Liverpool John Moores University

by Joe BillinghamDigital Printing, Fulfilment & Mailing, Lithographic Printing, Online Solutions, StoragePosted on Comments are Disabled

Liverpool John Moore University

Early in 2022 Belmont Press took part in a large and comprehensive print framework tendering opportunity for Liverpool John Moore’s University (LJMU). This incorporated a strong emphasis on supporting the environment and further complimenting the civic commitment held by LJMU which extends throughout its curriculum and supply chain. LJMU is committed to playing a leading role in finding sustainable solutions and adopts suppliers to their supply chain that can further support their aims. LJMU are in the top third of universities in the People and Plant League and are a member of the Universities Climate Network.

The tender process scoring scheme was led with non-price criteria accounting for 70% of the total tender score, allocating Management of the Contract at 45% and Social Value and Carbon Reduction at 25%. The print requirements were split into Lots incorporating flagship publications to wide format projects. The bids from Belmont Press were measured in accordance with the tender requirements and judged to offer the best solutions, instilling confidence that all projects would be delivered, mirroring the University's own ethos.

Social values

Our achieved score highlighted that as a print partner, Belmont Press would prove exceptionally responsive to meet the needs of the University, and consequently, Belmont Press were successful in winning the contracts on all three Lots for which they bid.

The attributes of Belmont Press as a green print partner culminated earlier this year with certification as a Carbon Neutral Printer. As part of the LJMU contracted supply chain, Belmont Press are able to provide data to assess the impact any product will have upon the environment in terms of CO2. This supports the objectives of LJMU’s policies to decrease their carbon footprint.

Social Value and Governance good practice is also embedded within the contract. Belmont Press recognise the importance of these elements which encompasses the support of our team members and wider community projects, underpinning the ethos of our business and our value as a print supplier.

Carbon neutral printer

One of the first projects under the new contracts for LJMU was for the print production and mailing of the Applicant Handbook. This consisted of 68 pages printed in five colours with an additional aqueous (water based) coater applied to the covers to prevent ink transfer and marking. The Handbook was PUR bound and prepared for mailing to prospective students.

A key element within the specification set by LJMU was the procurement of carbon balanced paper. This was achieved working with the World Land Trust - their Carbon Balanced programme supports action on climate change and biodiversity protection. With the paper purchased using this scheme the LJMU Applicant Handbook bears the World Land Trust Logo.

The reduction of waste and surplus packaging is a key aim within the contract.

What the client says

The Applicant Handbook was then mailed via the most cost effective route to market by our fulfilment team, using a perfect fit recyclable outer wrap. Our client from LJMU had this to say about their experience with the Belmont team: -

"Colour, brand consistency, quality and delivery are all equally important for our brand. All these elements were achieved and not comprimised, with some very challenging deliveryes met!

All products have been very well received. Belmont has a fantastic accommodating team- exceptional.

I would absolutely not hesitate to recommend them if you are look for competitive costs, quality without compromise and excellent delivery."

Unit Editions

by Joe BillinghamFulfilment & Mailing, Online Solutions, StoragePosted on Comments are Disabled

Unit Editions

Unit Editions is an independent publishing venture that retails hard backed books for an international audience of designers, design students and followers of visual culture.

Unit Editions books are only available via their website and a handful of specialist bookshops, therefore a warehousing, fulfilment and mailing partner was sought to help them reach their international client base.

Belmont Press were chosen as Unit Editions favoured storage, fulfilment and international mailing partner in 2017. Our solution was chosen due to our large in-house storage facility, our in-house fulfilment team and competitive international mailing rates.

Unit Editions also required their chosen partner to integrate within their shopify account, retrieve orders automatically and process them daily for despatch all over the world.

Belmont Press warehousing

Belmont’s internal IT department provided the necessary experience and skill set to write a bespoke application programming interface key (API), which would provide the right solution.

Due to the high-quality nature and retail value of their publications, Unit Editions also needed the assurance that all case bound books would be despatched in superior protective packaging to ensure arrival in pristine condition to clients located worldwide. Our box converting equipment was employed to manufacture made-to-measure cartons for each order, while larger format books were shipped with protective corners.

Orders are received directly via shopify, collated, carefully packaged, and shipped from our own warehouse. The dedicated operations team at Belmont Press source the most cost effective route to market for mailing and delivery to ensure the cost and service meets the requirements set by Unit Editions.

Delivery reporting

Stock level figures are instantaneously updated, allowing Unit Editions to log on to a bespoke customer facing stock management system called Dashboard.

This enables clients to monitor stock levels held in our storage facility, keep track of orders and access proof of delivery reports.

Detailed reports are generated via Dashboard, listing all transactions within a set time frame which are sent with accompanying monthly invoices.

Unit Editions fulfil a unique niche, creating and distributing high quality publications on a wide variety of topics that are generally neglected by mainstream publishers.  The efficient system built in partnership with Belmont Press ensures safe storage and reliable distribution to their clients around the world.

