A year has passed since Buckingham Colour Group and Colour Quest merged to become BCQ, one of the largest communications company of its type in the UK; grand ambitions were forged during a time of harsh trading conditions. The honeymoon period is over – what’s been achieved?

On paper, it was a perfect marriage because of complimentary resources and attitudes; although the consolidation was precipitated by the Buncefield disaster which rendered Colour Quest homeless, the two companies had in fact recognised their kinship much earlier on. It was a question of timing.

But mergers of this type are perilous affairs; differing management styles, systems, operations and company culture needed careful consideration for the merged organisation BCQ to achieve its promise in a tough marketplace.

Happily, the faith invested by the two owners – CQ’s Tyrone Spence and BCG’s Richard Knowles – has been well-founded, and provided a platform for business growth and expansion.

Major investment in new kit has been triggered by both a substantial increase in business and by the desire to offer real flexibility of print solutions for the customer – a key differentiator in the price-driven scramble that characterises the print world.

In addition to the company’s existing digital production systems (HP Indigo and Xerox iGen3 under one roof) and extensive litho equipment (including five Heidelberg Speedmaster 74s), BCQ has acquired a Heidelberg ST350 Stitchmaster, Trueflow CtP, and Autobond laminator. Two new small offset litho presses have recently been ordered, together with a new HP Indigo 5500 to meet increasing demands in variable data work.

The diversification and ambition of the business has led to a number of new appointments to back up the company’s already excellent team. These have included, a direct mail co-ordinator, a director of digital solutions, as well as a number of experienced new account managers.

Furthermore, in order to ‘oil the engine’ BCQ is currently installing a new ‘Imprint’ MIS to provide accurate management information around the business.

Word is spreading about BCQ’s online capabilities – the company has developed a dedicated online department and has won six new major contracts over the past year.

Elsewhere in the business, the company’s has invested in purpose-built warehousing facilities to handle fulfilment and pick and pack contracts for national organisations; and the group’s creative arm, bda, continues to develop its range of services and client base, offering the latest in personalised cross-media and digital communications.

Spence sees investment in digital production channels as key to meeting increasingly sophisticated print requirements.

“Web-based applications will develop to a point where we can offer our customers much greater control in areas such as personalised print and direct mail,” he says. “The variety and quality of digital solutions available for output means faster, more sophisticated and cost-effective print. Currently around 20% of our orders are via online channels.”

What does this gearing up mean for BCQ? Richard Knowles thinks the diversity of solutions will help future-proof their operation.

“Our Buckingham site handles corporate print, high quality one-to-one variable data marketing communications, short run magazines, fulfilment of a variety of online direct marketing campaigns and stationery orders to name just a few. We aim to offer a true cradle to grave service”

Besides the nuts and bolts of production, customers benefit from a 24/6 operation and have the peace of mind that they’re dealing with a long-term environmentally responsible partner.

BCQ is a happy ship; the merger initially threw up friendly rivalries but as the new organisation marks its first year, it’s clear that everyone’s on the same page. The company continues to prove that in the print world, bigger can mean better if driven by fresh thinking, energy and customer need.