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[14/05/08] | etrinsic merges with US-based InnerWorkings

Partnership set to accelerate expansion for UK print management and marketing services firm.

Chicago-based InnerWorkings Inc. has acquired UK print management and marketing services company etrinsic for an undisclosed sum, creating what is believed to be among the world's largest print management companies.

With targeted revenue of £225 million ($450 million) in 2008, InnerWorkings is a leading provider of managed print and promotional solutions to corporate clients in the United States. etrinsic is among the 20 largest print management firms in the UK with revenue of approximately £22 million ($44 million) and over 100 employees.

"This is an exciting partnership for etrinsic," said etrinsic Managing Director Matt Bird, who will continue to manage the UK operations of the business. "We share similar business approaches and values and a commitment to customer service. Our partnership with InnerWorkings will strengthen our technology capabilities and enable us to accelerate our expansion plans in the UK. We are confident that our long-term knowledge and success in the mature UK print management market will benefit InnerWorkings and its customers."

"Quality and innovation have always been our hallmarks and this partnership creates opportunities for shared business systems development, boosted scale of operations and increased price leverage. Continuity of operations in the UK will be assured with the same management team responsible for day-to-day business," Bird continued.

"We undertook an extensive review of the UK print management market before approaching etrinsic as our preferred business partner. We are proud to have concluded an agreement with one of the most reputable and established print management companies in the UK. The synergy and mutual respect between our two firms is set to provide a strong platform for growth," said Eric D. Belcher, President and Chief Operating Officer of InnerWorkings.

In 2007, InnerWorkings reported a revenue increase of 80 percent compared to the previous year. Its client roster embraces a wide range of industry sectors, including advertising, consumer products, publishing and retail. It provides procurement services for print, promotional products and retail packaging to over 4,500 customers.

"Our partnership with etrinsic will enable us to further support the print needs of our US-based customers that also have operations in the United Kingdom," Belcher said.

With headquarters in Shirley, Solihull in the West Midlands. etrinsic provides a full spectrum of print management and marketing services to many of the UK's most successful organizations, including Sainsbury's, National Express, LV= (formerly Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society), EDF Energy, Halfords, WWF-UK, Kraft and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply. Services cover print procurement and logistics, direct mail, creative design and data management.

For more information on InnerWorkings, go to www.inwk.com

[07/02/08] | WWF awards print management contract to etrinsic

Solihull-based company etrinsic has won the contract to supply a full print management service to the charity, WWF-UK - formerly the World Wildlife Fund.

"The contract was awarded not only as the result of our strong commercial strategic offering but also our proven commitment to environmental best practice," says Dan Birks, etrinsic's Head of Sales.

Working in more than 90 countries, WWF is the world's largest independent conservation charity with five million supporters. The contract has been won for the UK branch of WWF who are based in Godalming, Surrey.

etrinsic is accredited with the Forest Stewardship Scheme (FSC) and the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC). It has also achieved ISO 14001, the environmental standard. In addition, the company operates an ethical code of conduct for suppliers.

"A key point of focus for etrinsic will be to work actively with WWF to promote the use of optimum production techniques, materials and responsible supply chain management in order to achieve tangible ongoing environmental benefit," says Matt Bird, etrinsic's Managing Director. "This new business win represents an excellent opportunity, and we are looking forward to developing our working partnership with WWF."

etrinsic supplies an array of outsourced marketing services from print and logistics to direct mail management, graphic design and data handling.

[16/11/07] | Charities to benefit from print profits

Staff at print management specialists etrinsic are to choose the charities who will benefit from the company's donation of 1% of its pre-tax profits.

The Solihull-based firm has announced that it will be making the donation on an annual basis and will divide the proceeds between national and local causes.

"We will be asking our 100 employees to nominate their favourite charities, and foresee a five figure contribution this year," says Matt Bird, etrinsic's Managing Director.

"This move demonstrates our tangible, ongoing commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility and reflects the high level of focus we are applying to this area," he comments.

etrinsic provides a full spectrum of print management and marketing services to many of the UK's most successful organisations including Sainsbury's, National Express, LV= (formerly Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society), EDF Energy and Halfords. Services cover print procurement and logistics, direct mail, creative design and data management.

