www.printitreseller.uk PRINT, MFP, SOFTWARE, SERVICES, DOCUMENT & CLOUD NEWS & INFORMATION FOR VARS, CONVERGED RESELLERS & MFP DEALERS ISSUE 129 · 2025 20 25 Royal Lancaster · December 2 Entries close 5pm July 18 www.printitawards.co.uk PRINT IT RESELLER MAGAZINE IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2011
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PRINTITRESELLER.UK 3 COMMENT Entries to the 2025 PrintIT Awards have been open for a month now! The clock is ticking, and the deadline isn’t that far away. There’s no better time than the present to get your entries completed. I’ve included a handy reminder of the 2025 categories and a summary of the criteria for each award – see page 22. I really enjoyed putting together this month’s VOX POP. Last issue some of the industry’s OEMs spoke about the steps they are taking to support a circular economy, in terms of sustainable manufacturing, increased use of PCR content in devices and their recycling and refurbishment offerings. Beginning on page 40, we invited a selection of resellers to share their thoughts on customer expectations around circularity/sustainability, and whether sustainably‑manufactured and/or refurbished devices provide a competitive edge. Also in this issue, Mihaela Popescu, Marketing Manager at Managed Print Solutions, picks the work tools she uses every day and couldn’t do her job without (page 18). This month’s Q&A is with Steve Young, Managing Director, Stream Managed Services and PITR spent 60 seconds with Ferdi Xavier, Sales Executive Apprentice, IT Document Solutions. If you’ve got any news about your business to share, would like to be included on our monthly VOX POP panel, have a compelling business success story or simply wish to comment on any industry issues, please get in touch with me at: [email protected] Michelle Ryder, Editor Editor’s Comment Register online To receive your regular FREE printed copy of PrintIT Reseller Magazine simply fill in our online registration form at www.printitreseller.uk/register Read PrintIT Reseller online at: www.printitreseller.uk Join us : Follow us @print-it-reseller-magazine PRINT IT RESELLER MAGAZINE IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2011 PrintIT Reseller is published by Kingswood Media Ltd., 7 Amherst House, 22 London Road, Sevenoaks TN13 2BT • Tel: 01732 759725 Email: [email protected] www.printitreseller.uk No part of PrintIT Reseller can be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. ©2025 Kingswood Media Ltd. 04 Bulletin News from the channel 12 Bulletin Where do you take yours? 16 People A round-up of new hires 18 I couldn’t do my job without... Mihaela Popescu picks her favourite work tools 20 A decade in print Jamie Brothwell shares her print experiences over the past decade 22 PrintIT Awards The clock is ticking, time to get your entries completed 26 MPS EKM Global eyes up growth 29 Focus on: What’s New A round-up of recent product launches 30 Partner Conference 750 guests attended DocuWorld 2025 32 Cover Story FUTERA: A new era for the channel 34 Opinion Managed IT and MPS convergence 36 One-to-one Kristian Samler, COO at MyQ 39 Events Ethan White reports back on the 2025 ski club network 40 VOX POP Transitioning to a circular economy – part two 46 Industry Insight Michael Field, Managing Director, Workflo Solutions 48 View from the Channel Steve Young, Managing Director, Stream Managed Services 50 60 seconds with… Ferdi Xavier, Sales Executive Apprentice, IT Document Solutions 2025 ISSUE 129 printitreseller.uk If you no longer wish to receive PrintIT Reseller magazine please email your details to [email protected] Group Editor: James Goulding 07803 087228 · [email protected] Editor: Michelle Ryder 01732 759725 · [email protected] Publishing Director, Social Media and Web Editor: Neil Trim 01732 759725 · [email protected] Advertising Director: Ethan White 01732 759725 · [email protected] Account Manager: Jeff Root 07976 950285 · [email protected] Designer: Brian Cloke 07484 288189 · [email protected] Issue 129 ISSN 2055-3110 (Print) ISSN 2055-3129 (Online)
01732 759725 4 Agilico empowers businesses to be sustainable Agilico has launched a carbon footprint calculator and audits which will give organisations visibility into their carbon impact, enabling them to visualise their carbon data, identify areas for improvement and track progress toward their sustainability goals. Sam Saunders, Head of Marketing of Agilico said: “You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Our carbon avoidance calculator and audits give our clients the visibility they need to make informed, greener choices. It’s about turning ambition into action, and helping our customers become more accountable, efficient, and sustainable.” The new Carbon Calculator builds on the company’s proven success in helping customers reduce their environmental impact. Agilico’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond mere rhetoric; it is deeply ingrained in the fabric of the organisation. The company is targeting to be net zero by 2030 and has aligned its operations with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a circular-first managed print services provider, Agilico’s refurbished print devices keep resources in use for as long as possible, extracting their maximum value and regenerating them into new products or materials. Over the past two years 3,500 refurbished print devices have been deployed, avoiding 1,825 tonnes of CO₂e – the equivalent of planting over 73,000 trees and over 1,660 tonnes of materials were kept in use or recycled, equivalent to saving over 215 buses of weight from landfill. www.agilico.co.uk 150% growth for Carbon Group Carbon Group has achieved150% growth over the past three years. The company recorded £3.8 million in revenue by the end of the March 2025 financial year, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing expansion. The continued growth has been driven by its commitment to delivering innovative, sustainable print solutions to clients across a diverse range of industries