So a few weeks ago Jellybean had a little road trip… not far I must say but across the city border into Rotherham – but one that gave us loads of insight, ideas and inspiration.

Adam and I were invited to attend the InstantPrint Expo – held at the HQ of InstantPrint in Rotherham. For those who don’t know, InstantPrint are the UK’s largest print company and we’ve been using them for years for things like flyers, handouts, signage and branded bits for our booths. So when they invited us down to get an inside look, we couldn’t say no!

From Press to Perfection

The day kicked off with a tour of their incredible, state-of-the-art facility. It’s hard to put into words just how impressive the setup is – think warehouse-sized print machines whirring away, the smell of fresh ink in the air, and a team that genuinely cares about what they produce. We got to see how everything is made, from flyers and business cards to banners and signage – every part of the journey from upload to dispatch. Those huge HP printing machines were great to see… and the space ship style Landa (I hope I got that name right) were something to be seen. A little more impressive than our fleet of FujiFilm Photo Booth printers eh?

As a business that sends print out into the world every single week, it was eye-opening to see the process from their side – and to speak directly to the people behind it. We had time with their customer service team and product development team, and it wasn’t just about them showing off. They genuinely wanted feedback.

In fact, we even had the chance to chat about some backdrop products we use from another supplier – and discussed how InstantPrint might be able to develop something similar with wedding and event suppliers in mind. We know quite bit about backdrops, after all the majority of ours are custom made but equally we use standard sizes… along with other businesses in the wedding industry who use them at Expos, wedding fayres and even other booth companies. We love suppliers who listen, and they definitely did.

Real Talks with Real People

Throughout the day there were also expert talks from members of the InstantPrint team – focusing on how to make the most of print in your business, and how physical marketing is still one of the most powerful tools for brand visibility (something we’re always banging on about).

What we loved most, though, was the atmosphere. The lunch was amazing – not just because the food was top-notch (it really was), but because it gave us time to sit and chat with other businesses from all over the UK. There was even another wedding photographer from the local area, so we had loads to chat about when it came to the wedding industry, what’s working, and how we all keep raising the bar.

It was one of those moments where you realise how valuable real-world networking still is. We came away with fresh ideas, new connections, and a better understanding of how the print side of our world can help us do even more for our couples. And we really did walk away from Craig’s talk feeling empowered by his journey with his hair salon in Bawtry (amazing name by the way!)

A Bit of Fun (and Victory!)

Of course, no event is complete without a little fun – and InstantPrint didn’t disappoint. They’d set up a basketball arcade-style game, complete with a hoop, timer and plenty of (very competitive) people having a go.

And guess what? Adam only went and won it. Yep – outscored everyone and walked away with the bragging rights. We’re not saying he’s insufferable now… but let’s just say we’ve heard the phrase “champion of print” more than once since. 🏀

Why This Stuff Matters

It might not seem like a big deal to some – a day out at a print facility – but to us, it really shows how important it is to work with suppliers who care. InstantPrint has been a solid part of the Jellybean journey since the beginning, and after seeing how seriously they take their products, their service and their innovation, we know we’re in even better hands. We’re no where near a big customer to them, but to us they’ve been a big part of the journey of Jellybean – from supplying our flyers and brochures, business cards, flags and even signage.

We’re always on the lookout for ways to improve the little things that make our experience better – and a day with InstantPrint reminded us how powerful that mindset really is.

Big thanks to the team for inviting us down – and for reminding us why good print (and good people) will always be a huge part of what we do.