[ 19/10/07] | etrinsic gains accreditation under forestry management schemes

In a further step forward in its environmental policy, Solihull-based print management company etrinsic has achieved accreditation with the Forest Stewardship Scheme (FSC) and the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC).

The accreditation is part of the company's ongoing Corporate  Responsibility programme which has also seen achievement of ISO 14001, the environmental standard.

The FSC and PEFC are independent bodies which promote responsible and sustained management of forests. etrinsic has achieved 'Chain of Custody' (CoC) certification from both organisations.

"These CoC certifications demonstrate that we can track our printed products along the supply chain from the forest throughout the production process to the finished article," explains Sandie Matthews, etrinsic's Quality & Environmental Representative.

"Environmental corporate stewardship and the development of greener and more sustainable supply chains are key drivers in our industry," comments Matt Bird, etrinsic's Managing Director. "As an integral part of the supply chain, a user of a high-volume commodity product and a consumer of services as a business in our own right, we monitor all areas where our activities and those of our sub-contractors affect the environment."

In addition, the company operates an ethical code of conduct for suppliers and is also accredited with the ISO 9001 Quality management standard.

etrinsic supplies a range of client services from print and logistics to direct mail management, graphic design and data handling. Major clients include National Express, LV= (formerly Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society), EDF Energy, Topps Tiles and Sainsbury's.

[15/06/07] | HQ is re-named in tribute to print management firm's founder

Print management company etrinsic has re-named its Midlands HQ 'Davies House' in honour of recently-retired Colin Davies who founded the business 35 years ago.

Colin built the company based in Solihull into one of the UK's largest and most respected print management firms. Providing a range of services from print and logistics to direct mail management, graphic design and data handling, today the firm employs 110 people and counts leading companies like National Express, LV= (formerly Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society), EDF Energy, Topps Tiles and Sainsbury's among its clients. Annual turnover is approaching £30 million.

Chief Executive for 33 years, Colin Davies sold the company to his management team in 2005 but stayed on as President until his retirement. He was an active member of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) for 10 years and sat on the organisation's West Midlands Regional Council. In October 2003, he was a winner in the Birmingham Post Business Awards.

"Colin is a remarkable man who has had an exceptional career," says Keith Walton, Chief Executive at etrinsic. "He built the company from scratch, creating jobs, developing innovative ideas and putting a strong emphasis on customer service that ensured the business went from strength to strength. We all owe him a great deal and are delighted to re-name our headquarters building in tribute to his tremendous achievements, energy and vision."

Colin Davies grew up in Pelsall near Walsall. In 1956, aged 15 he started work as an apprentice coalface electrician at Lea Hall Colliery in Rugeley, Staffordshire. In his spare time, to increase his income he printed and sold bingo tickets.

Learning about computers at part-time classes, he saw a business opportunity in producing specialised printed forms and documents. Working morning shifts in the mine and afternoons for himself, he continued the two jobs until he won a £200,000 stationery order from the Post Office. With this first significant order, in 1970, he set up his own business which soon developed a reputation for innovation and top-quality service.

Colin's vision of the benefits that the evolution of computers and software could bring to clients kept his business at the forefront in the print industry. For example, he developed a sales management software system for use in-house which he subsequently sold for £2.3 million and invested much of the proceeds in new design and systems equipment for etrinsic.

Essentially starting out as one-man band print broker, as the business world became more complex he identified the need for adding value to the basic service of competitive print buying. He moved into print management from where he developed a warehousing and distribution operation as well as in-house printing services. "In the last 30 years I've witnessed a revolution in the industry," he says. "The leap from the relatively slow world of 'John Bull'- style printing to the fast-moving arena of e-technology has had an enormous impact on the speed, efficiency and quality of print production."

Today, in order to take maximum advantage of a deadline-driven market that increasingly values speed of response, etrinsic has developed a range of cutting-edge web-based services to accelerate the pace of delivery. On-line services include customer ordering, print buying and electronic information reporting.