including energy, education, shipping, agriculture, hospitality, pharmaceuticals, and recycling services. The firm has successfully completed in excess of 1,300 installations in the last financial year and onboarded 132 new clients to its sustainable printing services, with a number of major contract wins secured in 2024, including Harbour Energy, University of Aberdeen, Peterson’s, Albert Bartlet, Px Group, St Andrews Links Trust, and NWH Group. Carbon has also achieved remarkable milestones in its partnerships, becoming the fastest dealer to achieve Platinum status with Canon and securing Diamond level with Epson. It is also the only Scottish business to hold these accreditations, reinforcing its leadership in the print solutions industry. Managing Director Colin Yule said: “To achieve this level of growth over the past three years is a huge accomplishment and is a testament to the team’s hard work and to our innovative approach to meeting the evolving needs of our clients.” Carbon has played a key role in helping companies streamline operations, reduce costs, and meet environmental goals through cloud-based print management and digital workflows. Its industry-leading approach to sustainability has been a key driver in attracting clients from energy intensive sectors such as oil and gas, as well as from sectors focused on technological innovation like education and hospitality. The company’s use of heat-free technology and its commitment to reducing CO2 emissions have made its print solutions especially appealing to businesses looking to improve both their financial and environmental performance. With ongoing investment in people and infrastructure, Carbon is well-positioned for further growth as it looks to expand its reach across Scotland and beyond. The company’s recent expansion into a new facility in Grangemouth and the relocation of its headquarters to Aberdeen city centre, underlines its commitment to supporting an expanding client base and sustaining the growth momentum. “As businesses increasingly prioritise sustainability, we’re proud to be at the forefront of delivering digital and print solutions that help them meet their green goals while boosting operational efficiency. Looking ahead, we remain committed to advancing our technology and infrastructure to provide the most effective solutions for our clients across the UK while ensuring sustainability remains at the core of everything we do,” Yule concluded. www.carbon-group.co.uk BULLETIN Diamond partner status Nuvem Solutions has been awarded Diamond partner status by Toshiba Tec UK. Diamond is the highest level awarded by the OEM. . Director Michael Woodcock said: “Myself and Daniel Lancaster are so proud to be one of only a handful of Toshiba partners in this bracket – and we managed to get there in less than five years. It has been an amazing, mutually beneficial partnership since day one, and we look forward to many years working together in the future.” https://nuvemsolutions.co.uk (l-r) Carbon leadership team – Director Scott Simpson, Managing Director Colin Yule and Director Graham Gray BULLETIN
01732 759725 Smarter ways to finance IT investments TD SYNNEX is bringing all its financial services together under its TD SYNNEX Capital financing arm. This includes the initiative formerly known as Tech-as-a-Service (TAAS), which allows partners to offer any combination of hardware, software and services – including those provided by the partner itself – as part of a single contract. All leases and subscriptions will now be financed by TD SYNNEX Capital. Finance solutions start from £1,000, with flexible terms (12 to 60 months), monthly, quarterly or annual payment options and no upper limit on contract values. Transactions under £250,000 can be handled automatically through TD SYNNEX’s InTouch e-commerce platform. For larger or more complex deals, TD SYNNEX’s team of experts is available to provide guidance and structure bespoke financing solutions. “IT partners need smarter financing solutions that make it easier for customers to invest in technology,” said Sophia Haywood‑Atkinson, Services Director, UK and Ireland, TD SYNNEX. “TD SYNNEX Capital is all about optimising flexible spending solutions for partners – letting our money work for them and providing solutions that will enable customers to make IT investments. With all our financial options now offered through and fully funded by TD SYNNEX Capital, there is absolute clarity for partners, and with the newly automated online processes, it’s now easier than ever for them to access our financial services.” https://uk.tdsynnex.com Keepit and Ingram Micro announce strategic go-to-market relationship Keepit has partnered with Ingram Micro to expand access to its vendor‑independent cloud solution for data backup and recovery for value-added resellers, managed service providers, and managed security service partners in the UK. Ingram Micro, which has the ability to reach nearly 90% of the global population, will assist in marketing, selling and supporting the Keepit portfolio while enhancing flexibility in purchasing and financing solutions that incorporate Keepit’s SaaS data protection services. The agreement will help strengthen Keepit’s position in the UK market as a premium global provider of SaaS data protection solutions and services. Jeffrey Drager, Senior Manager, Networking and Security at Ingram Micro said: “Expanding our network and security portfolio with Keepit’s cloud-native data protection solution will enable our shared channel partners to help their customers safeguard essential business applications, boost their cyber resilience, and future-proof their data protection.” www.keepit.com, https://uk.ingrammicro.eu IT distribution market poised for rebound Global market intelligence firm CONTEXT, forecasts 3.6% year-on-year growth in European IT distribution sales for 2025, marking a significant turnaround following two years of stagnation and decline. The latest Q1 2025 CONTEXT Forecasting Report reveals a steady recovery across the IT distribution