Pepper News
DOWNLOAD THE PEPPER WRAPPING PAPER AND GIFT TAGS!
10th December 2006
If like us Christmas has caught up with you we have some handy downloads to ease the burden this Christmas. Click on the images below to download and print.
Wrapping Paper |
Tags |
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PEPPER RUNNERS-UP AT THE DEBI AWARDS
10th December 2006
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Here's Jude with the runner-up award for Sustainable Products and Services at the Devon Environmental Business Initiative Awards. This is the latest environmental achievement for Pepper in the last few Months. |
The award rewards organisations that have demonstrated products and services that reduce environmental impact covering areas such as retailing, manufacturing, construction, design and food.
The DEBI environmental awards were set up to celebrate achievements of how businesses, community groups and schools are able to work with the environment in innovative and interesting ways, whilst achieving their own business plan objectives. The aim of the awards is to motivate, recognise and celebrate environmental best practice, disseminate knowledge gained, encourage further participation and support businesses working towards a sustainable future.
DIGITAL COLOUR PRINTING AT ITS BEST
10th November 2006
We’ve just installed the all new C6500ur Digital Colour Press, only the second installation in Europe , which has brought significant enhancements to our digital print capacity. This state of the art equipment combines highly flexible and professional finishing with a superior colour image.
The benefits of digital printing are already well established. It’s truly a time of On-Demand Just-in-Time print, there is no longer a need to print high volumes of collateral to be cost effective allowing reduced stock levels.
With computer to print solutions turn around times can be hours not days or weeks allowing complete flexibility which is especially important in times of change where markets forces are changing constantly and print material may become quickly outdated.
As a computer to print solution films and plates along with the dangerous chemicals used to clean them are done away benefiting the environment.
Digital printing also offers further flexibility and control in that you can affordably experiment with several different versions of the same document and test your designs on the paper you'll later use for your main print-run.
For low volume and highly customised work, variable digital printing has transformed the way we work. We can produce truly personalised communications, making it even easier for you to speak to your customers in a targeted and innovative way.
PRESTIGIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD FOR PEPPER
8th November 2006
Pepper’s commitment to the environment - and specifically its commitment to recycling - was again recognised earlier this month at the Severnside Annual Recycling Awards in Cardiff . Pepper was awarded for its “Best commitment to change business practice,” in recognition of our efforts to adopt recycling and other sustainable waste management techniques into the heart of our business practice.
The award aims to highlight those involved with Severnside who have been prepared to take on and develop new business practice in order to maximise recycling opportunities.
“Often radical changes of tried and tested working practices are required in order to implement and improve new and existing recycling initiatives,” explains Seth Whitford, director at Pepper. “These changes are not always the easiest option available. At Pepper we feel very strongly that, especially in an industry with such a high environmental impact, we have a responsibility to ensure we minimise our own environmental impact wherever possible.”
PEPPER WELCOMES EMMA GOLLEY AND PAUL TRAYES
28th October 2006
Pepper has successfully attracted two new key people to join our team. Emma Golley has recently joined our Graphic Design team to bring a new creative edge to our design studio.
Paul Trayes is a data and programming specialist. Paul is able to ensure that databases are processed for highly personalised print communications including consumer demographics, prefrences and buyer behaviours enabling highly targeted campaigns.
PEPPER'S FACTORY SET TO DOUBLE IN SIZE
16th October 2006
Work is now well underway at Pepper to double our factory space. The additional 14,000 sq ft. will be used to house our expanding mailing services, specifically poly-wrap and envelope enclosing lines. We are also extending our hand finishing operations in order to provide maximum flexibility and efficiency for clients. Due for completion in the Spring of 2007, it will allow the centralisation of Peppers mailing and print operations creating a full service print and mail solution. Bigger, better – and greener….
The extension is being carried out very much in line with Pepper’s newly acquired BS8555 standard for Environmental Management Systems . An energy efficient lighting system is being installed, which monitors the amount of light in the factory. When natural light drops below a certain threshold, the lights will be turned on to maintain the light to an optimum level. Along with the use of energy efficient light bulbs this state of the art system will cut energy consumption on lighting by a massive 80%.
According to Seth Whitford, Director, “The lighting system in the new extension demonstrates our commitment to the environment. We are constantly aiming to reduce our carbon footprint in what is traditionally an industry with a high environmental impact. Moreover, the excellent energy saving also shows it to be good business sense all round.”
CONGRATULATIONS TO TIM LOWTHER OF CONNEXIONS CORNWALL AND DEVON
13th October 2006
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The winner of the iPod in last month's promotion is Tim Lowther, Head of Marketing at Connexions Cornwall and Devon. Here he is on the Pepper stand at Business South West receiving his prize from Seth Whitford. Tim has decided to donate the prize to charity. It will be used in an auction to raise money for the Bobby Wright Cancer Fight. |
Congratulations and well done Tim!
Click to find out more about the Bobby Wright Cancer Fight.
PEPPER GAINS PRESTIGIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD
26th September 2006
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Pepper has this week been awarded BS8555 - the new standard for environmental management systems from the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. The photo on the left shows Seth Whitford from Pepper receiving our Accreditation Certificate from Mr. Michael Crawford from NQA at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth. |
Pepper has been working with Envision, a not-for-profit partnership of independent environmental organisations in the South West, to identify its environmental impact and then develop a number of different initiatives to become more environmentally sustainable as a business.
Pepper has implemented a number of environmental procedures, which include:
- Recycling metal plates used for printing.
- Using vegetable-based inks for printing.
- Reducing electricity consumption through a "switch-off" policy.
- Waste segregation procedure, leading to 80% reduction in landfill.
