Dutch online printing business Happyprinting is on its way down under after the signing of a joint venture agreement with New Zealand based company SMP Solutions.
The agreement sees Happyprinting utilise SMP Solutions’ existing production platforms to launch operation across Australia and New Zealand, and serves as the Dutch company’s first joint venture.
Simon Murray, SMP Solutions CEO said the brand was excited to be pioneering the Happyprinting international expansion.
“We understand there’s a number of players in the market already, with most of their sales organic, but we definitely feel there is room for a business that has a main focus of being a major player in online print,” Murray told Inside Franchise Business.
“It’s pretty exciting from our point of view it that it’s a joint venture; it means that we’ve both got skin in the game.”
SMP Solutions current operation is primarily integrated into e-commerce in the domestic market, with Murray suggested a localised focus would streamlined the transition.
“From our position what we’re offering is an existing production platform, with the expertise to localise their offering to the New Zealand and Australian market. Their backend is pretty good, so it’s our focus to really hit those markets hard over the next 12-18 months,” Murray said.
The SMP Solutions CEO has ambitious plans for the group’s latest venture, revealing some key tactics for market differntiation.
“Realistically, we’d like to achieve 20 per cent of the market within the first 18 months. Other guys such as Vista have good Google presence and organic growth, but we’ve already aligned ourselves with a couple of All Blacks and UFC fighters so our social presence will be really exciting,” Murray said.
“It’s all about raising awareness. A minimum of 10 per cent market share over the next 12 months is our goal, but we’re really planning on doing this right, and hitting it hard.”
Happyprinting’s New Zealand operation is set to launch on April 1 this year, with Australian expansion set to follow on June 1.