Write From The Heart spreads the Valentine's Day love with Roland LEF

Valentine's Day is all about showing loved ones you care with thoughtful gifts and, thanks to easy-to-use digital printing, you can add an extra element with personalisation. 

As a specialist in personalised gifts, Write From The Heart is busy with Valentine's Day orders for customised photographic keepsakes, ranging from photo blocks to phone cases, and cushion covers to clocks. 

"We create designs exactly how our customers – mainly the public, who order via our website – require, so we change text, colours and more on our items," explains Kirsty Ibanez Prankerd, Managing Director of the small family business.

When Chepstow-based Write From The Heart was established four years ago, work was outsourced to print businesses using large format flatbed printers – machines that Kirsty says 'were way out of our budget and we just don't have the space for'. Moreover, delivery times were around two weeks – not ideal for last-minute gift orders ahead of dates like February 14th. 

Advice from industry supplier Xpres led Kirsty and her team to explore the incredible versatility of the Roland DG VersaUV LEF-300 UV flatbed printer, which can print directly on a huge range of materials and 3D items up to 100mm thick. ECO-UV inks in vibrant CMYK, bright white and even gloss – which can be applied in layers to create special effects and textures – make details stand out on a plethora of products. 

"Our best-selling product is the 30cm acrylic clock and we felt that the LEF-300 was the best machine to print this product," says Kirsty. 

"Since purchasing the Roland machine we have cut our delivery time down from 14 working days to just three to five working days, which has helped to increase sales; we are now able to work right up until Christmas, Mother's Day and Father's Day – our busiest times of the year – which has seen a massive increase in our turnover. We gain an average 30 extra days of sales during these periods, which so far this year has turned over in excess of £130,000."

She adds: "The machine is perfect for small businesses who are looking to fulfil more orders but maybe don't have the space or the money to invest in large flatbed laser printers. It's great for start ups!"

For more information on Write From The Heart, please visit www.writefromtheheartkeepsakes.co.uk

For more information on the range of products Xpres supplies, please visit www.xpres.co.uk