Pack Smart Group invests in POD technology to scale portfolio

Coventry-based ecommerce and fulfilment business, The Pack Smart Group, has invested in new in-house printing capabilities to strengthen its end-to-end service and reduce reliance on third-party suppliers.

The independent business, established in 2009, offers a full-service fulfilment solution for clients across the UK and internationally, specialising in the music, drinks, and sports markets.

As part of its £50k investment, Pack Smart has installed a Mimaki TXF300-75 direct-to-film (DTF) printer at its headquarters in Foleshill, Coventry, bringing print-on-demand (POD) services in-house for its clients.

The TxF300-75 offers a maximum printing width of 80cm, offering CMYK printing along with a dedicated white channel. Its PHT50 inks have acquired the OEKO-TEX ECO passport, certifying that the finished chemical components are skin-friendly and safe for adults and children.

The equipment investment will support the launch of a new direct-to-consumer platform, Printopotamus, offering a faster turnaround on a range of customised products.

Using the platform, customers will be able to design and create items using their own artwork, with a targeted turnaround time of three working days for orders.

The move aims to address a growing challenge for the business’s client base, with many currently relying on third-party providers for POD services.

This reliance can result in split fulfilment, particularly around time-sensitive releases such as album launches, where one audio product will arrive from The Pack Smart Group and other items that require POD will arrive from another supplier.

Pack Smart is also currently recruiting additional staff to grow its workforce and deliver the new service, with further expansion of the Printopotamus range and potential applications in areas such as workwear and uniforms being considered.

Nick Walker, chief executive officer of The Pack Smart Group, says: “As we continue to grow and develop the business, we identified print-on-demand as a clear gap in our services.

“This is a service that our clients are using, but often with different providers, which ultimately leads to a disjointed customer experience. We can now offer a more joined-up service and simplify the process for clients, with speed and flexibility built into the delivery.”

The additional service is also designed to help clients to reduce stock holding and test products in smaller volumes before committing to a larger run, as well as to respond more quickly to trends and demand levels.

Speaking about the concurrent launch of Printopotamus, Walker adds: “After investing in the equipment to make print-on-demand possible, it felt like a natural fit to launch Printopotamus alongside it.

“The launch allows us to maximise utilisation of the new capability while opening up an additional revenue stream with the consumer market to support the continued growth of the business. We’re confident our POD service and Printopotamus will be a hit with our clients and general consumers too.”