finishing touches’ yourself (I speak from experience!).

Well, the same goes with your next Marketing Brochure. Whilst a printed and nicely finished A4 document would be perfectly functional and impart all the information you need to get across to your clients - ask yourself this question, ‘What will make my brochure grab their attention, over my competitors?’

There are many simple but highly effective print finishes, often applied to just the outer covers, none of which cost the earth. Each one will provide a look or a feel that will make your brochure just that little bit extra special…

Lamination is a plastic coating that will not simply help protect your brochure, but gives a smooth gloss or matt finish to the outer covers.
Spot UV Varnish allows certain areas to be picked out in high gloss, most often produced in conjunction with a matt lamination for increased contrast. Clever use of this effect can transform a basic company profile into a high quality brochure with an ‘expensive’ look.
Foil Block selected areas with one of many foil choices, not just gold or silver but high impact colours, effective black and white, as well as groovy holographic foils. Gives a stunning effect on Logos and key wording.
Embossing is a process which ‘pushes’ your logo or key wording through from the back, making an impression in the card so that it sits proud. A subtle but hugely effective finish that gives a real quality feel. (Debossing is a similar effect but in reverse)
Die cutting creates rounded corners, holes and shapes cut into the front cover. Can be used cleverly to reveal something on page one, create interesting shapes that catch the readers attention – Simple, with great effect.

Any of the above options, based on 1000 copies, can cost between £100 and £250 (dependent on complexity). This small additional cost really can make all the difference to your finished product. It could be the deciding factor in ensuring it is your brochure, your company, that your clients and prospects remember.

Want more info? Call us on 01884 252613

Heidelberg in Action...

2011-02-03T11:02:00.016Z

'Behind the Scenes' Open Day 02/02/11

What a great day! After all the planning and nerves, we were completely blown away by the interest we received and also the support from our guest presentors - Red-Tie Web-to-Print Solutions, Agfa Web Approval & Heidelberg ...

The feedback received has been great, right down to the yummy nibbles! For those of you that couldn't make it, or for a more in-depth view of any of the services we can offer, give us a call on 01884 252613.

"Hi Guys - Just a quick message to acknowledge yesterday's event and what must have been a considerable amount of hard work in organising the various presentations - went pretty well I reckon - and was a great way of introducing the new press capabilities and workflow; the results of which I think speak for themselves..."

Rob Kirkham

"Well done for such a great event yesterday. Whilst we are “outsiders” to the print world we could not help but be impressed (as I am sure were others) with the obvious effort that had been made to put on the event and make it interesting and relevant to those that came along. I have no doubt that your business will be being talked about today in positive terms "

Peter Hill - Mark Holt & Co

"Thank you folks - We found it very useful and of course the nibbles were delicious!!!!"

Wayne Bennett - Bluesoup Communications

"It was an absolute pleasure to be involved in such a well organised and professional event, you and Andy should be very proud of yourselves, and I can tell you, the people I spoke to found the event extremely informative. You have certainly put Maslands firmly on the map!!"

Dave Andrews - Heidelberg UK

In with the New...

2011-02-01T12:07:00.003Z

Out with the Old...

2011-02-01T09:15:00.012Z

Let's have an open day...!

2011-01-19T14:40:00.030Z

"Let's have an open day!" I say... "we've got all this flash new kit and we can tell people how good we are at using it until we're blue in the face, but lots won't believe us. So lets show them!"

'Great idea' agree the team, 'now, go and arrange it'!

'EEK'!!

We've been printing for over 132 years, but we've never had an open day before, in fact until recently we didn't even really advertise, good old word of mouth recommendations always kept us busy. Being a family firm, passed from generation to generation, we've grown up with print, it's in our blood, we dozed off in our buggies to the hypnotic rhythm of the Heidelberg Platen, we know our stuff about print, but we're not business or marketing guru's!

So, Step 1 - set a date! That's easy 02/02/11 ...CHECK!

OK, so i've made a start! What next? Who to invite... Step 2! So we'll merge our current client list (so they can see how we produce their job) with our target client list (so we can show them how well we could produce theirs) and there we have it, our guest list ...CHECK!

Now I need some advice, its time to talk to some people - and it turns out your loyal suppliers come up trumps when you need them! With much help and advice from Red-Tie, Agfa and Heidelberg, not only have I arranged a tried and tested programme of events - I have also secured 3 guest speakers to demonstrate our fab new systems, machinery and, not forgetting, our renowned great service! Steps 3 & 4 ...CHECK!

