The Netherlands-based enterprise, established in 2018 by Captain Marco Aarnink, has made significant strides in the print industry. Prior to launching this venture, Aarnink was the owner of Drukwerkdeal, a prominent Dutch online printshop, which he sold to Cimpress in 2014. With a vision to innovate trade print services, Print.com caters to designers, marketers, resellers, and printers through its user-friendly website and customizable APIs that seamlessly integrate with clients’ existing ERP or MIS systems.
Expansion into the UK Market
Print.com operates with country-specific storefronts and boasts a network of approximately 160 production partners across Europe, complemented by two production facilities located in the Netherlands. The company currently employs over 350 individuals. Notably, the UK market marks its first venture outside the European Union.
Leading the UK operations is Fiona Robinson, who brings nearly two decades of experience in the print sector, most recently serving as operations director at Works Manchester. Robinson joined Print.com in March to spearhead the establishment of the UK business and secure initial production partnerships. In tandem, she collaborated with developers to create a sterling storefront and began assembling a dedicated UK team.
“The Print Show was our ‘set-in-stone’ deadline to officially launch the UK business and be ready to start accepting our first orders,” Robinson remarked. “As of now, we can take orders in pounds.”
Robinson has successfully secured the first four production partners in the UK, though she playfully refrained from disclosing their identities, referring to them as “the usual suspects.” She expressed confidence in the current product offerings, stating, “We have a lot of core products covered with our existing UK partners, and others I can place at our own facilities – but I’m still keen to expand our UK partner network.”
The extensive product range includes books and brochures, stationery and packaging, flyers and leaflets, banners and signage, labels and corporate gifts, as well as clothing and event graphics. “The product range is massive, and you can choose any combination. The business is all about expanding the creative options in print whenever possible,” Robinson emphasized.
Another unique selling proposition of Print.com is its commitment to employing print experts in customer-facing roles. This approach ensures that clients and partners receive knowledgeable support throughout their interactions. Robinson’s strategy for the UK operation centers on sustainable growth, aligning customer and partner expectations with the company’s offerings.
“When Marco set up the business, he didn’t want it to be another that simply tells customers ‘these are the products we make, so this is what you are going to buy from us.’ He approached it from the other way round, engaging 100 early adopters in The Netherlands and asking them ‘what do you need, what do you want, what do you like, what do you not like?’ and built it from that perspective,” Robinson concluded, highlighting the foundational philosophy of Print.com.
