Press Release
Investment in Canon technology enables Latent Light
to expand into B2C market
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Latent Light invests in second Canon imagePRESS to meet fast-growing customer
demand for photobooks
Canon solution enables Latent Light to expand into consumer market with
photogifts.co.uk
United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, 22 July 2013 – Building on Latent
Light’s successful partnership with Canon UK, a leader in imaging solutions, the
company has invested in a second Canon imagePRESS – the C7000VP – to expand
into the B2C market.
Aiming to double the size of its business over the coming year, the Bristol-based
photo-print service provider will use the Canon imagePRESS C7000VP to meet
increasing demand for high-quality photobooks and expand its business with a new
consumer facing offering, photogifts.co.uk.
The imagePRESS C7000VP – a 1200 x 1200 dpi digital colour production printer that
runs up to 70 pages per minute (ppm) – provides Latent Light’s existing
imagePRESS C6000VP with crucial support during peak production times of photo
applications such as photobooks, calendars and canvas prints. The company can now
offer even faster turnaround times for short-run, print-on-demand and customised
print jobs.
The latest investment joins a fleet of Canon imagePROGRAF wide format devices,
helping to drive the company’s new business, photogifts.co.uk. The new brand offers
high quality personalised photo gifts that consumers can easily create online, with
products ranging from canvas prints and books to mouse mats and chopping boards.
Adam Gildersleeve, Managing Director of Latent Light says: “We have a clear idea
of where we currently are in the market and where we want to be. We needed to find
the right print solution to deliver the quality, consistency and speed required to grow
our business. As with any business decision we considered our options, but our search
for uncompromised quality and service led us back to Canon. We had been so
impressed by our existing imagePRESS – nothing in the market comes close to the
high quality and consistency it achieves – that we needed little persuasion to add the
C7000VP.”
Over the last decade, Gildersleeve has seen his company transform from a sideline
project based in a spare room, into a serious business venture operating from a 1,160
sqm state-of-the-art production unit in Bristol. One of its recent successes includes a
full-time contract to produce photobooks and calendars for a large retailer.
Gildersleeve explains: “Previously, our client used a number of third party companies
to produce its photobooks, however they were seeing a high level of these products
returned by customers every year because of poor quality. With Latent Light, the
client has not received a single return due to substandard quality and we firmly
believe that this is indicative of what you can achieve with an imagePRESS.”
Gildersleeve concludes: “From the outset, Canon has worked closely with us to lay
the foundations for long term growth. They understand the problems we have faced
and have been realistic about how to solve them, exploring all available options with
us and providing expert advice on how to get the best out of their solutions.”
Mark Lawn, European and UK Marketing Director, Canon Europe, comments:
“We’re delighted to be part of this exciting development journey with Latent Light.
As a company they are demonstrating what was highlighted in Canon’s latest Insight
Report – that there are significant opportunities out there for print service providers to
grow their business through innovation and delivering value added services. Our
focus at Canon is to develop business partnerships like this one [with Latent Light],
where by providing the insight, technology and support to guide customers towards
profitable new revenue streams, helping them to see the bigger picture.”
– ENDS –
About Canon (UK) Limited
Canon (UK) Ltd is the UK & Ireland marketing and sales operation for the global
company, Canon Inc., based in Tokyo, Japan and it employs 2,150 people.
Founded in 1937, with the specific goal of making the best quality cameras available
to customers, Canon’s tireless passion for the Power of Image has since extended its
technology into many other markets and has established it as a world leader in both
consumer and business imaging solutions. Its solutions comprise products ranging
from digital compact and SLR cameras, through broadcast lenses and portable X-ray
machines, to multi-function and production printers, all supported by a range of value
added services.
Canon invests heavily in R&D to deliver the richest and most innovative products and
services to satisfy customers’ creative needs. From amateur photographers to
professional print companies, Canon enables each customer to realise their own
passion for image.
Canon believes that considering the interests of society and the environment is an
integral part of good business practice and this is embodied in its corporate
philosophy Kyosei - ‘living and working together for the common good’.
For further information about Canon UK please visit
http://www.canon.co.uk/
For further information about Canon Ireland please visit
http://www.canon.ie/
Visit us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/canonukltd / www.facebook.com/canon.ie
For media enquiries, please contact:
Will Tomlins
Kerry Rice / Alexa Gibb / Patrick Anderson
Canon (UK) Ltd
AD Communications
+44 (0)1737 220 220
+44 (0)1372 464 470
+44 (0)7973 808 022
will_tomlins@cuk.canon.co.uk canonproprint@adcomms.co.uk