sector, with growth expected to accelerate in the latter half of the year. AI‑driven infrastructure investments, upcoming PC refresh cycles, and public sector digital initiatives are among the primary catalysts for this renewed momentum. “After a tough period, the European IT distribution market is regaining strength,” said Anthony Frot, Research Director at CONTEXT. “The PC refresh cycle, AI-led infrastructure demand, and a more stable macroeconomic environment are setting the stage for sustainable growth. While challenges persist, the signs for 2025 are encouraging.” Despite a slow start in Q1 2025, CONTEXT anticipates consistent quarter-on-quarter growth, with market confidence improving as economic conditions stabilise. However, risks remain, including geopolitical uncertainties in Europe, potential trade conflicts, and fluctuating exchange rates. Frot added: ’’We are seeing increased optimism among distributors, especially in AI-driven categories. The second half of 2025 is likely to be stronger as businesses resume infrastructure investments and governments push digital adoption. However, the market remains sensitive to political and economic volatility.” www.contextworld.com 6 BULLETIN Arrow introduces global AI accelerator program Arrow Electronics is introducing a worldwide AI accelerator program to help channel partners kickstart their AI journey. The comprehensive program provides the skills, use cases and knowledge needed to maximise the potential of artificial intelligence in their businesses and for their end customers. Eric Gourmelen, Vice President of global cloud and AI for Arrow’s enterprise computing solutions business said: “Channel partners that leverage the AI accelerator program can uncover unique ways to amplify their AI skills and discover additional business opportunities that can be driven by AI. “AI is changing enterprises at groundbreaking speed, and this program is a practical way to help our channel partners to create immediate business impact using an AI-forward roadmap.” Channel partners participating in the program will benefit from enhanced AI knowledge and proficiency, skill enhancement, streamlined business operations, improved customer engagement, and access to expert support to create tailored AI solutions. All are intended to drive better and faster business outcomes. www.arrow.com Sophia Haywood-Atkinson Eric Gourmelen
PRINTITRESELLER.UK Silver sustainability rating VOW Wholesale has achieved the silver sustainability rating from EcoVadis, placing it in the top 15% of companies evaluated. Phillippa Wardleworth, Head of Marketing at VOW Wholesale said: “Our EcoVadis Silver Sustainability Rating signifies significant progress in our journey towards a more responsible future, a commitment we remain focused on.” www.voweurope.com Westcon-Comstor launches managed SOC solution Westcon-Comstor’s Cisco-focused Comstor arm has launched a managed SOC (Security Operations Centre) offering that enables partners to tap into the fast-growing cybersecurity services market while avoiding the cost and complexity of building their own solution. Powered by Cisco XDR (Extended Detection and Response) and created in response to partner demand, the white-labelled Comstor solution allows partners across EMEA (to quickly and easily launch a SOC offering under their own brand. It’s the first managed SOC offering launched by Westcon-Comstor and the first to utilise Cisco XDR. www.westconcomstor.com TD SYNNEX unveils Cisco growth acceleration programme TD SYNNEX has re-launched its Cisco Momentum partner programme focused on accelerating growth through a framework of specifically designed tools, programmes and resources. The relaunch introduces four key areas – security, lifecycle, managed services, and SMB – and paves the way for partners to transition to the new Cisco 360 channel programme, which is due to go live in February 2026. The four key areas will have dedicated clubs with tailored resources and support to help partners in developing a specific and strategic approach to growth with Cisco solutions. The programme continues to have three tiers – ACES, Boost, and Digital – and partners will receive significant benefits at all levels, including access to training and to online platforms for faster quoting and order management, and support on Cisco programmes and processes. Boost partners will be aligned to a business development manager and invited to participate in Club round tables. ACES partners will, additionally, receive personalised account management and access to executive-level events. Jon Sawdon, Business Unit Director – Cisco, UK and Ireland, TD SYNNEX, said: “With the re‑imagined partner programme we are evolving and adapting to empower channel partners, and supporting them in driving growth and achieving their business objectives. We are also complementing partners’ preparations for a smooth transition to Cisco 360. As part of the TD SYNNEX Momentum community, Cisco partners will be able to call on the expertise and experience of our team and ensure they optimise all the benefits of being a Cisco partner.” Since the original programme was launched in 2015, with just 20 partners, TD SYNNEX has successfully supported the growth of hundreds of Cisco partners. https://uk.tdsynnex.com 7 BULLETIN Distology strengthens security offering Distology has partnered with Radiflow, a provider of operational technology (OT) security solutions. Radiflow is the latest addition to Distology’s rapidly expanding OT portfolio, which has evolved over the past 18 months to address the growing security challenges in OT environments across critical industries such as manufacturing, utilities, and transportation. Leveraging Radiflow’s expertise, Distology empowers its partners to tackle their customers’ OT security challenges. This strategic collaboration provides partners with deep insights into network architecture and risk exposure, enabling them to offer solutions that fortify the resilience and security of operational technology environments. “We have respected