All of a sudden I'm on a roll... invitations are designed, printed and sent, mouth-watering canapés have been picked, visuals for the factory ordered, goody bags designed, printed (in-house!) and goodies chosen :) and the whole team are buzzing about the day ...CHECK, CHECK, CHECK!!!

Now the hiatus... waiting for the replies and hoping you'll all come... the bit that makes you nervously wonder if you've forgotten something, or someone and ponder on the worst (and most ridiculous) disasters that might possibly befall the day, like meteorites falling from the sky and taking out the shiny, new (and ever so expensive) press half an hour before guests are due to arrive... aaaarggghhhhh!

Nah.... it'll be alright on the night! ;)

If you'd like to take a peek behind the scenes, contact us on talk2us@maslands.co.uk for more information.

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle, Recycle, Recycle...

2010-11-29T11:31:00.004Z

Print and paper is the ever-present communications that can be re-used again and again and...

Did you know that paper fibres can be recycled several times and with over 60 million tonnes of paper being collected in Europe every year the paper industry is the leading recycler. Paper, made from renewable sources, accounts for more than half of all the packaging material recovered fro recycling - more than glass, metal and plastic combined.

For sheet flexibility, style and touch, Print and paper can be the natural and recyclable choice for sustainable and powerful communications.

Monday Madness at Maslands...

2010-11-24T13:31:00.011Z

A short animated film made by Archie Rayment, a student from Tiverton High School who has spent the day with us making a stop motion animation film for the ongoing internet publicity at Maslands. Thanks Archie great work, good luck for the future...

Look out for the next film coming soon! Enjoy.....

The next installment...

2010-11-23T17:30:00.005Z

What We Did Next!

More blossoming Athletes in our midst..

2010-11-23T10:58:00.014Z

HUGE Well done to Janet for completing the Cancer Research UK Plymouth Run 10k on Sunday 24th October 2010!

You may recognise Janet as the friendly face who welcomes you when you stop by for a coffee.

Janet pulled out the stops, and pounded the pavements, in support of The Bobby Moore Fund who work to raise money for research into bowel cancer and also to raise public awareness of the disease. To date the Bobby Moore Fund has raised over £14 million for dedicated bowel cancer research.

Help us give Janet a big pat on the back, and raise even more money for a fantastic cause, by clicking...

HERE!

What's the hurry?!

2010-11-16T04:55:00.023Z

“Please can you help??!! It’s urgent and we have to have it by Thursday!”

We get requests like this every day. In our busy office we can’t help but notice that everything seems to be needed very quickly nowadays. In our case it’s those requests for urgent print quotes and to squeeze in last minute print jobs... whatever your line of business, the principle remains the same. There can be no doubt that the era of having days, or even weeks, to get something done have long since passed.

It started with the fax machine, then stepped up a gear with email. Now that the speed of communication is so much faster than it was two decades ago - 'Instant' Messaging(!) - that time scales have been, well, compressed. It's not because our clients are disorganised either! It’s just that 21st Century Britain turns much faster than it used to!

At Maslands, we realise that there will be no going back to a more leisurely pace of doing business... So, we’ve found ways to meet these rising expectations. From sleeker, smarter ways of working, to huge investments in new technology that enable us to meet your ever tighter deadlines, without compromising on quality.

And since that includes turning round your print quotes quickly, back to the estimating for now...! Give us a call if your faced with another unachievable deadline!

Here's one we made earlier...

2010-11-13T21:39:00.003Z

Bought my daughter a pair of boots in Clarks today... Was handed a lovely voucher printed by Maslands ...

Wise old words....

2010-11-10T15:15:00.005Z

Business despatched is business well done...

...but business hurried is business ill done.

The Pitfalls of the Print Quote...

2010-11-08T10:28:00.013Z

When you ask for a print quote, why do the various prices you receive back differ so? Often Tremendously!! Even when they’re apparently based on the same specification?! Are they really all the same? How can you compare difficult to measure items like Service, Materials, and Quality? And in any case – does any of it really matter?

Can you assume that if you supply the same specifications to every printer you speak to, then you will get the same quality, finished printed item, delivered to your door… From ALL the printers, regardless of price!

