The Printed Word, Inc.

What The Printed Word, Inc. does

The Printed Word is a UK-based B2B commercial printing company headquartered in a 7,000 ft² factory on Graylands Business Park in Horsham, West Sussex, founded in 1990 and family-owned by the Pryer family. The company produces business and promotional printing, transactional/ variable-data printing (statements, payslips, pension documents), and personalised direct mail, supported by a Waterless hybrid digital offset press (Presstek 52DI Eco-UV, the first UK installation), five Xerox digital presses, a Neopost DS-200i inserting machine, and proprietary VIPP software for automated variable-data document generation. The company operates five wholly-owned sub-brands targeting distinct end markets: A Loving Tribute (funeral stationery, founded 2016, with a mobile app launched 2022), Simply Invited (wedding stationery, launched October 2021), Spitfire Print (DIY online print ordering for SMBs), Forget me Not (personalised postcards, launched 2020), and TPW Creative (in-house design services).

The Printed Word serves enterprise clients in financial services (pension and insurance companies), education (schools, yearbooks), charities (St Catherine's Hospice, Sussex Wildlife Trust), and B2B corporate accounts, alongside direct-to-consumer orders through its e-commerce sub-brands. Revenue is generated primarily through per-job quoting and transaction fees, with a recurring subscription-style element via Web2Print platforms that embed branded ordering pages into client websites. ISO 27001 (valid through 2026), Cyber Essentials, and GDPR compliance, combined with quarterly SecurityMetrics penetration testing, position the company as a security-credible handler of confidential financial and personal data. The go-to-market combines enterprise direct sales (led by a Sales Director with 24-hour quote turnaround) with self-service direct-to-consumer e-commerce, supported by content marketing, two-sided sustainability campaigns, and event sponsorships. Production capacity is reported at over 250,000 items printed and mailed per month.

Name

The Printed Word, Inc.

Legal name

The Printed Word

Website

https://printedword.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Printed Word is a UK-based, family-owned B2B commercial printing company in Horsham, West Sussex, founded in 1990, producing transactional, promotional, and personalised print and mailing for financial services, education, charities, and corporate clients, with five owned e-commerce sub-brands targeting funeral, wedding, and consumer DIY markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Printing Services

NAICS

Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Printing and Related Support Activities (3231), Printing (32311)

SIC

Commercial Printing (2750), Service Industries For The Printing Trade (2790)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Printing (Short-Run, Variable Data) (MPAJALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mailing, Inserting & Distribution Services (Addressing, Direct Mail, Kitting) (MPAJALAH), Printing & Business Forms (continuous forms, checks, tickets) (IMAMAHAH), Finishing & Post-Press Services (Cutting, Folding, Collating, Laminating, Foil, Emboss) (MPAJALAF)

Keywords

• Commercial printing services
• Transactional document printing
• Variable data printing
• Direct mail printing
• Web2print solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Horsham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Business & Promotional Printing: One-time print jobs for business cards, letterheads, postcards, NCR pads, annual reports, brochures, and promotional materials using digital or litho printing.
2. Transactional/Variable Data Printing: Mass personalization printing with unique data per recipient - letters, statements, annual reports, payslips, pension documents, benefit statements. Automation reduces human error and increases efficiency.
3. Personalised Printing & Mailing: Data merge with templates for direct mail campaigns, financial documents, invitations. Includes coordinated sorting and mailing services. Print and mail over 250,000 items monthly.
4. Web2Print Services: Corporate stationery ordering platforms and bespoke print order pages for clients' own eshops, enabling self-service ordering with automated print file production.
5. Funeral Stationery (A Loving Tribute Brand): Orders of service and condolence books for funeral industry. Easy-to-use website with templates plus mobile app for creating, managing, and sharing condolence books.
6. Consumer Print (Spitfire Print): DIY online ordering for business cards, leaflets, calendars, letterheads - printed in Great Britain.
7. Wedding Stationery (Simply Invited): Wedding invitations, stationery, and photobooks through easy-to-use website with free templates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Printed Word is a UK-based commercial printing company that manufactures and supplies bespoke printed materials for businesses, charities, schools, and financial services clients. Its core offerings include business and promotional printing (digital, litho, wide format), personalised/transactional variable-data printing and direct mail fulfilment, and white-label Web2Print platforms for self-service corporate stationery ordering. It also operates consumer-facing e-commerce sub-brands for DIY, wedding, funeral, and personalised postcard printing.

