Inspiration is there to be found

The whole industry was saddened to learn of the untimely death of Augustus Martin co founder Lascelle Barrow last week. His contribution to the industry is impossible to measure, through building his company to a leading position in the sector, to driving Fespa to further growth and to inspiring the people he met from all across the globe. His greatest attribute however, may well have been his vision and ability to see where the industry was headed. He persuaded Fespa, at the time dominated by screen and large format litho printing, to see that inkjet was the future. Many years before that, on holiday in France, he saw how street furniture could be used to carry print advertising.

Barrow had the vision not only to see the potential of bus stops, street signage, seating and more but also to use it to build his business. Another print entrepreneur John Madjeski had spotted similar potential in a second hand cars magazine while on holiday in Florida. That became Auto Trader with the innovation of showing images of the cars for sale compared to staid descriptions in Exchange & Mart at the time. More recently Robert Keane spotted the potential of using the internet to market and sell print, leading to a company called Cimpress.

None of them was prepared to accept the status quo and as a result changed the sectors they worked in and delivered printed products where none existed before. Innovation is the most effective way to success. There is no leveraged buyouts to pay for, no intense price-led competition, because these entrepreneurs were doing something that had never been done before. And by doing so, created their own future. Individuals have the good ideas that can change industries. Inspiration can come from almost anywhere, provided people are open enough to accept that inspiration. For Barrow and Madejeski, that inspiration came from keeping their brain working even while while relaxing on holiday.