Page 50 - Print21 Nov-Dec 2020

Opinion
Made in Australia
Rawson Print Co business development manager Cameron Woodbury says local print increases sustainability and de-risks the supply chain.
The past 12 months have been tumultuous for businesses and individuals alike, from the bushfire season to the worldwide
disruption caused by the Covid-19 global pandemic. Through efforts like Buy from the Bush, many Australian consumers are seeking
to support the local economy and turning their purchasing decisions towards Australian-made products and services. Local print and packaging manufacturers have benefited from the surge in demand for locally sourced options, with clients motivated to take back control of their production processes.
Over at Rawson Print Co (RPCo), we believe the major benefits of printing in Australia include greater quality control, improved speed to market, and elevated production visibility, along with an absence of the risks inherent when dealing with international embargoes, such as those imposed by China.
Partnering with a local print and packaging manufacturer enables companies to unlock greater value. The modern printer is a value- oriented service provider; cost is just one piece of the puzzle, we need to
be agile, flexible and simultaneously operate as brand guardians who see beyond the ink on a sheet.
Once all factors such as
freight, production, logistics
and communication issues are combined, we have proven time
and again that local production
is not only more reliable and environmentally sound, but can also be more cost effective than cheap offshore production.
One of the largest publicly listed companies in Australia, Domino's, has thrown its support behind local printing by embracing the Proudly Printed in Australia logo for all of its print collateral, and has commenced using it on millions of print pieces.
In an article featured in last month’s Print 21, Domino's chief marketing officer ANZ Allan Collins said the pizza giant supported Proudly Printed in Australia because of its belief in local manufacturing. The decision was made as Domino’s sought new ways of reducing its carbon footprint and resource consumption, seeking sustainability while also supporting local manufacturing.
Not only a benefit for the environment, printing in Australia
“We have proven time and again that local production is not only more reliable and environmentally sound, but can also be more cost effective than cheap offshore production.”
Belief in local manufacturing: Domino’s Pizzas
is arguably also better for business, reducing costs for local clients and franchisees.
With international travel bans and enforced border lockdowns unlikely to ease anytime soon, we believe good business and local production go hand in hand; an opinion also shared by Andrew Macaulay, the chief executive of the printing industry’s peak body, the Print & Visual Communication Association.
In an article by Australian Manufacturing, Macaulay asserts
that Covid-19 has exposed the vulnerability of international supply chains, prompting many companies to return their print production
to Australia, he says, “With Covid-19, we are seeing an attack
on the Australian economy and the realisation that our supply chains are high-risk, because we have moved so much manufacturing overseas.”
The Print & Visual Communication Association has been running a Buy Australian Print campaign for some time, which Macaulay reports has had resonance with Australians recognising the real value in domestically produced material.
Research from Australia Post lends further evidence to the idea that Australian consumers have a desire to support local.
Proud to support: Cameron Woodley, Rawson Print Co
In a recent Omnibus survey by the government postal service,
30 per cent of respondents stated they are making an effort to buy more Australian-made products than they did previously, while 23 per cent of shoppers said they are more conscious about buying from businesses in their local areas.
As far as our industry is impacted, when companies work with an Australian-based printer, they
are also supporting a network of related local jobs, such as designers, typographers and boutique creative agencies.
Along with the many benefits to clients, in these uncertain times printing locally provides a much- needed, positive flow-on effect to the local creative community. It’s a community that we are proud to support. 21
50 Print21 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020