Trade printer CMYKhub has expanded into Far North Queensland with the purchase of a manufacturing facility and machinery from Lotsa Printing.
Lotsa's retail operations in Cairns, Townsville and Port Douglas have been sold separately by owners Peter and Beverley Martin to Lotsa GM Marty Griffiths and will remain open for business as usual. Peter Martin is staying on for now as a consultant with the retail side. Lotsa Printing will become a client of CMYKhub.
"We've purchased the production side of the Lotsa business and we'll move machinery from the wide-format facility based at Cairns into the existing digital and offset plant in Port Douglas, which will become the new CMYKhub manufacturing base in FNQ," says Craig Graham, group operations manager, CMYKhub.
The leading trade printer already operates manufacturing hubs in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
"It's one of those sales where everyone's happy," says former Lotsa co-owner Peter Martin. "We've known the guys from CMYKhub for a long time and we're all friendly and have common goals.
"It's worked out well for Bev and myself. We've achieved a good result, even though with the business being split, it is a little different than we expected when we first put it up for sale last year.
"Marty has been with us 17 years and is an exceptionally good guy. He already runs the retail and he was very keen on taking on that side of the business. Our production staff are excited to have CMYKhub involved in the deal."
Trent Nankervis, managing director of CMYKhub, says: "The opportunity to support customers and employment in FNQ by manufacturing print locally will ensure that printed media continues to be a viable option for marketing of the vital tourism industry in the region.
"As a trusted national trade supplier, we look forward to supplying offset, digital and wide format products to all resellers of print in Far North Queensland with support from our Brisbane team and facility.
"All resellers of print in FNQ will now have access to CMYKhub's trade pricing and full range of products with selected offset, digital and wide format products being produced from the Port Douglas facility.
"Peter and his team at Lotsa Printing have set the standard in FNQ over the past 22 years. We wish both Peter and Marty every success as they concentrate their efforts on the retail business of Lotsa Printing."
Lotsa's 16-year-old house publication Lotsa Laughs, a paean to political incorrectness, will continue publishing its quarterly run of 2,000 copies for at least the next year.
"We'll still be providing Lotsa Laughs on a contract basis for the next 12 months or so," says Martin, "provided we can maintain the same standards."