Even at the height of the health crisis, the Icônes printing works in Brittany was able to maintain a small production flow. " We're fortunate to have a client base that has kept us in business during this period." explains Edwige Jalais, the company's Commercial Director, who she holds with her husband Éric Villemaire. The printing plant, which has been developing web-to-print for several years, was 40% of its target in April, 60% in May, 93% in June, 100% in July and 80% in August. Icônes produces, among other things, products for the food industry (product sheets, stop-rays, inserts, press kits, etc.).
Rethinking the customer relationship
The print shop also used this period to carry out in-depth work with the sales staff on customer approach. To this end, it was accompanied by the Elantys law firm. " We at Icons were used to dealing with incoming demand in an era where we have to be proactive." says Edwige Jalais. An approach that is part of a more global reflection on production processes. Three years ago, Icônes introduced "lean management", a work organisation method aimed at improving the company's performance. Since then, for example, the printing works has done away with traditional meetings. The management is done by departments over short periods of time . "One of the basic principles of lean management is: everything that is not measured does not progress", explains Edwige Jalais. From then on, each problem is approached in a specific way in order to find a solution.
External growth
The printer, which currently has 47 employees, has already completed several acquisitions. Initially an exclusively digital printer, it was only after acquiring an offset printer (Ouest Imprimerie), with which it merged in 2011, that Icônes completed its offer. Since then, it has acquired the Imprimerie de Basse Bretagne (IBB) in 2018 and more recently, in January 2020, the company Publicité Julé, which specialises in signage and large format. Today, the printer remains attentive to trends and ready to seize new opportunities in print and digital. The two managers recently completed an English-language training course at the Amanda Grey Training Centre. The printing plant is also designing a range of furniture made of honeycomb board with a view to marketing it.