[ 22/05/07] | Minister urges print industry to respond to consumer voice on CSR and environmental issues

"With the spotlight falling on how companies work to make their profits, Corporate Social Responsibility needs to be embedded in business strategy," said The Right Honourable Margaret Hodge MP, Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry. She was speaking at a seminar on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and environmental issues as they affect the print industry. "Like other sectors, the printing world must respond to the expectation that in the 21st century, it will be more than business as usual."

Organised by print management specialists etrinsic, over 70 delegates involved in commissioning and producing printed material gathered at the seminar held yesterday (21 May) at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall, London.

Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, Mrs Hodge is also Minister for Corporate Social Responsibility. At the seminar, she outlined government policy on CSR from a UK and global perspective.

"CSR and making money are linked and complementary." she said. "A company's success and its responsibility are two sides of the same coin. Commitment to sustainability can help promote a brand image and market position - it will become an intrinsic part of business purpose and our shared endeavour to conserve the planet. The role of the government is not to dictate to business but to create a regulatory framework that opens companies to public account and encourages them to think about CSR issues. We need more companies following etrinsic's lead in promoting and supporting best practice within their sector."

"With print the UK's sixth largest industry, the aim of the seminar was to increase awareness of CSR issues and the contribution our industry can make in the environmental arena," says Keith Walton, Chief Executive at etrinsic.

Other speakers included environmental consultant Clare Taylor, Jonathan Tame from WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), Tim Barker from paper supplier Robert Horne Group and Simon Dipple, etrinsic's Technical Director.

Among the areas to come under the spotlight were paper specification and recycling, waste management, sustainability and forest certification schemes plus environmentally-friendly print technology.

Clare Taylor - a Chartered Environmentalist who advises clients in the print industry on how to 'green' their own companies and their supply chain, covered the links between printing and some of the major environmental issues. "Printing can be a very wasteful activity, both of materials and energy," she said. "But it doesn't have to be. A buyer's choices can make a substantial difference: not just their choice of paper or printer, but also their design and the way they plan their projects." She outlined some of the achievements the industry has made in taking waste out of the process, and also how working to standard printing conditions can help environmentally as well as with quality. She then looked at other areas where the printing industry - and choices made by those within it - make a difference - including protection of forests and biodiversity, climate change and energy efficiency, air and water pollution. "Many of the steps may seem small - but in such a large industry as print, they soon add up," she added.

Speaking on behalf of WRAP, Jonathan Tame encouraged businesses to consider recycled paper - both in the office and for their publications - where possible. "The UK consumes approximately
12.5 million tonnes of paper and board per year. Circa 7.8 million tonnes of waste fibre is recovered, and creating demand for this waste is important," he commented. "We recommend that businesses consider products with a minimum of 70% recycled content for copier/office paper and 50% for marketing and publications-type material. Modern recycled papers are equal in quality, performance, reliability and, generally, have a lower environmental impact. Organisations are increasingly concerned with sustainable procurement and buying recycled paper can be a quick win in reducing their environmental footprint."

Tim Barker, Environment Manager from Robert Horne Group, explained that buyers and specifiers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their choice of raw materials such as paper. "This choice can reflect, support and enhance an organisation's CSR policies," he said. Illustrating his talk with his company's customer experiences, he provided practical advice on recycled paper, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and the tracking of products along the supply chain (Chain of Custody).

In his presentation, Simon Dipple said that as well as the strong focus in the print industry on the environmental issues surrounding paper consumption, equally important were the manufacturing processes involved in producing printed material. "The printing industry was in the vanguard of recycling which has helped drive forward the whole concept for the consumer by encouraging recycling of other more ecologically-damaging materials," he said.
"As a major commissioner of print with over 250 suppliers, etrinsic can have a direct influence on the supply chain. For example, we are actively encouraging our suppliers to consider the technical aspects of lithographic printing such as a reduction in use of certain chemicals. Furthermore, we have installed an ethical code of conduct for our suppliers. This requires them to commit to continuous improvement towards compliance with environmental standards within in their own company and within their own supply chain."

"Delegates went away from the seminar with a greater understanding of how to manage print procurement both within the existing environmental requirements and for those set to come," adds Matt Bird, Managing Director etrinsic.

Based in Solihull, etrinsic supplies a range of client services from print and logistics to direct mail management, graphic design and data handling. Major clients include National Express, Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society, EDF Energy, Topps Tiles and Sainsbury's. The company recently achieved accreditation for ISO 14001, the environmental management standard.

