JAY HOUSE LIMITED

What JAY HOUSE LIMITED does

Jay House Limited, trading as Fotospeed, is a privately held UK-based specialist distributor of professional inkjet printing products, headquartered in Calne, Wiltshire. The company sells a comprehensive portfolio of 263+ paper SKUs across five premium brands (its own Fotospeed label plus Hahnemühle, Canson, Ilford, and Epson), alongside desktop and wide-format printers from Canon and Epson, proprietary Fotospeed-branded inks, presentation and display products (springback binders, fotoblocks, stretcher bars), darkroom supplies, colour calibration tools, monitors, scanners, and camera/drone accessories. Its primary differentiator is colour management: Fotospeed offers free downloadable generic ICC printer profiles and bespoke custom ICC profiling services to ensure accurate, consistent print output for professional and enthusiast users. The company also operates the Fotospeed Academy, providing workshops, training courses, and lectures tutored by professional photographers.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model via fotospeed.com with worldwide shipping from its UK warehouse, supplemented by a multi-tier distribution network: a UK dealer base, a network of European distribution partners, and an exclusive USA partnership with MIDWEST Photo (mpex.com). Customer segments are primarily individual professional photographers, fine-art printmakers, and photography studios requiring archival-quality output for exhibitions, client work, and portfolios. Marketing is delivered through content (blog, eBook, YouTube), an email newsletter, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), ambassador endorsements from named professional photographers, and in-person workshops.

The company is family-owned and bootstrapped, with no external institutional investment, no disclosed funding rounds, and no revenue publicly reported. It is co-owned by Toby Herlinger (Sales & Marketing Director) and Ben Herlinger (Finance & Operations Director), with a small team of approximately 8 staff covering sales, operations, technical, warehouse, accounts, customer support, and web management. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales (papers, hardware, accessories) and professional services (custom ICC profiling, workshops), with prices including 20% UK VAT and unit pricing across a wide range from low-cost consumables to high-end wide-format printers.

Name

JAY HOUSE LIMITED

Legal name

Jay House Limited

Website

https://fotospeed.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jay House Limited (trading as Fotospeed) is a UK-based specialist distributor of professional inkjet papers, printers, inks, and colour management services, serving photographers, fine-art printmakers, and studios globally through e-commerce and a multi-region dealer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Photo Printing Supplies

NAICS

Stationery Product Manufacturing (32223)

SIC

Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861)

akta.pro primary industry

Photo Printing & Imaging Supplies Retail (Printers, Paper, Ink, Darkroom) (CRACAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Office, Stationery & Craft Supplies DTC (CRAFACAL)

Keywords

• Fine art inkjet papers
• Professional photo printing
• Printer consumables
• Colour management services
• Presentation display products

Headquarters

HQ city

Calne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales - Papers: Sale of inkjet papers from own-brand Fotospeed and third-party brands (Hahnemühle, Canson, Ilford, Epson) for fine art and photo printing
2. Product Sales - Printers & Inks: Sale of desktop printers, wide-format printers, dry lab printers, and compatible inks from Canon and Epson
3. Custom ICC Profiling Services: Bespoke colour management services for professional printing accuracy
4. Workshops & Education: Practical workshops, training courses, and lectures through Fotospeed Academy for photographers and creatives

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Jay House Limited, trading as Fotospeed, sells professional inkjet papers (own-brand Fotospeed plus Hahnemühle, Canson, Ilford and Epson), desktop, wide-format and drylab printers and compatible inks from Canon and Epson, presentation and display products, darkroom supplies, and imaging accessories. The company supplements retail with custom ICC colour profiling services, free downloadable ICC profiles, and the Fotospeed Academy workshop programme targeted at photographers and image-makers.