Radiflow for a long time, and we’re excited to officially bring them into our vendor ecosystem,” said Hayley Roberts, CEO of Distology. “This partnership strengthens our OT offering, allowing us to deliver even greater value and security to our partners in an increasingly complex landscape. As the need for trusted OT security solutions has never been greater, we are thrilled to partner with Radiflow to bring these innovative tools to the IT and OT reseller channel.” www.distology.com Exertis Cybersecurity partners with Avast Exertis Cybersecurity has announced a new partnership with Avast, a global player in digital security and privacy and part of Gen. Exertis Cybersecurity will offer its partners Avast solutions for endpoint protection and easy-to-use patch management; available with flexible monthly billing. Exertis Cybersecurity has a dedicated endpoint and threat intelligence team skilled in Avast and other complementary solutions. With an in-depth knowledge of Avast, its in-house experts provide tailored support to help partners implement robust measures and maintain a resilient cybersecurity posture. Dominic Ryles, Exertis Cybersecurity Sales and Alliance Director said: “Avast’s arrival at Exertis Cybersecurity marks an exciting step forward in our mission to deliver robust, scalable security solutions to businesses across the UK and Ireland. I’m thrilled to expand our portfolio with a proven leader in the endpoint space and look forward to working with our partners to integrate these solutions into their cybersecurity offerings and drive long-term protection to their customers.” www.exertis.co.uk Dominic Ryles
01732 759725 8 BULLETIN ICT Reverse partners with The Big Goal UK IT recycling service ICT Reverse has joined forces with The Big Goal, a national charity initiative led by Giacom in partnership with the Street Soccer Foundation. The campaign harnesses the power of football to support young people facing homelessness and socio-economic challenges across the UK. ICT Reverse sponsored the cause and sent a team of staff to compete in The Big Goal Northern Regionals, a five-a-side charity football tournament which took place in April in Sheffield. www.ictreverse.com Katun launches Katalyst partner portal Katun has announced the global launch of its Katalyst partner portal - a comprehensive, centralised platform that will enhance partner collaboration, simplify service management, and provide access to sales and marketing resources for Arivia MFPs. The platform features customised content for partners in the US, Mexico, UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, with integrated support for the local language and programs specific to each market. Key features of the portal include access to product imagery, sales collateral, promotional materials, and programs such as Print It, Plant It, that help drive growth and market differentiation. Partners can also engage Katun technical support to create and manage service tickets efficiently, ensuring swift resolutions and improved customer support as well as benefit from instant access to technical service manuals, reference guides, firmware updates, product drivers, and other essential technical documentation. Partners can register and manage Arivia product warranties, as well as access the Katun commitment customer satisfaction program and receive real-time updates on the latest product news, marketing initiatives and industry developments. Chenyi Chiu, Chief Strategy Officer at Katun said: “We are thrilled to launch the Katalyst partner portal to help support our partners globally. This portal reflects our ongoing commitment to empowering our partners, providing them with the resources they need to succeed, and making their experience with Katun as seamless and efficient as possible.” www.katun.com Dedicated MSP program Paessler, a provider of IT and IoT monitoring solutions, has launched its first-ever dedicated managed service provider program, designed to help MSPs grow their businesses through a scalable, predictable, and profitable model. The new MSP Program is structured to provide maximum flexibility and collaboration for partners, ensuring they can leverage Paessler’s monitoring expertise while delivering value-added services to their customers. A flexible licensing model enables MSPs to consume licenses in a way that fits their business model, allowing them to scale alongside their clients. Additionally, the service-led model means MSPs can purchase sensors and deliver tailored service offerings to their customers, ensuring an optimised approach to IT monitoring. Key benefits include dedicated support, joint pitching opportunities, and tailored training to equip MSPs with the tools needed to succeed; increased funding for co-marketing initiatives to drive demand generation and market awareness; dedicated sales resources and incentivised tiered discounting. www.paessler.com SK tes opens new circular IT facility SK tes has announced plans to open a new 36,000 square foot purpose-built facility in Shannon, marking a major vote of confidence in Ireland’s thriving data and technology sector. The new facility will deliver comprehensive IT asset disposition (ITAD), data centre decommissioning, and technology lifecycle management services to some of Ireland’s largest enterprises, including hyperscale data centre operators, while supporting national sustainability and circular economy goals. It will also create over 25 skilled jobs in one of the country’s fastest-growing tech regions. “Ireland is at the forefront of Europe’s digital economy, and our investment in Shannon reinforces our commitment to helping Irish companies manage technology securely, sustainably, and at scale,” said Eric Ingebretsen, Chief Commercial Officer at SK tes. “This facility will allow us to meet the unique needs of Ireland’s tech sector, especially large data centres, with world-class services delivered locally.” The new site positions SK tes to offer rapid, secure, and compliant services for every stage of the IT lifecycle - from equipment deployment and maintenance, to decommissioning and certified data destruction. With its ability to quickly scale operations, the facility is built to meet the evolving needs of both indigenous Irish companies and multinationals operating within the country. The Shannon site joins SK tes’ growing global network, which includes over 40 owned facilities across 22 countries, providing consistent, secure, and sustainable IT lifecycle solutions to customers around the world. www.sktes.com
