Page 60 - Print21 Jan-Feb 2022

People in Print
the OVERflow
IVE snaps up Active and AFI Branding
IVE Group has bought Active Display Group and AFI Branding, two of the biggest
players in the display graphics field, as the company looks to the post-Covid recovery.
The acquisitions will add annual revenue of circa $45m to IVE, and are expected to provide EBITDA of $6.5m. The deal will be funded from IVE’s existing cash reserves.
AFI was owned 50/50 by ADG and AFI managing director Glenn Watson, with ADG owned by advertising agency WPP, which bought it six years ago from the Gittus family,
who are still involved with the business. Both businesses will now be 100 per cent owned by IVE.
Following the acquisition
all senior execs will join IVE,
as will the 190 staff of the two businesses. Glenn Watson will continue to run AFI Branding, which will keep the name,
while ADG will be integrated into IVE’s already extensive display graphics and third party logistics business.
ADG is Australia’s most awarded retail point of sale and visual merchandising company, with the deal further strengthening IVE’s retail display and 3PL (third party
Illawarra Print and Signage becomes TikTok star
Diverse value proposition: Matt Aitken, CEO, IVE
logistics) offerings nationally. ADG has one of the most advanced display graphics print centres in the region, with robots loading and unloading its high speed Inca Onset printers.
The acquisition of soft signage specialist AFI
adds event, exhibition,
fabric printing and signage capabilities to IVE for the first time. The deal comes as retail stores begin to reopen their doors once more and businesses look to schedule events.
IVE Group CEO, Matt Aitken said, “Active Display Group
has built a fantastic reputation over the years, and is a forward thinking business. AFI Branding takes IVE into a new and growing area.
“These acquisitions strengthen our offer as
Exciting new chapter: Glenn Watson, AFI, now part of IVE
an industry leader in the design and production of temporary, semi-permanent and permanent retail display solutions to leading Australian and global brands. ADG’s comprehensive 3PL division
is also a seamless fit for IVE’s already extensive logistics and fulfilment operations.
Aitken adds, “These acquisitions build further on IVE’s strategic investment and growth in the retail sector over the last five years. We look forward to welcoming the ADG and AFI staff to our business, and showcasing IVE’s diverse value proposition to their customers”.
Steve Voorma, CEO, Active Display Group, said, “This
is fantastic news for our clients, and other companies requiring retail display,
visual merchandising (store windows), or 3PL services.
The combination of ADG and IVE’s existing capabilities
will create by far the most sophisticated and advanced retail display offering in the country. From the breadth
and depth of our combined capability, right through to our impeccable environmental and sustainability credentials, this expanded retail offering will be unmatched in Australia.”
AFI managing director, Glenn Watson, who will remain with IVE in a senior leadership role post-acquisition, said “This is an exciting new chapter for AFI Branding and I look forward
to joining the talented team
at IVE. Over the last 29 years, our team has worked tirelessly to build AFI up into the largest fabric printer in Australia, something we’re proud of. To enter our fourth decade as part of IVE Group brings with it a host of fresh opportunities and a new platform for industry innovation.”
ADG was founded by Jeff Gittus 36 years ago. It bought half of AFI Branding in 2007. The business was then acquired by WPP in 2015. Jeff sadly passed away in 2019. AFI began life 30 years ago. 21
llawarra Print and Signage
has become an unlikely Kylie Morrisey, Illawarra TikTok sensation, with Print & Signage
TikTok stars: Simon and
owners, husband and wife
duo Kyle and Simon Morrisey, receiving millions of views on the social media platform for their videos of paper being cut.
The videos, which have
built up its own cult following for being “oddly satisfying”, features aspects of printing and production including paper being printed, cut, folded, pressed and transformed, and currently have 150,000 likes and 20 million views combined.
The Morriseys said they started the account as a way to bring attention to the business after struggling during the
NSW Covid lockdowns, and the restrictions that led to not being able to do face-to-face sales.
“A lot of people don’t
know what is involved in the production of their printed materials, and since we do 90
per cent of our work in-house, I thought we could make some good content,” said Kylie Morrisey.
“We’re printers, so when we started the page, we had no experience in making videos or
social media content, but had to learn fast with lockdowns limiting our traditional marketing and events.
“People particularly love videos of large quantities of paper being cut, machines being fixed, or intricate folding designs taking place right before their eyes.”
Despite their recent social media success, the team say they don’t see social replacing print advertising any time soon. 21
60 Print21 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022