If only it was that simple! But it’s not, because print is a detailed process and it is really important to consider certain factors, that affect the price greatly, when going through your estimate details:

PROOFING How will your product be proofed? What are the options?

PDF – a what you see is what you get file, that you can check on screen. Great for simple print jobs, business cards, stationery, leaflets…

Lo-Res Plotter Proof – a low resolution print out, for position, layout and content checking. Perfect for leaflets, flyers, stationery and other lower value print runs.

Hi-Res Digital Proof – a high-resolution run out on photo quality paper. For colour match, position, layout and content checks. Perfect for high quality brochures, Booklets, Point of Sales items and other Colour sensitive projects.

Wet (Press) Proof – printed on the chosen stock on the actual press. Expensive option, but for colour critical projects the only way to ensure, absolutely, that your design works.

What do you want to approve before your project goes to press? Different Printers use different names for the proofs, so its best to specify what you want and what you need it for.

MATERIAL Has the name of the paper stock been specified?

There are thousands of different stocks out there which, like most things, range from poor quality to higher grades. What will you be paying for? Don’t be caught out with cheap B grade stocks, when you’re printing a high quality brochure for an important blue-chip client.

SIZE & EXTENT Is the finished size clearly outlined, as well as the number of pages?

Pages, Leaves, Parts, Sections…. If you’re uncertain as to what you need to ask for, attach a Lo-Res PDF to your quotation request, or call us on 01884 252613 for some friendly advice. Remember Booklet work needs to be in 4pp (page) increments.

COLOURS Is your project a specific colour - corporate branding maybe, or is it ‘full colour’?

To price a job accurately, we need to know the colours in your project. Does it require specific brand colours to be printed in the requested pantones? Or is it a ‘full colour’ print job, where everything included in the printed image is made up of four colours – cyan, magenta, yellow and black. This process isn't always 'colour match' accurate on specific colours, therefore might you need to run your job full colour, plus an extra pantone ‘spot’ colour for a brand logo?

If you’ve chosen a silk or matt stock, a ‘seal’ also needs to be included, important to prevent marks and scuffing to the finished item.

These options can have a large impact on the price, so one to watch on the price comparisons. If you’re uncertain as to what you need to ask for, attach a Lo-Res PDF to your quotation request, or call us on 01884 252613 for some friendly advice.

SPECIAL FINISHES Is it clear what finish is included?

Has the requested gloss lamination to the outer cover actually been included or is it being passed off as the gloss stock? Have you considered Matt Lamination, Spot UV, Foil Blocking, Embossing? Have you requested different price options to choose from. Make sure your project ‘stands out in the crowd’ and that you get what you’ve paid for!

If there was something a little out of the ordinary about your request is it clear that the person doing your estimate has understood, have they put in the little bit of extra effort to explain certain factors. Have they really demonstrated that they understand your print estimate requirements. Did they call you to discuss your options? In other words do they care?

VALUE ADDED What other points should you consider when you choose your printer and their price? What does your print project demand? Is it a quick ‘cheapy’ flyer or a top quality glossy brochure, a piece of complicated point of sale marketing maybe… can you trust your supplier to deliver everything you need? Can you trust them to check carefully against your approved proofs? Have you discussed a press-pass? Can you be assured of the finished quality? Can your supplier definitely meet your deadline? Will your client be happy with the finished product?

If you can, visit the suppliers, meet the people you will work with. Do you feel comfortable with them and the communication and understanding between you? Tour the factory, see the setup and the machinery, is the shop floor clean and tidy, are the team well presented and enthusiastic? Get a feel for the place and the work they’re producing – make sure they tick all your boxes, price isn’t everything…

4 days to go!!!!

2010-11-04T12:36:00.000Z

Whoop whoop! Things are changing get excited.... :D

Happy Halloween...

2010-10-29T10:51:00.009Z

Ok, we know it’s not for two days yet, but we’re not here at the weekend so we’ll have to wish you a 'happy fright night' today instead!!

Mwahahahahahahahahah

Making the headlines...

2010-10-28T09:16:00.005Z

12th Century?! We're old, but we're not that old!! LOL

A different angle from the Western Morning News... http://tinyurl.com/352n48o

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What's next...?

2010-10-27T10:04:00.002Z

Did you know... In the history of Maslands, so far(!), we've had 14 Heidelberg printing presses... (and 4 of their folders!)