• Built-in Intelligent Capture: Automatically captures and organizes documents, enhancing productivity and efficiency. • Seamless Collaboration: Facilitates internal and external file sharing, improving team communication. • Cost-Effective and Secure: Reduces operational costs by minimizing paper usage and protects sensitive information with robust security features. • Turnkey Solution: No IT involvement or setup required, with ConnectKey integration for multifunction devices. • Scalable and Mobile: Grows with your business needs and allows document management from anywhere, anytime. • Enhanced Search and Digital Storage: Quickly find documents with advanced search features and eliminate the hassle of dealing with physical paper. Load it, Store it, Automate it, & Find it. Automating your Accounts Receivables Department with DocuShare Go, a cloudbased document management solution. The Challenge: Time-consuming document retrieval Manual processes reducing productivity Email overload and risk of lost documents Frequent follow-ups needed The Solution: Xerox® DocuShare® Go for a cloud-based document management solution with built-in document capture and 24/7 cloud access for easy scanning. The Result: Save an average of 12 annual working days Increase productivity by 80% Instant document retrieval and complete audit trails Experience the future of document management with Xerox® DocuShare® Go. *A DocuShare Go Customer Success Story Enjoy a fully supported sales cycle with the Xerox and Cargil team to deliver Docushare Go to your end users. Are you ready to transform your document management? Contact Cargil Solutions today! 0844 880 6905 | www.cargilsolutions.co.uk | [email protected] Simplify Your Document Management Offering with Xerox® DocuShare® Go: The essential ECM Solution Reaping the BENEFITS
01732 759725 10 Platinum accreditation for Brother UK Brother UK has been awarded Investors in People platinum accreditation for the fourth time. Platinum is the highest level of accreditation possible to achieve within the ‘We invest in people’ framework and Brother UK is the only organisation to successfully renew this for the fourth time. Platinum accreditation means policies and practices around supporting people are embedded in every corner of Brother UK. And in a platinum company, everyone – from the MD to an apprentice – knows they have a part to play in the company doing well and is always looking for ways to improve. Managing Director Phil Jones said: “We’re bowled over to achieve this accolade for the fourth time in recognition of the continued work we put into making Brother UK a top employer in the region and within the IT channel.” He continued: “I’d like to give praise and thanks to everyone leading in the business plus our organisational development team for their continued efforts in keeping our policies and practices bang up to date across all aspects of our culture, employee value proposition and wellbeing initiatives. “Our position as a leading technology solutions provider is intrinsically linked to these aspects, and the innovative approaches we take to both products and people. We know that it’s working because our employees stay with us on average for an industry-leading 13 years, which means there’s a huge amount of knowledge, expertise and loyalty within our workforce bringing us huge resiliency and capability over the long-term.” Paul Devoy, CEO of Investors in People, added: “We’d like to congratulate Brother UK on platinum accreditation, this is a remarkable effort for any organisation.” www.brother.co.uk Ricoh earns trusted service award Ricoh’s online retail platform has won the Feefo Trusted Service Award for excellence in customer service delivered throughout 2024, for the third year in a row. Based on customer feedback, the Feefo Trusted Service Award is a seal of excellence which recognises businesses that consistently deliver outstanding customer service. The award reflects the commitment that brands put into providing excellent customer experience and delivering standards that go above and beyond. To receive the award, Ricoh collected at least 50 reviews between January 1 and December 31, 2024, with a Feefo service rating of between 4.0 and 4.4. Ray Young, E-commerce Director at Ricoh UK, said: “As organisations look to streamline their operations and consolidate supplier networks, there is a growing need for B2B companies to provide their customers with centralised, scalable and agile purchasing solutions. This recognition from Feefo once again highlights the trust our customers place in the Ricoh brand and reflects the ongoing dedication of Ricoh’s e-commerce team to deliver an outstanding online experience.” www.ricoh.co.uk Konica Minolta partners with Earth Cubs Konica Minolta has partnered with Earth Cubs and is sponsoring its ‘Happy Happy Minds’ campaign that teaches young children how taking care of their feelings and well-being can help to make them happy. Earth Cubs is a platform for kids, parents and teachers to Learn the World. It has established a community of over 50,000 teachers and 9,000 schools in over 140 countries that use its entertaining videos, learning resources, bookazines and podcasts to inspire children on environmental, sustainability and climate change issues. As part of its support for ‘Happy Happy Minds’, Konica Minolta will be helping Earth Cubs with its ‘Make a Worry Box’ initiative. Children across the UK will be encouraged to create a box and when they feel upset or worried, they can write about it on a piece of paper and post it inside their box. Konica Minolta will be working with Earth Cubs to design and print vibrant paper covers that will be sent to schools, ready for children to decorate their Worry Box. Michelle Parkes, Head of Growth and Impact at Earth Cubs commented: “We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with Konica Minolta on our ‘Happy Happy Minds’ campaign. Their commitment to well-being and community aligns perfectly with our mission to empower children with the tools they need to thrive emotionally and mentally.” Gillian Nuttall, ESG Partner at Konica Minolta added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Earth Cubs as a social impact partner to promote the ‘Happy Happy Minds’ message and to promote well-being in classrooms and in local communities.” www.konicaminolta.co.uk BULLETIN
