Leeds-based book binders Hollingworth & Moss have launched a new photobook production division following its recent installation of Taopix Photobook software provided by Taopix's exclusive UK distributor, TranseoMedia.  The new division will be fulfilling orders driven from the company's new, dedicated photobook ordering website – www.lovephotobooks.com – which went live on 1st June 2011.
 
Says Paul Hollingworth, Joint Managing Director: "We're very excited about the launch of our photobook division and www.lovephotobooks.com.  This sector is set to be, in our view, one of the key areas of growth for the printing and photographic industries in the UK in the coming years so we're pleased to be one of the early adopters of this technology."
 
"Photobook production will provide us with a service that will complement our existing printing and finishing portfolio. Last year we installed an additional Xerox 5000AP to enhance our digital printing credentials and Taopix was the last piece in the puzzle for us. The software is extremely impressive and has provided us with a great foundation from which to drive this new division of our business forward."
 
Paul Hollingworth states the company has nearly 50 years experience as high-quality specialist bookbinders and finishers which it will bring to its photobook division: "It is this experience that I believe gives us a very unique proposition to offer the market," adds Paul. "It's one thing to print great photobooks, but they have to be finished to the highest possible standard. This is where our vast experience and our skilled craftsmanship come into play. We have a huge amount of specialist finishing equipment that will allow us to finish everything – from high volume runs to bespoke, high-quality one-offs."
 
The management team at Hollingworth & Moss first discovered photobooks while on a research trip to the USA and was reintroduced to the concept at drupa 2008. In 2010, when the decision was finally made to set up a photobook division, the company investigated Taopix and its key competitors to fully understand all the various technology options and business models associated with each product.
 
"What really impressed us about Taopix," continues Paul "was that it is a great technology supported by a commercial model that really appealed to us. For example, we can rebadge the front end as many times as we need and offer customers either a selection of predesigned templates for their photobooks, or design our own new templates as and when we want to, without having to go back to the developer and pay them to do it, which was the case with many solutions we looked at.  The fact that Taopix is both Mac and PC compatible offers us even greater flexibility as we could look to partner with photographers and designers, who are often Mac-based, and open up this service to their customers.
 
"Taopix's customer service has also been excellent. They have listened to us and taken the time to explain exactly how the software could be integrated into our workflow and where the opportunities are for us to exploit this to get a return on investment as soon as possible."
 
Says Taopix CEO, James Gray: "This installation demonstrates how photobook software can benefit any company right across the print and photographic production spectrum –from prepress and design companies or photographers through to specialist finishing companies. Hollingworth and Moss is an outstanding example of an innovative company that is using its core expertise in new and exciting ways.  We have been very impressed with the way they have embraced Taopix's photobook technology and have already developed a strong portfolio of photobook products which are now live and available to download from www.lovephotobooks.com."
 
Concludes Mr Hollingworth: "I think one of the most exciting things about the photobook market at the moment is that no-one really knows how big it's going to get and it's a great opportunity for the print industry. This is a serious investment for us and we see it as a core part of our service and business strategy moving forward."

Hollingworth & Moss was established as a traditional bookbindery by Michael Hollingworth and Peter Moss in Leeds in 1966 offering highly-specialised bookbinding services for libraries, private collections, universities and other educational establishments – something the company still takes pride in today. Since 2004, the company has been run by joint managing directors and Michael Hollingworth's sons, Paul and Richard.   In addition to the book binding and photobook services, the company also has a thesis printing and binding service for students via www.mythesis.co.uk; a book scanning division: www.bookscanbureau.co.uk and is the UK distributor for Kirtas book scanning technology.