From brief to broadcast

Inside the Printing Charity: 200 Years of Supporting Businesses

Supporting an entire industry for nearly 200 years takes more than tradition; it takes innovation, adaptability, and a deep commitment to people. In this episode, Neil Lovell, CEO of the Printing Charity, shares how the organization continues to support professionals across print, publishing, and allied trades through financial aid, helplines, and career development initiatives. From championing young talent through the Rising Stars awards to prioritizing mental health and wellbeing, this conversation explores how the charity is evolving to meet modern challenges while honoring its legacy. A powerful look at community, resilience, and the future of support in the printing industry. Show Notes: 03:45 History of the charity (nearly 200 years) 06:40 Why awareness of the charity is still low 09:18 Why the helpline was created & its impact 13:46 Supporting young talent in the industry About Neil: Neil’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-l-9205137/ The Printing Charity: https://www.theprintingcharity.org.uk Connect with us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eight-group-print-and-marketing-solutions/

How Technology Is Transforming the Printing Industry

Is traditional print on its way out, or is it evolving faster than ever? In this episode of From Brief to Broadcast, Lance Hill sits down with Andy Clyde, Technical Director at 8 Group, to unpack how print technology has transformed over the years. From the critical role of pre-press to the growing power of digital printing, they explore why expertise still defines quality and why digital now rivals litho in ways few expected. An educational deep dive into print technology, craftsmanship, and where the industry is heading next. Show Notes: 03:15 What Does a Technical Director in Print Do? 05:15 What is Pre-Press & Why It’s Critical for Print Quality 09:30 Why Lighting is Crucial for Accurate Colour in Print 13:49 How Print Technology Has Advanced Over 30+ Years 17:55 Inspiring the Next Generation into Print Careers 24:11 Advice for Digital Marketers Starting Their First Print Project About Guest: Clyde’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-clyde-a3341730/ Connect with us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eight-group-print-and-marketing-solutions/ Website: http://www.eightgroup.co.uk/

Everything You Think You Know About Marketing Data Is Wrong

More data doesn’t always mean better marketing, and in many cases, it’s the reason campaigns fail.    In this episode, Tom Oldershaw and Graham Tomblin unpack why clean, compliant data matters more than volume, how GDPR really impacts campaigns, and why attribution and post-campaign analysis are critical.    A sharp conversation on rethinking data to drive smarter, more effective marketing.    Show Notes:  00:00 The Importance of Data in Marketing  07:03 Understanding Customer Demographics  14:11 The Risks of Using Unclean Data  19:50 Navigating GDPR and Legitimate Interest  28:11 The Role of Data Profiling in Campaigns      About Graham:  Graham’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graham-tomblin-7300605/  PDV: https://www.pdv.agency/    Connect with us:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eight-group-print-and-marketing-solutions/

Why Digital Brands Are Turning Back to Direct Mail

Email inboxes are crowded. Social feeds are saturated. So where do digital brands go next? In this episode of From Brief to Broadcast, Andrew Curran, Founder of Arc X-Media and Zap~Post, explains how data-driven, automated direct mail is helping brands reconnect with customers, and why offline channels are outperforming digital at critical moments. A practical conversation about CRM, AI, attribution, and the future of omnichannel marketing. Show Notes: 00:00 Why digital brands are adopting direct mail 01:30 Andrew’s entrepreneurial journey 03:55 What Zap~Post is and how it works 06:00 Turning digital behaviour into physical mail 08:20 Tracking performance and ROI 11:45 Digital saturation and customer fatigue 15:40 The role of AI in CRM platforms 18:00 Solving creative challenges with AI 22:40 What’s next for Zap~Post 25:10 The future of direct mail marketing About Andrew: Andrew's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjcurran/ ZAP~POST: https://zappost.com Connect with us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eight-group-print-and-marketing-solutions/

Unlocking 8 Group's Marketing Secrets

Discover the unique strategies behind 8 Group's success in multi-channel marketing. Dive into their journey and learn how they integrate digital and offline marketing for maximum impact. Highlights: * 8 Group's approach to multi-channel marketing. * Integrating digital and offline strategies. * The role of personalization in success. * Challenges in attribution and the impact of AI. Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction to 8 Group 00:03:00 Multi-Channel Marketing Approach 00:09:00 Integrating Digital and Offline Marketing 00:15:00 Personalization and Customer Journeys 00:21:00 Challenges in Attribution 00:27:00 The Role of AI in Marketing Follow for more interesting insights.