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01732 759725 12 BULLETIN Where do you take yours? We’re all about championing print at PrintIT Reseller, so don’t forget to get your camera out and send me a pix of yourself reading our magazine in the most unusual, far-flung spot you can find, and you could be featured in our next issue! Following the launch of an expanded line-up for its 9-Series printers and MFPs, AI-powered enhancements to its cloud services offering, as well as a new simplified structure of its Business Solutions Dealers (BSD) partner program in Frankfurt in February, Lexmark hosted 30+ partners at its northern launch event at The Village in Cheadle. Mark Pidsley, Managing Director at Copymark and Damien Evans, Business Development Manager, Commercial Dwayne Cowans, Strategic Partner Manager, Lexmark Ben Jones, Senior Account Manager at Midwich and T Great to see so many attendees taking the time out to catch up on the latest news in print
PRINTITRESELLER.UK 13 BULLETIN We’re delighted that so many of our readers are taking on the ‘Where do you take yours?’ challenge. We want to see where you take your issue, so keep the pictures coming! Please send your pix to me at [email protected] Tom Curran from IPSL Jamie Clarke, Lexmark BSD Service Manager Fabien Bello, Lexmark Product Support Mark Asbridge, Head of Business Consultancy at MyQ Tony Lomax, EMEA Product Marketing Manager, Lexmark
01732 759725 16 BULLETIN : PEOPLE New hire at PPC Solutions PPC Solutions has hired Darren Roberts as its new Regional Sales Manager. Roberts brings a wealth of experience to the role having spent over 25 years as both a Field Service Engineer and Sales Manager with some of the most well-known dealers and distributors in the industry. www.ppcsolutions.com DMS Digital appoints new head of sales DMS Digital Group has appointed James Finch as Head of Sales. In his new role, he will lead the charge on sales growth and team building in the Yorkshire region. Finch has seven years of experience in sales, primarily within the managed print sector, and thrives on helping businesses modernise – especially when it means reducing their reliance on paper and embracing digital transformation. www.thedmsgroup.co.uk Liam Thompson joins VOW Wholesale Liam Thompson has joined VOW Wholesale as its new Business Development Manager. He will be working alongside Shona Patterson within the facilities supplies team. Thompson joins VOW Wholesale from Diversey, where he served as a Key Account Manager, and brings extensive knowledge across the HORECA, education and healthcare categories. He said: “I am very excited and grateful to begin this new chapter of my career as part of an amazing team.” www.voweurope.com Brand veteran takes the helm at Canon Canon UK & Ireland has named Guido Jacobs as Managing Director. Prior to his new role, Jacobs spent 10 years leading the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) as Imaging Technologies and Communications Group (ITCG) Country Director where he led the successful integration of the regional ITCG businesses across the region in 2016. During this time, he was also instrumental to the growth of Canon’s wider ITCG offering, where he focused on cameras and inkjet printing devices. Having also held the role of ITCG Country Director for UK & Ireland back in 2014, he’ll bring a refreshed perspective to its core business and build on the company’s reputation in the local market. Commenting on his new role Jacobs said: “I’m excited to take on this new challenge and lead the UK & Ireland team at such a pivotal time in the evolution of the printing and imagery industry. I’ve always been proud to work for Canon as a leader at the forefront of innovation, and it’s an honour to continue and build on the inspiring work of our leadership and wider teams.” www.canon.co.uk Pharos Systems strengthens PrintOps leadership team New leadership appointments at Pharos Systems include Angela Rennert as Vice President of Marketing and Scott Mellett as Vice President of Sales. The company said that these strategic leadership additions reinforce its commitment to leading the modernisation of print through PrintOps - a modern cloud-native, user-centric approach to printing and the infrastructure and operations that support it, while providing exceptional experiences for its customer base. Prior to joining Pharos, Rennert held key marketing leadership roles at Chronus, Shiftboard, and Esper, where she successfully led efforts to enhance brand recognition, fuel growth, and drive customer engagement. Mellett has extensive experience in driving growth at leading SaaS technology companies, including Aptean, Datanomix, and Sigga Technologies. With deep expertise in the SaaS sector, he has been instrumental in helping customers adopt technology solutions that optimise operational efficiency. www.pharos.com Exertis bolsters AV proposition Exertis has announced the appointment of Hannah Sharma as AV Sales Director. Sharma brings over a decade of experience at all levels of the supply chain from manufacturer, distributor and integrator, as well as across multiple departments including sales, marketing, operations and management. Her role will be to cultivate strong relationships with vendors