Back in the good old days.... LOVE THIS!

2010-10-14T11:55:00.001Z

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Scum, creep, dummy, bleed, hickeys???!!!!!

2010-10-11T10:51:00.006Z

What are we talking about?!

Find out more... http://tinyurl.com/32q89k5

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Purple...

2010-10-06T10:27:00.005Z

What a great Colour! http://tiny.cc/p86hj

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Winning kit...

2010-10-04T08:08:00.011Z

Proud in their fantastic new kit, sponsored & printed by Maslands - along with supporting team sponsor Eagle Plant Hire - the Moors Youth Team look sparkling before their games...

Match 1... WON

Match 2... DRAW

RESULT!!!

Our New Recruit...

2010-10-01T10:11:00.025Z

Big Welcome to Richard Dyer, our newest member of the Maslands team.

Taking Jacqui's spot in the Studio Hot Seat, Richard will be working with Paul & Guy working up great designs and getting your jobs on press, problem free. Plunged in at the deep end of our busy prepress, he's not baffled by all we have thrown at him so far! We hope Rich enjoys being a part of our team

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On your marks, get set....

2010-09-29T11:34:00.019Z

...Go!

MASSIVE Well done to our Master Minder Matt for completing the Bristol Half Marathon!

Matt put on his running shoes and hit the streets for Secret World Wildlife Rescue who work tirelessly to rescue, rehabilitate and release injured and orphaned wildlife.

If you'd like to show your support, click on the link below to visit Matt's Just Giving page...

http://www.justgiving.com/matt-irving

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Smart Phone...? LOL

2010-09-29T09:12:00.005Z

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Nudge, Nudge...

2010-09-28T11:25:00.015Z

Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing but nobody else does...

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Never underestimate the power of the Business Card....

2010-09-22T14:42:00.024Z

Just started a new business? Wondering where to begin with your first stationery order? Or maybe you've been running your company for a while and want a fresh new look? It's always a good idea to put some serious thought into the design of your business card printing.

Business cards are often the first impression that potential clients have of your business, giving them an insight into the quality and standard of product or service you provide, which is why it's so important to ensure your business card printing is top quality and as eye-catching as possible.

What business you are in will have an influence on the design of your business cards, but your cards don't have to be kept simple with just your company name and contact details, even though the space is small the right business card design can have a massive impact.

There are many options for designing your cards, with many different themes use of brand colours, logos and fonts. Die cutting, or textured finishes and special papers - Spot UV and Matt Lamination are very popular - clever use of these can help to make your card memorable and unique.

Remember, your cards will be given out and passed around, this is your first chance to impress those clients. You want people to pick your card up and keep it.

NEVER underestimate the power of the Business Card....

Off to Pastures New...

2010-09-17T10:59:00.002Z

A sad goodbye to Jacqui who's leaving our studio today. Heading off for exciting new times in Cornwall, we wish Jax the best of luck for the future...

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Time's Running Out....

2010-09-03T15:03:00.018Z

Thanks to all of you who have enthuastically entered yourselves into the running for our studio position! We are thrilled with the response we have received.

Just to let you all know that the clock is now ticking and closing date for applications is...

Wednesday 8th September...

Are you the one for the job?

2010-08-23T12:39:00.017Z

JOB VACANCY for budding GRAPHIC DESIGNER...

We are seeking a fresh personality to enhance our skilled team.

A fantastic opportunity, working in our busy studio on creative design, page layout & general typesetting, alongside our experienced designer. Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite essential.

Dealing direct with important clients you must be organised and an excellent communicator. Self-motivated, quality conscious and a team player with the ability to work under pressure to demanding deadlines.

Applications in writing with CV to:

Louise Boniface - lou@maslands.co.uk

12 Howden Industrial Estate • Tiverton • EX16 5HW

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Brand-It at Maslands...

2010-01-21T12:00:00.018Z

Bouncing back into action for 2010, we are buzzing to let you all know about the launch of some new services - offering our customers something a little bit different, with the same assurance of High Quality and Great Service!!

Excited? ...WE ARE!!!

