Consumer gift card and voucher sales in the first quarter of 2013 grew by 4.6% year-on-year, new figures from the UK Gift Card & Voucher Association (UKGCVA) reveal. “Over 4% growth across the industry is a very strong performance given the instability of the wider retail market,” said Andrew Johnson, director-general of the UKGCVA, the trade body that represents the £4.7bn gift voucher, cards and stored value solutions industry. “It’s encouraging to see evidence that consumer confidence in vouchers so far seems to be relatively unaffected by fall-out from high street administrations and issues around voucher redemption. Many consumers still turned to vouchers as a gift option in the run up to Easter.” The report, compiled independently by Ernst & Young, showed that strong growth was seen across a variety of consumer gift card sales. Traditional paper and e-vouchers enjoyed “staggering growth” of almost 20% whilst restricted loop gift cards showed the highest growth of 35%, according to the figures. Sherwood Press chief executive Jeremy Bacon said: “This is a growth market; there’s no doubt about it. It’s an important part of our business and we work with clients who supply most of the major retailers. “One of the drivers for retailers is the amount of gift cards that are not redeemed – it’s a very high-margin product for retailers. It’s surprising how few cards are redeemed. Retailers are giving them more space in store. Bacon said he believed the figures also reflected a huge amount of innovation. “Though online is a threat to all forms of print, if you are looking at traditional litho print on paper, there are so many value-added finishes such as foils and glitter, which make the product more attractive,” he explained. Windles Group senior manager Michelle Mills said: “Some of this increased growth will no doubt be on-line with e-vouchers. But gift cards are becoming more popular. Consumers have less to spend these days, so the concept of getting more for less through vouchers is huge. “We don’t foresee any decline in demand for printed gift cards and vouchers. On the contrary we’ve enjoyed manufacturing higher volumes. People like to touch and feel things, especially gifts. They enjoy receiving something physical and tactile. Mills said the company was using innovative finishing techniques such as foiling and deep textured varnish. She added: “This is an area we create more value on printed material at relatively low cost.” Johnson said the association did not currently collate data on digital sales but would be starting from the second quarter of this year. Members were reporting increases in digital, which was still very much in its infancy, he said. “Few high-street retailers have yet to incorporate digital...

It had been expected that administrators would be appointed at the business yesterday (28 May), but no-one had been appointed at the time of writing on Wednesday. Suppliers, employees and customers remain in the dark about what will happen next at the £19.4m turnover business, which employs more than 200 staff. One employee told PrintWeek: “No-one knows what’s going on. Unite the union have been in today, but they can’t do anything for us until an administrator is appointed.” A supplier to the group, who wished to remain anonymous, described the situation as “a great worry”. “We are trying to find out what’s happening. We’re owed a reasonable sum of money as are many people in the industry.” There is understood to be interest in the company’s well-invested King’s Lynn digital printing facility from possible third-party purchasers. Things came to a head at the company last week, apparently because of a cashflow crisis caused by overrunning costs at its new Cambridge facility, set up after MPG took over the former Cambridge University Press in-house print operation. The resulting hiatus has resulted in a huge outpouring of comments on the printweek.com forum, but no statement from the company itself....

The Derby-based arm of US print supplier Nustream, is supporting its expansion with a new warehouse, opened in January, enabling it to stock both the portfolio of inks and plates and offer next-day delivery. Nustream is initially concentrating its efforts on supplying IBF’s Million DV plate, which is suitable for customers that require B2 and B3 violet CTP plates. The firm then intends to offer plates for the thermal laser sector later this year. The group has also added Veramax inkjet inks, designed for Epson Stylus Pro machines, to its supply base. These are available in either 220ml cartridges or in bulk formats and are claimed to offer “significant savings” over buying the original products. Nustream claim that the 220ml offers up to 40% savings while the bulk units are said to offer up to 70% savings. Nustream Europe business development manager Colin Taylor, said: “We believe these products offer unrivalled value for money without compromising on quality.” Canadian soft proofing developer and supplier Nustream Graphic made its inroads into the UK market with the formation of Nustream Europe in late 2010. Nustream Europe handles the distribution and development of its Proofstream products, as well as a number of digital presses, CTP, inks and workflows. The group is encouraging users to switch to IBF plates or Veramax inks by offering them 12 months free use of the Proofstream online collaborative proofing software, which it values at more than £1200....

It had been expected that administrators would be appointed at the business yesterday (28 May), but no-one had been appointed at the time of writing on Wednesday. Suppliers, employees and customers remain in the dark about what will happen next at the £19.4m turnover business, which employs more than 200 staff. One employee told PrintWeek: “No-one knows what’s going on. Unite the union have been in today, but they can’t do anything for us until an administrator is appointed.” A supplier to the group, who wished to remain anonymous, described the situation as “a great worry”. “We are trying to find out what’s happening. We’re owed a reasonable sum of money as are many people in the industry.” There is understood to be interest in the company’s well-invested King’s Lynn digital printing facility from possible third-party purchasers. Things came to a head at the company last week, apparently because of a cashflow crisis caused by overrunning costs at its new Cambridge facility, set up after MPG took over the former Cambridge University Press in-house print operation. The resulting hiatus has resulted in a huge outpouring of comments on the printweek.com forum, but no statement from the company itself....

The Derby-based arm of US print supplier Nustream, is supporting its expansion with a new warehouse, opened in January, enabling it to stock both the portfolio of inks and plates and offer next-day delivery. Nustream is initially concentrating its efforts on supplying IBF’s Million DV plate, which is suitable for customers that require B2 and B3 violet CTP plates. The firm then intends to offer plates for the thermal laser sector later this year. The group has also added Veramax inkjet inks, designed for Epson Stylus Pro machines, to its supply base. These are available in either 220ml cartridges or in bulk formats and are claimed to offer “significant savings” over buying the original products. Nustream claim that the 220ml offers up to 40% savings while the bulk units are said to offer up to 70% savings. Nustream Europe business development manager Colin Taylor, said: “We believe these products offer unrivalled value for money without compromising on quality.” Canadian soft proofing developer and supplier Nustream Graphic made its inroads into the UK market with the formation of Nustream Europe in late 2010. Nustream Europe handles the distribution and development of its Proofstream products, as well as a number of digital presses, CTP, inks and workflows. The group is encouraging users to switch to IBF plates or Veramax inks by offering them 12 months free use of the Proofstream online collaborative proofing software, which it values at more than £1200....