What we do on a quiet day in January...

Whilst January can be a quiet time for a printer but Minuteman Press, Stockport is always busy!

In the Human Resources department we have the induction of a new staff member. This involves revising the shop manual that explains all our procedures; printing it and asking the staff member to sign the appropriate pages on security.

My top priority is getting him working on customers art work so, following a briefing, he introduces himself to our customers and clarifies the work details. The next couple of days will he will spend designing forms, flyers, business cards, banners and clothing.

Meanwhile, customers pop in for copies, often of a legal nature because the court is just around the corner.

One customer had a painting of his Dad that needed scanning and printing.

Our shop window sign was reprinted with a January offer.

The web site needs constant attention and this time a lot of effort went into updating the information on orders of service for weddings and funerals. Including updating our price list. Alongside this, the Google ad campaigns were revised. The digital landscape is constantly changing and needs regular attention.

Vinyl labels were completed and delivered to a customer in Poynton.

A vinyl banner's progress was checked and the delivery information updated. The recipient is moving to Shaw Heath and needs a banner, to report on the new location; the banner will be fixed to the scaffolding of the old mill currently being renovated and being changed to residential accommodation.

Quotes are an ongoing job, one for membership cards, another for ID cards and another for full colour raffle tickets.

One of our printers has stopped working so a new part was ordered.

Christmas display materials are removed for another year.

A visit to the Co-op bank to pay in a customer's cheque, an opportunity to say 'happy new year' to some of our local neighbours... including our landlord who complained about the queues in the NatWest bank.

Meanwhile the marketing emails we are receiving have changed from a dribble over the Christmas period to a deluge.

The Federation of Small Businesses has sent an email inviting me to the members conference in London. I will give that a miss.

The Facebook postings from our Heald Green based business club have started again; another job for next week, attending the club; things will get busy, particularly on the roads.

Which reminds me the Heaton Moor Church needs a quote to edit their notice board...