Christopher Knowles has taken over as managing director of BCQ Group, the company founded by Richard Knowles 38 years ago. Knowles senior becomes chairman of the Buckingham business.
The move comes as the business completes the installation and training of a Scodix digital finisher to join two HP Indigos in its digital print department. The litho floor has three B2 presses, two Speedmaster XL75s installed in the last 18 months and at the Jolly Big site in Wolverton, the installation of a Fujifilm Acuity and Kongsberg cutting table.
“We have spent the best part of £1 million last year, £2 million before that on the XLs and wide format to consolidate our position. We are now pushing for healthy growth in the next couple of years,” says the new managing director.
Chris Knowles had studied at the LCP before joining Artisan Press then working for print buying organisations including Communisis and Tesco before joining BCQ in 2008. He has risen through the ranks to become strategic performance director leading a push for direct clients ahead of taking over as managing director.
“We started to move forwards a couple of years ago,” says Richard Knowles. “The last few years have been interesting in comping out of recession.” The company also had to cope with the retirement of Tyrone Spence who had merged his Colour Quest company with Buckingham Colour in the wake of the Buncefield explosion in 2007.
The focus is now very much away from supplying print managers, though the company continues to work with these organisations on its own terms. “We are no longer dependent on print managers,” says Richard Knowles. “We have upped our game in terms of print quality. And we are more selective in terms of the customer portfolio,” says Chris Knowles. “We are no longer just chasing turnover. This means that while we will not grow turnover necessarily, we are growing profitability. We are offering a better product.”
That will expand again once production on the Scodix begins in earnest. The company is planning a campaign around the capabilities of the machine under the ‘BCQ Touch’ brand complete with raised image produced on the device. It is planning to use the technology for proactive campaigns towards targetted customers.
“We want to make print sexy again. We want to create a good experience from start to finish,” says Chris Knowles. He has been in the lead in the drive for direct clients, using personal experience to tailor what is offered to the different customers. “It is about us being the print managers for ourselves,” he adds.
The next stage of the development will be a growth of its mailing capabilities, both through organic growth and possible acquisition, though neither is providing details.
Richard Knowles becomes chairman and son Chris becomes managing director of BCQ, 38 years after the business was started. And after investment in the last couple of years, the company is ready to push on with a new customer focused strategy.