Introducing 'BrandIt at Maslands' - we now also print on all sorts of clothing - including T-Shirts, Hoodies, Polo Shirts, Work Wear, you name it... even Flip Flops! For clubs, schools, hen & stag parties, big birthday parties (& maybe small ones too!)... If you want to smarten up your team or just get a nifty prezzie for that special person who likes something a bit different... the options are endless! It's so simple - you can use your own ideas or choose one of our fab designs - we have a very creative in-house designer keeping our looks current and fun (thanks Guy!).

To find out more and chat about your ideas, give us a buzz on 01884 252613, or email us at brandit@maslands.co.uk - we can't wait to hear from you!

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New Year, New Energy, New Press!!

2010-01-14T13:13:00.013Z

Starting 2010 as we mean to go on, we celebrated over the Christmas Break by installing a brand spanking new digital production press - the Xerox AP5000.

Expanding our digital service, we can offer you higher quality production and faster turnaround times at very competitive prices!

Opportunity this year is bigger than ever and whilst the rest of the world warily holds back, we are determined to push forwards with fresh energy and new ideas - offering you more services, easier accessibility to them, at great prices and ALWAYS with our reliable, personal, high quality service.

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Perfect Prezzies under the Christmas Tree....

2009-11-30T10:49:00.013Z

With Christmas right upon us (where did the last year go?!), we thought we should let you all into a little secret...

For a while now we've been producing our own range of gorgeous gift wraps and selling them under the guise of PaperPicnic. Tentatively testing the water by selling them on ebay our confidence has grown with the fantastic feedback we've received and we have now setup an internet shop.

Take a look at our designs at www.paperpicnic.com. We love to hear any feeback, you can email us a wrapit@paperpicnic.com

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Nice Hats!!!!

2009-10-01T09:29:00.019Z

A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR SPONSORSHIPS, ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT.

With your help i've exceeded my target and raised over £500 for Hospiscare.

THANK YOU!

...WE'RE ON YOUTUBE! Triumphant at the end!! ;)

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Who's that answering the phone...?

2009-07-08T13:39:00.012Z

A big welcome to Hannah who joined our team last month….

Adding a new face to our front of house, Hannah comes from a creative background and has been working in the print industry for the past 5 years, she joins us brimming with knowledge and ideas. As well as working alongside Janet to greet you when you call in, she’ll be assisting the Management Team with Customer Care, Accounts, Marketing and general all-round support.

Bursting with enthusiasm and a real bonus to our team, we look forward to fun and exciting times with Hannah onboard!

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BEWARE OF THE WOLF…

2009-03-16T17:12:00.015Z

Is your company affected by competitors halving their prices?

As we’re all trying to work through the same economic crisis, we all face similar challenges. We find ourselves battling more and more against other print suppliers offering rock bottom prices, which they are unlikely to be making any money on. Whilst this approach may fill machines in the interim, it serves only to de-value the work we do.

We would ask that you check your prices carefully, be certain that you have been quoted on comparable stock, that the quality of proofs supplied are at the same level and that delivery has been included in the cost. Also ensure that you are being offered services that you actually need - and that the supplier is competent at delivering these services at such low prices. Consider the quality of the end product, and that of future reprints, will the supplier still be there when you need to re-order? It is not simply a case of different companies offering the same service at different prices.

Having been around since 1878, we’ve survived wars and depressions. If you want to be sure of a quality job and a service that you can rely on from a supplier that will still be here to see the next recession through, make sure you choose the right price.

“The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory.”

What have we done..?

2009-02-25T09:41:00.007Z

Don't you want to know?

Increasing paper prices...

2009-01-22T19:41:00.005Z

Many printers have expressed concern at the latest paper price rises, which are set to hit the industry as the UK teeters on the brink of recession.

An expected rise of 7 - 9% is due at the beginning of February 2009. Merchants quote 'a need to increase paper prices in order for market prices to reflect the rise in raw material costs'.

A guide to effective print buying

2009-01-15T12:55:00.010Z

At Maslands we fully appreciate that print can be a complex, daunting and expensive process. We want to help all you print buyers out there understand the best way to buy all of your print solutions by making transparent the key issues involved.

However, by its very nature, every print job is unique and therefore if you have any questions at all, please feel free to pick up the phone and discuss your needs with any of the team at Maslands.

