Fully into the digital age

Here at Slideshow, we like to announce important milestones and this one is a biggie. Because finally, after much deliberation and soul searching, we have transferred our old analogue telephone system over. In other words, in the office, we can now proudly boast that we are totally, fully and very completely digital. Yes, we are now firmly engaged with the modern age.

No more relying on an antiquated system, with signals susceptible to outside interference, unwanted noise and limited security. From now on we should be able to communicate with clients and the outside world via the easy exchange of clean, crisp, binary data; such is the simple elegance of 0's and 1's.

Of course, we are still going through a period of adjustment and getting used to dealing with new technology takes time. The ring tone for instance has changed completely from a loud, ear-bleeding shrill to a soft, gentle burr.

As such, every time we receive a call, there is a slightly muted and delayed reaction to it; with a thought process that sort of goes: "Is that the phone ringing?"

But don't worry, our pick up times are getting quicker.

A tech director with a big wooden stick is making sure of that.

Our new website is live!

Well, it's been live for about week now, so this hardly the most up-to-date, front page news. But we are rather proud of it, so please do take a look - slideshow.co.uk

It is still very much a work in progress and will be subject to nips and tucks along the way but for now we think it communicates what we do here and what we do well. Which of course is presentation printing.

However, all comments and suggestions will be gratefully received.

Personally, I think that some of the profile shots of staff at Slideshow could do with re-shooting.

Nick, the web designer definitely didn't catch my 'best side'.

Rebranding Slideshow

As part of our on-going rebrand, reshuffle and revamp, we are very pleased to present our new logo and sign, which is now fixed neatly outside, next to the entrance of Slideshow HQ.

The old sign, which had been up on the wall for 15 years, served us well; withstanding the rigours of time, the weather and the general grime that this city can bring. But if we were to be honest, it was starting to look tired and stale and it didn't really communicate what Slideshow represented any more. Hence the shiny new sign, which succinctly informs the public what we do, telling them what we are about. We are the presentation printers.

However, the old plaque won't be discarded and simply thrown away with the rubbish, to be forgotten forever. After all, it is part of Slideshow's cultural heritage. No, no doubt it will be buffed up and spruced and carefully framed, so that it may retire to the comfort of the office inside, hanging proudly on display.

Although, there is also talk about putting it on eBay at the moment. We'll have to wait and see.

300 books an hour

Records are set and records are broken all the time, especially where speed is concerned. On track and field, in the pool, on tarmac, on water and through the air. The human endeavour to go quicker, faster and stronger knows no bounds.

This morning at Slideshow, we smashed through a little speed barrier ourselves. 300 A5 colour books were printed and bound within the hour. 300 'double-sided' books that is, which is certainly no mean feat. But our client set a deadline and we delivered and met that deadline, without barely breaking a sweat. The only shame was that no-one was around to witness this extraordinary spectacle; the crowd, if we had one, would have surely been on their feet, roaring.

Nevertheless, my colleague Nick is now on the phone to the Guinness Book of Records to see if we can get the time verified.

It's looking good so far but there has been mention of dope-testing.

We should be fine, we have nothing to hide, we only had a couple of coffees.

Dipping our toes into social media

So here it is, Slideshow's very first blog post, heralding an auspicious moment in the history of our company.

For over 25 years now, we have specialized in providing confidential, fast turnaround, last minute digital print; producing by and large, presentation and press release documents for banks and financial institutions in and around the Square Mile. And we like to think that we are rather good at what we do.

However, up until this point we have kept rather quiet about the services we provide. That isn't meant to sound sinister by the way. We are not some shadowy organisation, we are not hitmen, we cannot clean up any messy indiscretions but we are professional. Our client base which includes companies within the FTSE 100 will testify to that.

At present, we are in the process of revamping our website, making it all shiny and new and soon you will be able to find out more about us and about the print services we can offer. We are also tentatively peering over the fence with regards to social media and are keen to develop relationships with clients old and new, on-line. As such, you will now be able to contact us via Twitter, Facebook and this blog page, alongside email and telephone. For all intents and purposes, the blog will feature news, stories and pictures that interest us and hopefully, interest you. And of course, if we have any special offers to promote or if we feel like blowing our own trumpet, then that will be posted on here too.

Where will this new direction take us? Well, who knows, its early days yet.

But you know what they say..........baby steps.