- Recycling of all paper, cardboard and plastic waste.
- Encouraging the adoption of recycled or FSC certified paper stocks wherever possible.
- Legal compliance with all environmental legislation related to our company.
- Reduction in use of and recycling of hazardous chemicals and emissions.
For Pepper customers, this means that they can be confident that when purchasing print and mailing solutions from Pepper, they are not compromising on quality but are helping to reduce the impact of print services on the environment.
According the Seth Whitford, Director at Pepper, "We have worked hard at Pepper in what is considered an industry of high environmental impact. As a result of implementing an EMS and achieving this accreditation, along with substantial cost savings for the business, we believe this has demonstrated that environmental sustainability makes good business sense:"
PRICING IN PROPORTION - A NEW PRICING SYSTEM BASED ON SIZE AND WEIGHT
15th August 2006
The changes in postal charges by the Royal Mail will undoubtedly have a profound effect on direct mail campaigns in the future, but with some handy tips from the DMA you can make sure you use these changes to your benefit and don't fall foul of the new rules.
The DMA has some useful, cost-saving tips, such as folding A4 documents and keeping letter thickness to under 5mm to qualify as a cheaper "letter" rather than a "large letter."
For further information please contact Pepper or follow this link for the full list of tips from the DMA.
PEPPER WILL SOON BE LAUNCHING IT'S TREEBATE PROGRAMME
26th July 2006
The finer points of the scheme are yet to be confirmed, however we are looking to offer our clients the opportunity to plant trees when they spend on Pepper's services.
We are looking to work with the Woodland Trust and local Councils to find space for tree planting around the UK. The thinking behind the scheme is to offset some of the carbon produced by print and direct mail activity and to help our clients reduce their carbon emissions.
We are aiming to launch the scheme in September and will keep you informed of progress.
PEPPER LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
20th June 2006
We have recently relaunched our website introducing a whole new range of services and information for our customers.
Most notably we have launced a new File Upload service on our site that enables our customers to upload artwork files of up to 1GB in size directly to Pepper.
This saves a lot of messing about with burning files to disk and using the post or using ever more costly commercial file delivery services. Follow the Quick Link on the right to see how this service works.
We have also introduced a number of other free resources for our customers to use including a Direct Mail ROI Calculator; a Paper and Envelope size guide and useful guides for artwork preparation.
PEPPER ACHIEVES QMP ACCREDITATION
15th June 2006
We are delighted to announce that Pepper has now been accredited by QMP - the quality standard for the Direct Mail Industry.
This award reflects Pepper's ongoing commitment to delivering the highest standards of practice in delivering the full range of direct mail services on behalf of our customers.
PEPPER SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AUDIT
Pepper successfully completes its first stage environmental audit and now has a clear ‘roadmap’ to achieving the Environmental Quality Standard BS8555.
As a part of its ongoing commitment to making environmental sustainability one of its key business objectives, Pepper recently engaged Envision – a not-for-profit partnership of independent environmental organisations in the South West – to complete an environmental audit at its manufacturing base in Plymouth.
Commenting on the audit, Jude Whitford, a Director of Pepper Communications said “….as a business we are committed to reducing our impact on the environment and to achieving BS8555 accreditation in 2006 and this audit is an essential first step as a part of this process. Informally we have been putting in-place best practice procedures to reduce and manage our waste for some time now and we are delighted that this has been positively recognised in the audit….”
The audit has recognised the progress that Pepper has already made on environmental sustainability - an issue that is essential to the future prosperity of all businesses. The audit has also provided a clear ‘roadmap’ for Pepper to follow as it works toward achieving BS8555 - the Environmental Quality Standard for SMEs.
Speaking of the progress made by Pepper, Brendon Westacott from Envision Plymouth and South Devon commented “…Pepper has already made substantial progress and they have turned their commitment to reducing their environmental impact to their advantage. This has been done by turning waste management into a profitable business aspect and by signing up with Envision to implement an environmental management system. This forward thinking attitude will not only benefit the environment but it will also reduce costs and deservedly open up new business opportunities for Pepper.”
PEPPER CREATES 15 NEW JOBS AT PLYMOUTH BASED MAILING HOUSE
15 new jobs have been created by Plymouth based printer and direct mailing house Pepper Communications Ltd at its newly formed business; The Direct Mailing Company.
The Direct Mailing Company will operate from the former Ailec Premises at Langage Industrial Estate having acquired some of the machinery and equipment at these premises from Ailec Holdings Ltd.
Established in 1982 by current Chief Executive Steve Whitford, Pepper Communications already employs 30 staff in its current operations at Langage Science Park and has offices in London. The company has been looking to expand its direct mail services in the area.
Mr. Whitford said ‘Pepper has developed an excellent reputation for providing first class print and direct mail services to our customers over a number of years and we have been looking to expand our range of mailing services for some time now,’ he added.
The Direct Mailing Company will provide a complete range of direct mail services to its customers including; database management; personalisation, laser printing; mechanical and hand enclosing into polythene bags or envelopes as well as a full range of mailing services.
PEPPER ACCREDITED WITH INVESTORS IN PEOPLE
Plymouth based Pepper Communications Ltd has been accredited with the Investors in People award from Prosper in recognition of their commitment to quality training and staff development activities.
Since embarking on the Investors in People programme in 1997, Pepper has experienced a 40% increase in turnover and 50% in profit. The company's customer base has increased by over 37% and turnover per head by over 7%. The directors of Pepper attribute this remarkable achievement to a more motivated and dedicated workforce who are committed to achieving results. Pepper believes it is one of the first printing businesses in the South West to have achieved the Investors in People status.
