When Samantha Fleetwood founded Wolf & Flower in 2019, her ambition was simple: to create high-quality, bespoke products for beauty businesses, salons, and other small enterprises. Starting from their kitchen table, Samantha, and fellow director, husband Lee began building the company with careful planning and strategic risk-taking. Fast forward to today, and Wolf & Flower is thriving, utilising the latest Mimaki print technology alongside a laser cutter in its workshop in Chorley, Lancashire, serving a global customer base that spans America, Australia, Canada and beyond.
At the heart of this journey is a belief in investing wisely. “A lot of people expect everything to happen straight away, but for me, it was all about careful, considered growth,” Samantha explains. The business’s first major investment was the laser cutter, which allowed them to bring custom sign production in-house. “We didn’t rush into it; we built up our customer base first to ensure it was the right decision,” she recalls.
However, as demand for more personalised and varied designs grew, Samantha recognised the need to expand the business’s capabilities further. For over a year, Wolf & Flower outsourced its UV printing requirements. Whilst comfortable with the quality, the process limited her ability to experiment and slowed delivery times. It was time for another leap: investing in a Mimaki UJF-6042MkII e flatbed UV printer, sourced locally from Authorised Mimaki Reseller, Granthams.
The Decision to Invest
The decision to bring UV printing in-house wasn’t made lightly. Samantha explored options, even considering second-hand machines on eBay, before ultimately choosing the Mimaki printer from Granthams. “We wanted – and needed – a local supplier,” she says. “Granthams were invaluable in answering questions we didn’t even know to ask. Choosing an experienced, local company gave me peace of mind knowing I’d have easy access to quality training and ongoing support.”
For Samantha, the investment wasn’t about chasing rapid growth. “It was about staying competitive and offering the best to our customers. Having the Mimaki meant I could finally meet demand, create more elaborate designs, and reduce reliance on outsourcing. Everything else – the additional growth and new opportunities – was a bonus.”
Transforming the Business
Since adding the Mimaki UJF-6042MkII e to her workshop, Samantha has unlocked many new possibilities. The printer complements the company’s laser cutter perfectly, allowing Wolf & Flower to combine the two techniques to produce stunning results. For example, they use the laser cutter to create precise shapes and typographical work, and the Mimaki to add vibrant, high-impact full colour print, with incredible detail and quality.
The impact has been transformative. “We’ve been able to save so much time and get more orders out,” Samantha notes. “We’re now offering premium, high-quality products that simply weren’t possible before. The personalisation market is huge, and the Mimaki lets us create bespoke designs faster and more efficiently than ever.”
One standout benefit is the ability to test and launch new product ideas quickly. “Having the Mimaki in-house means we can be more creative. Ideas that would have been too complicated, or too costly, to outsource are now achievable.” Samantha highlights their bestselling aftercare signs sold on Etsy which were previously outsourced. “Now, we produce them ourselves with shorter lead times and variations of colour options enhancing the quality.”
An eye on the Future
With the Mimaki printer firmly integrated into its workflow, Wolf & Flower has its sights set on continued innovation. “There’s so much more we want to do,” Samantha says. “Investing in advanced technology has opened up fresh revenue streams and given us the confidence to keep pushing boundaries.”
Her advice to other small business owners considering similar investments is clear: “Don’t just focus on price. Think about the returns… better efficiency, happier customers, and new opportunities. Advanced tools aren’t just for big companies. With careful planning, small businesses can compete at the highest level.”
For Wolf & Flower, the results speak for themselves. “We’re proud of the products we create and our many thousands of five-star reviews across all platforms reflect that. To deliver the best, it only makes sense to use the best technology.”
By blending thoughtful investments with creative vision, Samantha and Lee have turned Wolf & Flower into a shining example of how strategic risk-taking and high-quality technology can transform a small business into a real success story.
