Wild Group has been nominated for a Sign and Digital Award. Can you outline the project and how it feels to be in the running for a prize?
Twentieth Century Fox asked us to produce a set of printed sails as part of a world-wide promotional campaign for their new movie The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The print on the sail was a hit, and so was the film. We are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for this award. It is the first time we've entered anything like this and to get this far is brilliant. I can tell you the buzz going around the office is great – and highly motivational. We look forward to April 13th.
What are your expectations for Sign and Digital? Are there any particular applications or technologies you're planning to research?
Like many businesses we are seasonal so we try and counteract this by increasing throughput during the winter months. As part of this we have turned our attention to the display and exhibition sectors. I plan to use the Sign and Digital show this year to find suppliers who can support us on our journey with materials and expertise. To stay in front and on top of our game we are always looking out for new and exciting products to open doors to new business. We are particularly interested in eco-friendly, direct-to-substrate printers and see this as an important side of our business.
How did Wild Group get into yacht wrapping?
Wow, that's going back a few years. The company was founded in Hamble, right by the Solent, a Mecca for sailors from around the world. We started out operating from a bedroom with a single 610 cutter, offering production and application of boat names. After a year or so, demand prompted the purchase of new premises, and an extra pair of hands.
In 1997 round-the-world yachtswoman Tracy Edwards commissioned us to livery her 92ft (28m) catamaran Royal and Sun Alliance. This syndicate hit the headlines, as they were the first all-female crew to circumnavigate the world non-stop. This recognition opened the floodgates and we were inundated with orders. We have since been wrapping boats world-wide – regularly flying our teams of fitters to America, the Caribbean, South Africa, Australia and Europe.
What have been the company's biggest achievements?
We were the sole supplier of all hull and sail branding for the 2004 Olympic Games. This involved over 6,000m of digitally printed vinyls and sailcloth. We had a team in Greece for four weeks applying branding, helped by 14 Greek volunteers. We are pleased to say this was the best Olympic sailing branding to date.
What are your thoughts on the sign-making industry at present? What improvements would you like to see?
We are delighted to see a push into greener technologies and would like to see this continue.