Product overview

Fotospeed (trading as Jay House Limited) is a UK-based specialist retailer offering a comprehensive portfolio of professional printing solutions for photographers, creatives, and image-makers. The product ecosystem consists primarily of physical products rather than software: inkjet papers from multiple brands (Fotospeed own-brand, Hahnemühle, Canson, Ilford, Epson); desktop and wide-format printers from Canon and Epson; proprietary Fotospeed inks; ICC colour profiling services (free bespoke profiles); presentation/display products (springback binders, fotoblocks, FotoDisplay frames, stretcher bars); darkroom supplies; camera and computing accessories; and copy stands/lighting equipment. The company also operates Fotospeed Academy, providing practical photography workshops. The portfolio is structured around the complete imaging workflow—from paper selection, printing hardware, and colour management to presentation, archiving, and education—with products spanning fine art papers, printer hardware, display solutions, darkroom chemistry, and professional accessories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fotospeed Inkjet Papers Professional-quality inkjet papers including fine art, photo quality, cotton, baryta, and OBA-free options from the Fotospeed own brand as well as Hahnemühle, Canson, Ilford, and Epson, sold to photographers, artists, and printmakers for digital photo and fine art printing.
• Desktop Printers (Canon & Epson) Desktop photo printers from Canon and Epson for professional and enthusiast photographers, sold with compatible inks and accessories.
• Wide Format Printers (Canon & Epson) Wide-format photo printers from Canon and Epson, sold with compatible inks, for large-format professional printing.
• Drylab Printers (Epson) Epson drylab printers (D1000, D1000A, D500) and compatible inks for high-volume professional photo printing.
• Fotospeed Brand Inks Proprietary Fotospeed-branded compatible printer inks for various desktop and wide-format printers.
• Custom ICC Profiling Service Custom ICC colour management profiling service that ensures accurate colour reproduction for professional photographic printing workflows.
• Springback Binders Album-style presentation binders in multiple sizes (A5, A4, A3) and materials (leather effect, canvas), in multiple colours, used by photographers to present and protect finished prints.
• FotoBlocks Wall display blocks with black or white edges for presenting printed photographs.
• FotoDisplay Display solutions including glass frames, magnetic FotoBlock, and self-adhesive FotoPanel options for presenting prints.
• Canvas Stretcher Bars Canvas stretcher bars and corner kits for gallery wrapping and presentation of canvas prints.
• InkJet Cards and FotoCards Pre-scored inkjet cards in various sizes (5x5 inch, i3, A6, A5) and photo tins for creative printing applications.
• Colour Management Tools Screen calibrators, print calibrators, and camera calibrators for colour accuracy across the photographic imaging workflow.
• BenQ Professional Monitors Professional monitors from BenQ (PD2705U, PD3205U, PD2705Q) designed for photo editing and colour-critical work.
• Professional Scanners Professional scanners from Epson, Canon, and Contex for photo and document scanning.
• Kaiser Copy Stands and Lighting Kaiser copy stands (RS1, RS2, RD, RSP systems) and professional lighting units including LED and daylight options for reproduction and studio work.
• Darkroom Products Traditional darkroom supplies including black & white paper, alternative process chemistry, toners & dyes, film, enlargers, and retouching tools.
• Archiving Supplies Archival products including book holders, document protectors, photo corners, slide viewers, and copy stand accessories from Kaiser and Herma.
• Print Protection and Accessories Spray protection in matt, gloss, and satin finishes; paper trimmers; print squeegees; print bags; and acid-free tissue for protecting finished prints.
• Fotospeed Academy Workshops Practical photography workshops and printing education tutored by professional photographers and image makers, supporting better printing outcomes for Foto

Quantifiable outcome

• 263+ paper products across multiple premium brands
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• MIDWEST PhotocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive USA distribution partner for Fotospeed products. Operates through mpex.com, selling Fotospeed inkjet papers, printers, and accessories to American customers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ilford Imaging: UK-headquartered photographic paper and chemistry manufacturer (Ilford Galerie range sold via Fotospeed). Competes in classic photo and fine-art inkjet media.
• Calumet Photographic: European multi-channel photo retailer selling printers, ink, paper, lighting, and accessories across EU stores and online, with overlapping product breadth.
• Hahnemühle: Premium German paper manufacturer (Digital FineArt collection) that supplies Fotospeed and also sells globally through its own channels. Comparable fine-art paper portfolio with deeper R&D and brand heritage.
• Wex Photo Video: UK photo and video retailer carrying printers, inks, papers, and accessories for enthusiasts and pros, overlapping substantially with Fotospeed's assortment.
• Canson (Canson Infinity): French premium fine-art paper brand sold via Fotospeed but also distributed direct. Overlaps in Baryta, cotton rag, photo rag and similar high-end inkjet media.

Direct peers

• Loxley Colour: UK-based professional photo printing lab and consumables supplier serving photographers and studios with papers, ICC services, and studio accessories.
• PermaJet: UK-based manufacturer and retailer of premium inkjet photo and fine-art papers with a comparable portfolio to Fotospeed. Direct head-to-head competitor in professional fine-art paper distribution and ICC profiling.
• Midwest Photo: Fotospeed's exclusive USA distribution partner and independent US photo retailer selling printers, papers, ink, and darkroom supplies—directly comparable specialty retailer model.
• Inkpress Paper: US inkjet paper company offering a curated range of fine-art and photo papers with ICC profiling support, closely mirroring Fotospeed's value proposition.

Emerging players

• WhiteWall: European fine-art photo printing service offering gallery-grade prints on Hahnemühle, Canson and similar papers—competes for the same end-customer output spend rather than supplies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5p5sf-JOSo8uP-63w3OKSg?view_as=subscriber
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fantasy-creations

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about JAY HOUSE LIMITED