Brisbane printer says: accept reality, there’s less work, let’s consolidate

Valley Edge Design Centre is open to mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, and is also willing to talk to printers, designers and signage firms, said director Rocky Cassaniti.

"The reality is there's not enough work out there for everybody due to demand and the economy and if people don't have a long, hard look about where they're going to be in the next 12 months and how their cashflow is tracking it will be very difficult for a lot of people to remain open," he told ProPrint.

Cassaniti said the consolidation message was rammed home in 2010 when Valley Edge "almost hit the wall".

"About three years ago we found we weren't making any money, so we had to really look at cutting back overheads," he said.

[Related: Print Approach buys two firms]

Cassaniti said the nine-staff operation was in talks with two designers – one a print specialist and the other a signage specialist.

"I have a large database of clients that we've done work with for many years and the hardest thing is touching base with all these clients because you're doing a lot of current work," he said.

"There's an opportunity for a designer to sit down and go through my list and try to re-engage some of my clients."

Cassaniti founded Valley Edge in 1989 as a graphic design business. It moved into production in 2002 with the acquisition of Doggett Street Press and then acquired S&K Signs in 2003.

"Thanks to our position as leaders in our field and our 'growth through acquisition' strategy in signage and printing, Valley Edge has been able to grow our client base into the thousands," he said.

"When we bought Doggett Street Press in 2002, we set about growing that business through newer printing equipment and a dynamic new image.

"Following that purchase we have not looked back, going on to purchase the neighbouring property and a signage business to further expand our presence."

[LinkedIn: Will we see more consolidation in the industry?]

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