New year predictions: Zoe Deadman, KCS Print

Deadman: printers need “foresight and planning to deal with the rollercoaster ahead”

What’s at the top of your Christmas wish list this year?
A relaxing, joyous time filled with laughs and good will. There has been enough negativity and division for one year. 

What trend (business or technology) do you think 2018 will be remembered for?
GDPR implementation was the most talked about change for many printers this year. It is now starting to filter through as an opportunity for the sector as companies grasp the unique possibilities print offers which is great to see.  

What do you think will represent the single biggest opportunity for printers in 2019 and why?
With potential recession and economic strife looming, it is difficult to look to the positives. However, I hope that foresight and planning to deal with the rollercoaster ahead will put prudent companies in a better position where price may not be the only factor considered. Wouldn’t that be nice?

What do you think will represent the single biggest threat for printers in 2019 and why?
The single biggest threat to our industry is clearly Brexit. With the vast majority of raw materials coming in from Europe, the potential for massive disruption is obvious. Paper will be put to the back of the queue with perishable goods and medicines in front of it. Printers that have not planned properly or that are not regarded highly by suppliers may not survive the fallout.

What’s the one thing that the industry should do more of, or do better, in 2019?
Value our products more and stand together in demanding better payment terms from customers.

What was your highlight of 2018?
Taking over the helm at KCS Print. My mum’s blood, sweat and tears for 30 years has been handed to me in brilliant shape and I am delighted to push it forward from here. 

What are your hopes for 2019?
We are a dynamic team which likes to look to the horizon to see what may be coming. We have a few ideas in the pipeline and I hope that one of them will prove to be successful for us.

What is your one-word view on Brexit?
Disastrous.

What was the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Envisage the future you want, make a plan of how to get there then put it in to action. It’s amazing how if you do the little things in the right order you can make big changes. 

What if anything will you do differently in 2019?
I will look to add more structure to how I work next year. As a ‘red/yellow’ person, I tend to being doing multiple things at the same time without any obvious order. I think I could fit more in if I worked in a more organised fashion. 

What was the best Christmas present you ever received?
I spent one Christmas in Rajasthan in India and had Christmas day at the Maharajas palace in Jaipur. Presents were restricted to 500 rupees (£5) per person and bought the day before in the souk. The gifts received were surprising, fun and heartfelt with none of the corporate bluff we tend to get sucked into here.

Are you making any New Year’s resolutions? If so, what?
I am starting boot camp in January. 6am training sessions – I must be mad!