Product overview

The Printed Word operates as a B2B commercial printing company offering a unified portfolio of printing services and sub-brands. Core offerings include Business and Promotional Printing (digital, litho, and wide format), Web2Print (web-to-print platform for businesses), and Personalised Printing & Mailing (variable data/transactional printing). These are complemented by design services through TPW Creative and several sub-brands: Spitfire Print (DIY online ordering), Simply Invited (wedding stationery launched 2021), A Loving Tribute (funeral stationery since 2016), and Forget me Not (personalised postcards since 2020). Additional offerings include Revision Blocks for education. The company processes over 250,000 personalised items monthly and operates from a 7,000 ft² factory in Horsham, West Sussex.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• A Loving Tribute: Funeral stationery brand offering orders of service, personalized memorial materials, and a mobile app for condolence books
• Spitfire Print
• Simply Invited
• Forget me Not
• TPW Creative
• TPW Shop

Products and services

• Business and Promotional Printing General B2B commercial printing services including digital printing, litho printing, and wide format printing, covering business cards, letterheads, postcards, NCR pads, annual reports, and promotional materials for start-ups to established brands.
• Web2Print

Quantifiable outcome

• Prints and mails over 250,000 items monthly
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NeopostcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2020Purchased Neopost Inserter DS-200i in March 2020 for highly productive folding and inserting, raising mail production standards to next level with secure inline address printing and detailed mail piece tracking.
• XeroxcoreTechnology or IntegrationXerox Premier Partner status. The Printed Word operates five Xerox presses for transactional printing and photobook orders, representing a significant technology partnership for their digital printing capabilities.
• PresstekcoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-term Presstek customer with over 15-year relationship. First UK printer to install Presstek 52DI Eco-UV (replacing existing 34DI). Also one of the first processless platesetters in the UK installed over 15 years ago.
• SecurityMetricscoreTechnology or IntegrationQuarterly security penetration testing partnership with America-based data security and compliance provider. Testing examines business processes the way a hacker would, protecting systems against current hacking trends.
• Advance UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Advance UK who can assist and advise clients on internal print requirements and sustainable devices within the workplace, helping reduce electricity consumption and improve sustainability.
• Two SidesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporters of Two Sides campaign created to promote sustainability of graphic communications supply chain and dispel environmental misconceptions about print and paper. Campaign reaches 30+ million people annually through national newspapers and magazines.
• Born Free FoundationminorOthersCharity partnership supporting Born Free Foundation Go Wild Golf Day events and other fundraising activities. Owner Rob Pryer actively participates in supporting wildlife conservation efforts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Solopress: UK online print-on-demand business for business stationery, flyers, posters and brochures; comparable to The Printed Word on online ordering, short-run turnaround and B2B/SMB focus.
• Mixam: UK-headquartered online printing company offering commercial digital and litho print products with web-to-print ordering — overlaps with The Printed Word's core commercial printing and Web2Print proposition.
• Pureprint Group: UK commercial printing group with digital, litho and large-format capabilities serving agencies, brands and publishers — directly comparable to The Printed Word's B2B commercial print and variable-data services.
• instantprint: Large UK online commercial printer focused on short-run digital and litho printing for SMBs and agencies; competes with The Printed Word across commercial print, leaflets, business cards and brochures.
• Tradeprint: UK-based online commercial printing platform offering short-run digital printing, business cards, leaflets and marketing materials — directly comparable to The Printed Word's Spitfire Print DIY service and core B2B commercial print offering.
• Mail Pack Global: UK mailing and print-fulfilment specialist offering personalised direct mail, enclosing and postal services — closely comparable to The Printed Word's 250,000+ items/month personalised printing and mailing operation.
• Harlow Printing: Long-established UK commercial printer offering litho, digital and large-format printing to B2B customers; comparable in market segment, geographic focus and core print services to The Printed Word.

Broad incumbents

• Communisis (Docaposte): UK-headquartered (now part of Docaposte) communications and print services provider with major enterprise customer base in financial services and utilities — overlaps with The Printed Word's transactional/secure variable-data printing offering at materially larger scale.
• Vistaprint (Cimpress): Global online print-on-demand incumbent with a much wider product range and international footprint; competes with The Printed Word's Spitfire Print and Simply Invited brands on SMB/consumer business cards, invitations and stationery.
• 4imprint: Large UK-headquartered promotional products and print supplier with a much broader catalogue and distribution scale; overlaps with The Printed Word's B2B print and direct-mail capabilities but at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/_TPW
• Facebookfacebook.com/theprintedwordUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-printed-word

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries5 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 The Printed Word, Inc.