Somerset, UK-based Parkins Interiors was founded in 2010 by husband and wife team Chris and Rachael Parkins who have a keen sense of interior design and a passion for innovative and stylish products. The company now employs six people and has grown into one of the UK's leading suppliers of wall stickers and accessories geared towards the domestic market.
Crafted to order from premium quality matt finish vinyl, the expansive range of products can be used to decorate any interior environment, with a particular niche in children's bedroom décor; its wall stickers featuring trees and wildlife are available from Parkins Interiors own website (www.parkinsinteriors.com), alongside the online shop Not On The High Street and a selection of other online retailers.
Having originally created its output on a Canon machine, the company decided to upgrade to the HP Latex 360 from Stanford Marsh Group Graphics (SMGG) in August 2014 in order to boost its productivity and expand its offering.
Chris Parkins, co-founder of Parkins Interiors explains: "I found SMGG online whilst searching for a solution to our printing needs. Much of our work involves the creation of stickers for children's rooms and therefore eco-solvent was out of the question due to the long gassing out process and the solvent elements of the ink.
"Similarly, aqueous printers were not up to the challenge as the prints were not durable and would not stand up to sticky fingers. We wanted a printer which could produce durable, scratch-resistant prints that would stand up to toddlers! We needed an alternative solution and SMGG came up with the amazing new HP Latex range."
Parkins Interiors currently prints onto self-adhesive vinyl to produce wall stickers, while developing a mural and wallpaper range with a view to selling the products wholesale to other retailers. In addition, by running HP Latex inks the company can now take advantage of extra durability, media diversity and quality.
"What's great is the print is suitable for outdoor applications – thereby affording our business greater opportunities in the future," says Chris. "Furthermore, there is a huge range of suitable media for these inks and the print quality is far greater than the equivalent eco-solvent or solvent printers."
Thanks to its green credentials, the HP Latex 360's printed output can enter post-production without any lengthy out-gassing period and creates a healthier production environment.
On working with SMGG, Chris states: "SMGG have been great throughout the whole process. From the initial advice from Steve Guest, who wholeheartedly stood behind the product, to the demonstration of the equipment, through to installation and software demonstration. It was refreshing to encounter a sales representative with such enthusiasm for the product and this carried a lot of weight in our final decision to purchase.
"Plus, on an ongoing basis, the company is always happy to take my calls and offer suggestions. We eventually see ourselves purchasing a second HP Latex printer and have already invested in two further vinyl cutters from SMGG to keep up with demand."
For more information on Parkins Interiors, please visit www.parkinsinteriors.com
For more information on SMGG, please visit www.smgg.co.uk
