This article first appeared in the September 2025 issue of Australian Printer
It all started with a newspaper advertisement – that’s how IVE print sales manager Nicole Jandik ended
up in this industry.
At the tender age of just 19, Jandik applied for a customer service representative role at Lilyfield Printing in Sydney’s west, with no real idea what printing even was.
“I still remember walking down the back stairs at the Regents Park plant for the first time. The smell of ink and chemicals hit me like a wall; and I was in! The hustle of the presses, the energy of the bindery –
it was my first introduction to the world of manufacturing and print,” she recounted.
Over the next few years, Jandik transitioned from print production to positions in account management and sales roles.
“I’m forever grateful to the people who took the time to train me. I learnt on the ground, gaining hands-on experience while also studying Print Technology and Administration at TAFE – a course that was phased out only just a few years later,” she said.
Jandik moved from Lilyfield Printing to Concord Printing in Alexandria, NSW, continuing in account management and sales, then transitioned from manufacturing to print brokering with PMA Global. Following that, she joined Labelcraft, which Jandik found to be one of her best jobs.
“In this role, I was selling wine labels, having meetings in cellar doors across regional NSW, and always heading home with a bottle of something fantastic,” she said.
Eventually, Jandik landed a job at McMillans, back on the manufacturing side. McMillans became Bluestar, which evolved into IVE – where she remains in a sales role today.
“Over the years, my experience in the print industry has grown and evolved alongside the industry itself. I began in commercial sheet-fed printing but as the market shifted with the emergence of digital printing and rapid technological advancement, our skillsets needed to evolve too,” she said.
“Despite these changes, one constant remains – sales is still fundamentally about relationships. People buy from people.
“As IVE diversified, I had the opportunity to broaden my capabilities beyond print. This included areas such as business strategy, team leadership, warehousing, kitting and logistics, technology platforms, creative and content production, wide format, retail, data, and packaging.
“With diversification also came acquisition and business transition – experiences that brought change and a high level of responsibility. From a sales perspective, this evolution has allowed me to present a much stronger and broader value proposition.”
Some of Jandik’s career highlights include being awarded the State Medal for Printing Technology and Administration while studying at Ultimo, and Employee of the Year at Lilyfield.
More recently, she was a finalist in the Women in Industry Awards and joined the Women in Print (WIP) NSW Committee. She’s also a certified Mental Health First Aider – something she truly values.
As a leader in print and member of the WIP committee, Jandik is promoting change within the industry by leading by example, adding that she believes in “walking the talk” and following through on promises.
“One of the most valuable things we can give back to our industry is our experience – both the highlights and overcoming challenges. Over time, I find even greater purpose in adding value, in whatever way I can,” she added.
“For me, it’s about time – time spent with those who are new to the industry and time spent with those who’ve been in it a while and are evolving. I’ve learnt to borrow and adapt great habits and ideas from others and now it’s my turn to do the same.
“We have some incredible women in our industry who are leading the way and there are so many inspiring stories across our industry shared through trade publications, the Women in Print website, and platforms like the Visual Media Association.
“The stories, experiences, and little anecdotes stick with me, and I aim to impart that to the next generation.”
Moving forward, some of Jandik’s aims are to simply be better, improve, and stay relevant – both personally and professionally.
“I’m always looking to educate myself, embrace change, and aim to actively participate in our industry,” she said.
“I genuinely enjoy working with the team, sharing my experiences (hopefully sparing them from learning everything the hard way), and encouraging more strategic thinking. Supporting others to grow and succeed – individually and as a team – gives me a real sense of purpose as a key goal.
“Adding value is extremely important to me. Whether it’s within the workplace or across the wider industry, I’m always seeking ways to contribute meaningfully. Being part of the Women in Print Committee NSW for example, allows me to give back at an industry level, and to be part of something bigger.”
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