to further enhance Exertis’ strong AV proposition, and to provide customers with a comprehensive ecosystem of AV solutions. She will also be collaborating with internal teams to develop innovative strategies for boosting sales, expanding market reach, and implementing data-driven approaches to analyse market trends and optimise sales strategies for maximum impact. Jamie Brothwell, Managing Director of Exertis Business, said: “I am delighted to welcome Hannah to the Exertis family at such an exciting time in our journey. During the past six months we have redefined our focus within our five specialisms – AV, components, mobile, print and IT solutions. Hannah joins Exertis as Director of Sales for AV bringing a wealth of experience which will be integral to our future plans and demonstrates our commitment to growth.” Sharma added: “My role at Exertis is focused on driving growth across the audio visual pillar of our business including building strong, senior level relationships with our key customers and vendor channel. I’ll also be developing new avenues to strengthen our position in AV with complementary vendors and product lines, as well as developing customer accounts.” www.exertis.co.uk Liam Thompson James Finch Darren Roberts Hannah Sharma Guido Jacobs
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01732 759725 18 I genuinely don’t know how marketers did it before Adobe – without it, I’d feel like a painter without a brush. Music Music is my co-pilot for the working day. Music helps me focus, keeps me moving, and makes even the fiddliest bit of admin feel like I’m starring in a montage. It drowns out the doorbell, the dog barking next door, and my own inner monologue. Without it, the house would be eerily quiet – and I’d probably still be staring at a blank screen wondering where to start. My cat Last but definitely not least – my cat. Official title: Chief Positive Vibes Officer. She’s the unspoken hero of my home office, popping up in Teams calls, biting my toes mid-email, or simply napping in the background like the furry Zen master she is. Her calm energy, random chaos and occasional judgemental stares keep me grounded and entertained in equal measure. I truly couldn’t do my job without her – though I suspect she thinks she’s the boss. www.mps-uk.co.uk Laptop My laptop is my portable workspace and the hub of everything I do. From campaign planning and digital design to Teams meetings and content creation, it keeps me connected and in control. It’s where ideas are formed, strategies are built, and results are measured. Working from home, my laptop allows me to collaborate seamlessly with the rest of the team, no matter where we all are. It’s more than just a tool; it’s the command centre of my day. If it ever went missing, I’d be completely lost. Adobe Creative Suite Adobe Creative Suite is my creative playground and an essential part of my daily toolkit. From Photoshop for image editing, to Illustrator for branding, and InDesign for layouts, it allows me to bring ideas to life visually. It’s the secret sauce behind polished presentations, engaging social media content and professional marketing collateral. The flexibility and power of Adobe’s tools mean I can design quickly, collaborate easily, and stay on-brand. Coffee Let’s be honest - my job doesn’t start until I’ve had my latte. It’s not just a drink, it’s a daily ritual, a hug in a mug, and my creative fuel. My kitchen is also my coffee shop, and that first latte of the day sets everything in motion. Need a spark of inspiration? Coffee. Tight deadline? Coffee. Random idea at 3pm? You guessed it – coffee. It’s the silent team member that keeps me alert, motivated and ready to take on whatever the day throws at me. WORKPLACE Mihaela Popescu, Marketing Manager at Managed Print Solutions, picks the tools she uses every day and couldn’t do her job without I couldn’t do my job without… Mihaela Popescu Chief Positive Vibes Officer taking a well-earned rest
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01732 759725 20 Dunstan, Document Solutions Product Manager most recently joining the family. PITR: What was your first job? JB: My first real job was at Churchill Insurance. I only worked there for six months as I didn’t like the seven week rolling shifts and weekends, however the telephone-based training set me up for a life in sales without doubt. Oh yes yes yes… PITR: What has been the high point of the decade? JB: I can’t pick just one. It is a combination of winning Print Hardware Distributor of the Year for the second time in 2025 and our team of over 20 people now in Snetterton. I’m so proud of them and what they continue to achieve. PITR: And the low point? JB: Samsung withdrawing from the print market, they were a significant part of our business at the time. It was kind of bittersweet as it proved my decision to leave Samsung was the right one, but equally, we had a big gap to fill. A credit to Theresa Downes and the team for their vision and innovation that we did and we have never been stronger! PITR: What (or who) has had the greatest impact in the sector in the last 10 years? JB: For us, I would say the transition of vendors’ former direct model into distribution. The benefits to the customer and the vendor are clear, we welcome more opportunities to support partners here. PITR: If you could change one thing about the last decade, what would it be? JB: Nothing. PITR: What has been your proudest moment of the past 10 years? JB: To be recognised externally as the market‑leading no HP value-added print distributor in the UK. PITR: Sum up the decade in three words. JB: Fun. Fulfilling. Proud. become such a significant part of my life and career. I was then asked to be part of the new e-tail sales team at Midwich where I worked with key customers such as Printerland and Printerbase along with all the large IT partners we work with today. Following account manager and senior account manager roles, I became print sales manager where I managed our print-centric customers along with our print specialist