Uclan case study

by Joe BillinghamFulfilment & Mailing, Lithographic Printing, StoragePosted on Comments are Disabled

University of Central Lancashire

The University of Central Lancashire is one of the UKs largest universities with staff and student numbers approaching 38,000. UCLan’s student population comes from over 100 countries around the world, creating a truly diverse global community. Belmont Press successfully tendered for the printing of the university's Undergraduate Prospectus 2022, a publication that needed to be of first-class quality. It also needed to reflect the huge changes underway on campus, with the radical £200m transformation of the Preston Campus nearing completion.

The Undergraduate Prospectus is a substantial publication of 256pp, with matt laminate and spot UV varnish applied to the outer covers, with a finished size of 240 x 170mm.

As the flagship publication to showcase the University’s revitalised brand, we first output two fully bound book proofs on our Digital printing press to help the UCLan team visualise their artwork in a finished format.

Prospectus printing

Once the final artwork tweaks were completed, our production team got to work, with all printed text being produced on our Heidelberg B1 lithographic presses that are equipped with impress technology.

“Impress” technology automatically measures and records colour and re-calibrates every seven sheets. This ensures colour consistency throughout the entirety of the print run, maintaining brand consistency and quality of product.

An additional requirement of the contract was to fulfil and mail the publication to prospective students. The UCLan team mirror our own ethos and try to avoid the use of single-use plastics.

With this in mind, we designed a suitably sized environmentally friendly, fully recyclable outer cardboard wrap. Artwork supplied from the University is printed onto the outer wrap and it is die-cut to shape.

Partners

The finished result is an eye-catching prospectus, introducing new students to the University’s exciting ‘We See YOU’ campaign, and produced to the highest quality and environmentally friendly standards. Dan Mills, Publications Officer for UCLan had this to say about the project:

“Belmont have demonstrated excellent customer service throughout. Whenever we had a query and needed some advice, they responded promptly and were always friendly and helpful.

Having a good relationship with our appointed printer is crucial, because the prospectus is a huge project with lots of components and it's essential that when it lands in student's hands it showcases our University as effectively as possible.

Belmont delivered on time to the tight deadline we set them, and every aspect was carried out exceptionally and professionally - from the printing of the prospectus and its packaging to delivery and their ongoing liaison with our mailroom and recruitment teams.

Belmont have exceeded our expectations and we would be very happy to work with them again in the future.”

Easydry

by Joe BillinghamFulfilment & Mailing, Online Solutions, StoragePosted on Comments are Disabled

Easydry

Easydry is the global, multi award-winning pioneer of the eco-friendly disposable towel. Used by hair salons and beauty companies, Easydry disposable towels are a super absorbent, eco-friendly and hygienic alternative solution to traditional cotton towels. Easydry makes a number of promises as part of their business model, which assures clients of an efficient distribution from their chosen storage facility, direct to their customers.

Their service level agreement states to clients that orders will be delivered within the UK in 1-2 business days, the EU in 3-7 business days, USA and Canada in 3-7 business days and the rest of world within 5-10 business days.

Belmont Press storage facility

To help Easydry deliver on this promise they were looking for a partner that had the space to store all of their products safely, had the ability to receive customer orders and had access to a reliable distribution network domestically and internationally. In early 2021 Belmont Press were awarded the contract as Easydry's chosen storage, fulfilment and distribution service provider.

Upon contract award, our warehouse immediately took delivery of over 200 pallets worth of Easydry stock. Meanwhile our IT department got to work creating a bespoke management information system which would monitor stock levels, receive orders and generate shipping labels.

Delivery reporting

Since the start of the contract, our fulfilment team have processed thousands of orders on behalf of Easydry, ensuring their clients' hair and beauty salons are replenished with business critical items. The nature of the contract means a constant flow of incoming and outgoing pallets, all monitored by our bespoke MIS and web-based client dashboard, which provides live stock data 24/7.

All goods are shipped from our storage facility via our full track and trace service, which means that we know exactly where the goods are, and when they will be at their destination.

Direct mail

IDEXX Laboratories

by Joe BillinghamDigital Printing, Fulfilment & Mailing, Lithographic Printing, Online Solutions, StoragePosted on No Comments

IDEXX Laboratories

IDEXX laboratories are specialists in veterinary diagnostics, dairy and water testing. The busy UK marketing department relies on Belmont Press to print its range of marketing materials, from personalised direct mail to its 96-printed-page Directory of Products and Services. The UK Marketing Team at Idexx Laboratories commented: “With their range of presses from digital to 12-colour litho and HD, Belmont Press has the scale and flexibility to handle all of our printing requirements. They deliver a very professional service at a reasonable price and turn around work very quickly for us. They have never missed a deadline.”

Direct mail, print on demand, storage and distribution

As well as the company's direct mail requirements, Belmont Press also manages a storage, fulfilment and distribution operation on behalf of IDEXX Laboratories. The Marketing Team added: “We send over a spreadsheet with lots of requirements and multiple tabs and I know that Belmont Press will facilitate the distribution perfectly. I know that the right item will be delivered to the right person at the right time. They make the whole project very straightforward for us.”

Well established company

They continued: "I've dealt with Belmont Press for many years and it's a well-established company with a long history. It's always evolved to ensure that it has the right technology to meet the clients' needs. When I joined IDEXX Laboratories, I was fully aware of Belmont's quality and environmental systems, and this was another important factor in my decision to select them to print our marketing materials. They are a proactive, innovative print partner who always put their clients interests first"