Design, art work and proofing
Obviously most printed material is intended to look good to the end user. Most printers simply print whatever the customer (or their designer) tells them to print. However it may not be obvious until the final job is produced that it doesn’t look exactly as originally intended.
It may therefore be important for you to see a high-resolution digital proof BEFORE going fully to print. Or you may want our designers’ input into the job so we can explain the impact of certain colours and fonts at the design stage rather than let you see flaws in the finished article.
When buying print you need to consider whether more investment up front in the design, artwork and proofing stages is worthwhile, to be absolutely sure of the look and feel of the final job, BEFORE you spend money on the actual print run.

Volume
A large part of any print job is the set-up of the machine in preparation for printing. Therefore the cost to keep the machine running means that larger volumes cost proportionately less. For example, a print run of 1,000 documents may cost £500, whereas 2,000 might only cost another £100 and 5,000 may only cost £800. Therefore if you want 1,000 business letterheads it may be better to buy 3,000 even if this looks like it may last you a year.
Make sure you understand the price/volume options for your print jobs and discuss these with your printer to get the best deal for you.

Timing of the job
It is much more efficient for printers to keep machines running for as long a period as possible, and therefore planning ahead what jobs will be on the machine and when, is important to them. Equally, for some customers the delivery time is crucial (Christmas cards delivered on 26 December are worthless, and brochures not produced on time for a product launch, may have a big impact on your business).
Make sure your printer knows the key dates for you, and check that they are able to deliver to your deadlines. The more time you can give them the more likely they are to hit the dates and the lower the price should be.

Quality of the end product
It may seem obvious, but there is a wide range of choice for customers in the quality of the end product. A key detail is the type of paper (stock) that is used. For some jobs it may be perfectly OK to use low grade stocks, for internal paperwork or flyers etc. For other jobs it may be critical to use a significantly superior stock that promotes a “quality”message to whoever the material is aimed at. Consider for example the quality of the stock in a ‘TV Times’which is only expected to survive one week,with that of ‘Hello’ magazine which may stay on coffee tables for a month or more.
In addition there are many different types of finishes that can be applied to make a job look and feel different. You should decide on the significance of the final finish and explore with your printer the benefits and cost of each option. Make sure that you compare each quote you receive, as a lower price almost always means lower quality.

These are just a few of the key issues to make sure that you get the best results and the best value for money from your printer. There are many suppliers out there who can offer cheaper prices for printing, but as with every other purchase you make, there is a compromise between quality and price.

At Maslands we strive to be open and clear with our customers on the choices they have to reduce costs and the consequent impact on quality, or in many cases the options to spend a little bit more and improve the impact and end quality of the job enormously.

I only asked for a sample and he called me a Dummy!!!

2008-11-17T12:17:00.027Z

We understand that some of the terminology used by us printers can be a little confusing...

Work and turn? Work and Tumble?

...what is this, a circus?!

Printing has a language all of its own and to help you understand what we're all on about, here are a few well used terms and their meanings...

