Among the earliest and simplest musical instruments are those with a single string and soundboard of some kind. This is a design classic that extends back into antiquity, but also to the coffee bars of Soho in the 1950s when the tea chest bass was a staple instrument of the skiffle revolution, paving the way for the Beatles and all that has followed. In history the single-stringed instrument soon gave way to a multi-stringed version, leading to the violin family, but also to lutes, ukuleles and guitars. Four strings are better than one, and produce many more tunes and chords.
The more strings the better is an observation that extends into industry, and something underlined by the experiences of the last 18 months. Companies that have only ever played one tune have struggled compared to those that produce multiple types of print. Many that had found their main source of income had disappeared because of lockdown have been able to pivot – into safety signage, into ecommerce, into cartons and labels. And there is no way that these businesses are going back to the single-string focus they had pre Covid.
And just as a four-string instrument has a great many more tunes to play than one with a single string, so a printer with multiple facets has far greater appeal to customers than a one-tune band. When that solo violin is put alongside others, to collaborate with violas and cellos, with woodwind, brass and percussion, the result is a full orchestra, able to play any type of music. Few printers can become an orchestra on their own, but through collaboration with others in the same style of work or with those offering different services, they can present clients with a much fuller, rounded and enjoyable sound. This is the sound that buyers want to hear. They do not want to have to pick the soloist for every type of job, they want to work with an instrumentalist who can become the conductor to get the best performance from all kinds of print.
Printers who can play the best tunes
Among the earliest and simplest musical instruments are those with a single string and soundboard of some kind. This is a design classic that extends back into antiquity, but also to the coffee bars of Soho in the 1950s when the tea chest bass was a staple instrument of the skiffle revolution, paving the way for the Beatles and all that has followed. In history the single-stringed instrument soon gave way to a multi-stringed version, leading to the violin family, but also to lutes, ukuleles and guitars. Four strings are better than one, and produce many more tunes and chords.
The more strings the better is an observation that extends into industry, and something underlined by the experiences of the last 18 months. Companies that have only ever played one tune have struggled compared to those that produce multiple types of print. Many that had found their main source of income had disappeared because of lockdown have been able to pivot – into safety signage, into ecommerce, into cartons and labels. And there is no way that these businesses are going back to the single-string focus they had pre Covid.
And just as a four-string instrument has a great many more tunes to play than one with a single string, so a printer with multiple facets has far greater appeal to customers than a one-tune band. When that solo violin is put alongside others, to collaborate with violas and cellos, with woodwind, brass and percussion, the result is a full orchestra, able to play any type of music. Few printers can become an orchestra on their own, but through collaboration with others in the same style of work or with those offering different services, they can present clients with a much fuller, rounded and enjoyable sound. This is the sound that buyers want to hear. They do not want to have to pick the soloist for every type of job, they want to work with an instrumentalist who can become the conductor to get the best performance from all kinds of print.
Gareth Ward
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