sales team. During this time, we entered the (new at the time) OA space, starting with Samsung before Lexmark and OKI entered. My role was to travel the country, signing up dealers to these programmes alongside our vendor account managers. Then in 2009, I stepped away from pure print to manage the key accounts team. I always had an ambition to work for a vendor and the draw of Samsung and its incredible management team assembled under Mark Ash’s leadership with Dave Thompson, Emma Boughton and Vicky Nevitt, was strong, so I joined them in 2012. These remain some of my happiest working memories. However, ultimately, I felt that I was better suited to distribution and after almost two years at Samsung, I had the opportunity to join Exertis. It is hard to believe that I have spent over a decade with my Exertis family but I can honestly say that I had a plan and I stuck to it. I felt that the market desperately needed another quality value-added print distributor, and that Exertis was absolutely the right platform to bring that to life. 8.5 years ago, we recruited Al Coyne, John Bourne and Theresa Downes. They led the charge in the business transformation in setting up the OA business in addition with streamlining the B2B and retail presence that was already in place. I don’t want to give away all our secrets, but I am proud of the business we have created holding the number one market share position with all of the vendors that we represent. Print is an area we continue to invest in with recent appointments of Michelle Lawton, Account Director and Gary PrintIT Reseller (PITR): You’ve been working in the print and IT industry for more than ten years. What led you to enter the sector? Jamie Brothwell (JB): Well, it is more like two decades and counting, as the draw of print (excuse the pun) keeps pulling me back. I love it! Genuinely. I can’t explain the wonderful nature and sense of community I get from the print industry, something that captivated me again at the 2024 PrintIT Awards. It was so good to see so many familiar and wonderful faces. Al Coyne my now Commercial Director, had started at Midwich in 2001 and he introduced me to Midwich in 2002. My first job was in the Fast Response team, which was the feeder sales team and in 2003, I moved into the role of Samsung Business Development Executive which was the funded head role. I loved being part of the Samsung journey, the innovation, the ambition and the drive. Little did I know it would Jamie Brothwell, Managing Director, Exertis Business shares her experiences over the past decade, what she’s learned, and the highs and the lows of our unique and challenging industry A decade in print Jamie Brothwell INTERVIEW
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PRINTIT AWARDS 20 25 Royal Lancaster · December 2 Don’t let the opportunity to enter the PrintIT Awards 2025 pass you by – the deadline to submit your entries is fast approaching – 5pm on Friday July 18. The deadline is there for a reason so do make sure you get your entries in on time 22 01732 759725 The clock is ticking 2025 PrintIT Award categories Here’s a reminder of the 2025 categories and an overview of the key entry criteria for each award. SPECIAL AWARDS Judges’ Special Award Industry Leader of The Year The judging panel will determine the winners in both of these categories and the results will be announced at the awards ceremony on December 2 at The Royal Lancaster, London. CORPORATE AWARDS EOS Manufacturer of the Year This award is open to all providers of OEM‑alternative remanufactured, own brand or compatible ink and toner cartridges for the UK market. The solutions should be engineered to match OEM-original supplies and offer end‑users a high quality, cost‑effective alternative. Channel Services Provider of the Year This category is open to companies that work with channel partners to provide consultative, specialist and integral services required to fulfil a particular requirement. The winner will be the company that can demonstrate a strong track record in service excellence, show how they help partners grow and build a profitable business, provide evidence of flexibility and quick turnarounds, offer a wide breadth of services and deliver first class resolution of any issues. MTL (manufacturing transport & logistics) Print Vendor of the Year This award is open to all printer OEMs serving the manufacturing and transport and logistics sectors. The judging panel will be looking for evidence of business agility and growth, a strong and innovative product, solutions and services offering, and details of how you are working with channel partners to help them diversify their offer to reach new markets/ customers, develop new revenue streams and win new business. Circular Business/Initiative of the Year NEW for 2025 This category will recognise a company that is genuinely embracing the circular economy and is committed to reducing waste by enabling the re-use, refurbishment, and/or recycling of products and materials. Entries should include details of success, business growth and take‑up from customers. Hardware Distributor of the Year NEW for 2025 This award is open to all distributors that have a dedicated print hardware business. Entrants must showcase how they have assisted both their reseller and vendor partners to build a profitable business in the past twelve months preceding the closing date. EOS Distributor of the Year NEW for 2025 This award is aimed at distributors offering EOS supplies to the UK channel, this category is open to distributors that are fully dedicated to EOS or who have a supplies division within their overall business. Entries must include supporting evidence, stats, figures and at least TWO customer testimonials to back up your claims. RESELLER/DEALER AWARDS Reseller of the Year (Turnover up to £3m) Reseller of the Year (Turnover £3m+ to £9m) Reseller of the Year (Turnover £9m+) The three Reseller of the Year award categories will recognise a print and/or IT services reseller
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