Printed workwear and promotional merchandise printer Involution has acquired the assets and name of Print.Inc. Both businesses are in Leeds and operate in overlapping areas.
But while Involution has built its business steadily and the company is debt free, Print.Inc crashed and burned and entered liquidation on 25 July this year. Equipment has been moved to Involution’s premises along with six staff currently including production manager and head of customer service.
The Print.Inc is being retained. Operations director Nathan Cookson says: “Print.Inc will continue under its own identity but now powered by Involution. This means customers can expect secure and guaranteed orders, a wider product range, and the dependable five-star service we’ve delivered for nearly three decades. This is about restoring Print.Inc and giving its customers the stability they deserve while setting the brand up for long term success.”
While there is an overlap in some product areas and customers, the acquisition brings new products and services to Involution including cut sheet paper products. “We are bringing across additional finishing equipment for paper products. Some die cutting equipment, other areas of finishing and sewing machines,” he says.
The deal was not prearranged but the opportunity to accelerate growth was not to be passed up. There was ten days of negotiation to come with an acceptable deal and rapid reorganisation over the last ten days to get the Print.Inc website up and running and to plan how additional equipment, stocks and people were to be accommodated.
In its favour Involution had acquired an additional 510m2 at the end of last year giving it room to breathe and providing the space to make the moves to accommodate the additional people and equipment.
The aim now is to rebuild the Print.Inc reputation and by the end of the year to have secured the turnover of the business. Cookson adds: “This is more than just an acquisition – it’s a fresh start. We had ambitious growth targets for the period leading to 2030, and this acquisition has accelerated us in a very positive direction. It was unexpected, but often the best opportunities are. With a name like Print.Inc, we’re excited to revitalise it, restore it to its former glory, and integrate its strengths into the Involution ethos and processes. Combined, we truly believe that Involution and Print.Inc can create a Northern print powerhouse for the future.”
He reckons that all bing well the deal will accelerate growth by around 18 months.
“Acquiring Print.Inc is an exciting opportunity to bring stability, expertise, and fresh energy to a well-known brand,” says Involution managing director Michael Ainsworth. “Our focus is on ensuring customers receive continuity, quality, and innovation from day one, while integrating the best of Print.Inc into Involution’s proven processes. Together, we can build a stronger, more reliable service that customers can trust for years to come.”