[04/05/07] | etrinsic gains ISO 14001 credentials

Solihull-based print management company etrinsic has achieved accreditation for ISO 14001, the environmental management standard.

"The accreditation is part of our Corporate Social Responsibility programme," says Eric Brown, Commercial Director etrinsic. "Environmental corporate stewardship is playing an increasingly important role in corporate governance, and the development of greener and more sustainable supply chains is a key issue in our industry."

ISO 14001 requires organisations to examine environmental impacts over which they have direct control and over which they can expect to have an influence. "As an integral part of the supply chain, a user of a high-volume commodity product and a consumer of services as a business in our own right, we looked at all areas where our activities and those of our sub-contractors affect the environment," continues Eric Brown.

etrinsic's new environmental management system has already seen an increase of 300% in paper recycling at its head office and a decrease in waste disposal to landfill of 50%. The company also operates an ethical code of conduct for suppliers. "But achievements like this are just the start of the process," explains Lucy Klinkenberg, etrinsic's Environmental Officer. "Continual improvement is fundamental to the environmental management process. For example, environmentally-friendly production techniques is just one of the areas we will be addressing in detail over the coming months."

In a further move, the company will be holding a seminar on 21 May in London in order to increase awareness of Corporate Social Responsibility issues and the contribution the print industry can make in the environmental arena. Margaret Hodge MP, Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry will be a keynote speaker at the event.

Also accredited with the ISO 9001 Quality management standard, etrinsic supplies a range of client services from print and logistics to direct mail management, graphic design and data handling. Major clients include National Express, LV= (formerly Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society), EDF Energy, Topps Tiles and Sainsbury's.

[03/04/07] | Reed Personnel Services recruits etrinsic in print deal

In a contract worth an estimated £500,000 over the next two years, Solihull-based etrinsic is to supply a full print management service to recruitment specialist Reed Personnel Services.

The contract covers print procurement, graphic design, storage and distribution. It will include Reed's marketing and direct mail material plus data management, corporate stationery together with a range of specialist items embracing candidate and client collateral and communication.

A major brand within the Reed Group, Reed Personnel Services specialises in recruitment for professionals in 14 markets and operates from some 130 branches in the UK and Ireland.

"One of the key factors for us when awarding the contract was etrinsic's ability to deliver a bespoke solution in response to a complex brief," says Lewis Woodward, Reed's Marketing & Communications Manager.

"Reed will be making use of our e-commerce and customer relationship management systems which provide real-time information job status and delivery," says Dan Birks, account director at etrinsic.

With annual turnover of £28.5 million, etrinsic supplies a wide range of print and logistics services including design, printing, direct mail, storage and distribution. Top names on its client roster include Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society, National Express Group, Sainsbury's supermarket, Telewest, Topps Tiles, Thames Trains, Calor and Pickfords.

[28/03/07] | Minister to speak at etrinsic Corporate Social Responsibility event

The Right Honourable Margaret Hodge MP, Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry is to be a keynote speaker at a seminar on Corporate Social Responsibility and environmental issues as they affect the print industry.

Organised by print management specialists, etrinsic the seminar will take place on 21 May 2007 at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall, London 10.30-14.30 hrs.

Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, Mrs Hodge is also Minister for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). She will outline government policy on CSR from a UK and global perspective.

"With print the UK's sixth largest industry, the aim of the seminar is to increase awareness of CSR issues and the contribution our industry can make in the environmental arena," says Keith Walton, Chief Executive at etrinsic.

Other speakers will include environmental consultant Clare Taylor, Jonathan Tame from WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), paper supplier Robert Horne Group and Matt Bird, Managing Director of etrinsic.

Among the areas to come under the spotlight will be paper specification and recycling, waste management, sustainability and forest certification schemes, and environmentally-friendly print technology. "The seminar will give delegates a good understanding of how to manage print procurement both within the existing environmental requirements and for those set to come," adds Keith Walton.

Based in Solihull, etrinsic supplies a range of client services from print and logistics to direct mail management, graphic design and data handling. Major clients include National Express, Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society, EDF Energy, Topps Tiles and Sainsbury's.