Printing.com makes £1.5m
Article Date: Jun 01 2005AIM-quoted Printing.com says it is now experiencing its 'fastest ever growth' after increasing pre-tax profits 61 per cent last year to £1.5 million.
Manchester-based Printing.com, which provides a range of leaflets, promotional cards, postcards, business and invitation cards, letterheads and the like to private and business customers, increased turnover 15 per cent to £10.7 million in the year to March. The company, which increasingly operates through franchises (including 'guerrilla franchises', where the franchisee already works in the sector), says retail sales of its products rose 33 per cent to £14.4 million, while diluted earnings surged 85 per cent to 2.66p a share.
Year-end cash reserves rose from £790,000 to £2.9 million and the company, which came to AIM last August, proposes a maiden final dividend of 0.5p a share. With nine directly owned stores and 127 franchised outlets open, pending or under option (up from 119 in March and 85 in March 2004) Printing.com differs from rivals in centralising all production at its Manchester hub.
Chief executive Anthony Rafferty claims revenues will grow from new franchises and increased yields from existing and new outlets. At 48p, down 2p today and more than 12p off January levels, the shares reflect market caution.
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