BACKING UP
Printing the reverse side of a sheet already printed on one side.
BLEED
An extra amount of printed image that extends beyond the trim edge of the sheet or page. As in 'the image bleeds off the sheet'.
CMYK
(Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) The four process colours used in colour printing.
CREEP
Can also be called "push out". This happens when the middle pages of a folded section extend a little bit beyond the outside pages. Printers compensate for it during layout and imposition - otherwise you'd be stuck with a little creep, and who needs that?!
DOT GAIN
A defect in which the dots that make up an image print larger than they should, causing loss of detail or stronger colours. Dot gain can mean the difference between a dark print and an acceptable print.
DUMMY
A preliminary mock-up of the final piece, showing images and text. This is sometimes just blank pages of the chosen paper,made up in advance to simulate the final size and format of the print job.
HARD PROOF
A proof on paper or other substrate as distinguished from a soft proof that is an image on a screen.
HICKEYS
These are small spots or imperfections that occasionally show up in printing, due to dirt on the press. Hickeys are bad news no matter where they show up.
IMPOSITION
Is the positioning of pages on a plate layout so that after printing, folding, and cutting, all pages will appear in the proper sequence.
KISS CUT
To die cut the top layer but not the backing of self-adhesive paper.
MAKE READY
The process of setting up and adjusting a printing press for a particular ink, paper and specifications prior to printing.
MOIRE
A moiré (pronounced mwa-ray) is an undesirable pattern that might make you think your vision's in trouble. This is caused by incorrect screen angles for printed colours.
PDF (Portable Document Format)
A file format developed by Adobe. It can capture formatting information from many publishing applications. This makes it possible to send a formatted document to a computer screen or printer and have it look exactly the way in which it was created. You need Acrobat Reader to read PDF files. Printing industry work flows are now primarily PDF-based.
REGISTER
The positioning of two or more printing images in exact alignment with each other. Printing that is correctly positioned on the page is said to be 'in register'. When you can see a single color 'hanging out' underneath another (an effect similar to 8 pints!) that colour is out of register.
RESOLUTION
Resolution is the term used to describe the number of dots (dpi - dots per inch), or pixels, used to display an image. Higher resolutions mean that more pixels are used to create the image, resulting in a crisper, cleaner image.
SEAL
An emulsion or varnish applied over a printed surface to protect it.
SHEETWORK
To print one side of a sheet of paper with one plate, then turn the sheet over and print the other side with another plate using same grip edge and opposite side guide.
SCUM
A film of ink printing in the non-image areas of a plate where it shouldn't print. (Although not specific to print, we wonder if the person who came up with this word also invented Dummy and Creep!)
SPECIFICATIONS
A detailed description of a print order. You have to provide a lot of information to your printers, particularly comprehensive, detailed job specifications (specs). It's this information that determines your price. Send wrong specs and you'll get wrong prices.
VERSO
Is the left-hand and RECTO is the right-hand page of a book or magazine. Latin makes everyone sound smarter. Use these terms and impress your friends.
WET PROOFS
Also known as Machine Proofs - a proof of a job made on the actual printing press, in advance of the production run.
WORK AND TUMBLE
To print one side of a sheet of paper, then turn it over using the opposite grip edge but the same side guide and plate to print the second side.
WORK AND TURN
To print one side of a sheet of paper, then turn it over from left to right and print the second side using the same grip edge and plate but opposite side guide.

Printing is fun business! These are just a hint of the wild and wonderful terms that connect us all.

Wink if you think you look great in pink!!!!

2008-10-27T17:16:00.011Z

So we dug around in the bottom of our wardrobes (and those of our kids, wives and friends!!!) in a search for anything pink and donned it all for our 'Dare to Wear it Pink 'day in aid of Breast Cancer Care.

With some fun activies - including 'Pummel the Pinata', 'Pick a Prize in our Pink Raffle', 'Put on Pounds with our homemade Pink Treats' and 'Pick your brains with our Pink Quiz' - and a whole load more pink(!) we raised £100 in total for a very worthy cause. Thanks to everyone here for getting into the spirit!

Real Engineering in Motion...

2008-10-23T10:54:00.005Z

I came across this video on YouTube and was instantly captured by that hypnotic sound, made with each impression, not tarnished by any background interference...

As well as reliable mechanics, the old Heidelberg presses really are a thing of beauty - you'll see on our plant list below we have one of these very machines, a Heidelberg Platen, which we use for creasing, die-cutting & perforating. The platen always had me entranced as I was growing up, I can remember standing in front of it thinking how much it looked like a little man waving his arms at me...

Our thanks to the creator of this video for such artistic portrayal of a wonderful piece of heidelberg engineering.

We've got our Guy....

2008-10-22T13:51:00.013Z

We have another new member in our team. Getting comfy in our studio is Guy Rayment - an inspiring Graphic & Web designer, with an impressive CV spanning 12 years experience in creative design. Guy brings new skills to our front end, enabling us to give our clients more options for less hassle.

Already stamping his mark on Maslands Guy is currently designing our new website, which we hope to launch soon. See the little taster at www.maslands.co.uk...

www.maslands.co.uk

2008-10-20T12:29:00.002Z

Coming Soon...!

Do you dare....?

2008-10-01T14:17:00.013Z

We're are holding a 'Dare to Wear it Pink' day here at Maslands on Friday 24th October in aid of Breast Cancer Care.

With a £2 fee to wear something pink or a £5 fine if you don't, plus all the other fun activities we have planned, we're hoping to raise a bit of cash for a very worthy cause.

We'll be posting some pics to our blog so watch this space...

Escalating paper prices!

2008-09-22T14:08:00.008Z

Once again paper merchants have hiked up their prices with the increase in cost ranging from 5% to 11%.

Reasons given echo previous considerations this year, including the rising price of fuel and the weak Euro.