Media Toolbox Uses Language As Key to Success
Media-Toolbox Ltd, based in Leighton Buzzard, is about to revolutionise the Graphic Arts and Marketing Industries with its practical and cost effective web2print software applications.The innovative software links the client to the printers via the web and provides them with tools to overlook the whole design and printing process via a communication area on the web, thus allowing clients to track, change and proof-read their jobs at any stage of the process.
This novel system fundamentally changes the traditionalsupply chain for ordering print related products and it is therefore no wonder that major printing houses in Europe and in the USA have already adopted the system.
The fact that other major overseas companies are now showing interest is to no small degree thanks to the open-minded way in which Tony O’Neill, the company’s Director, approaches his foreign markets. Although English is widely spoken in the printing industry, Tony knows from his own experience how language can be turned into a competitive advantage: When Tony attended the Passport to Export workshop some time ago, he was encouraged by his RLN adviser to have his company leaflet translated into Spanish and Catalan for an exhibition in Barcelona.“At first I was reluctant to do this because I thought it would cost a fortune. But my RLN adviser assured me that translating two A4 pages would not cost the world and she was right. I cannot over-emphasise the positive effect that this has had on my contacts in Barcelona.”, Tony adds. “The exhibition was very positive and I received huge brownie points for turning up with leaflets in Spanish and Catalan.Companies very much larger than mine turned up with documentation only in English which did not go down well at all with our Spanish hosts and contacts.”
As a result, a major printing company in Barcelona has now shown interest in becoming Media-Toolbox’s Spanish distributor! Tony explains, “One of my installations in Dublin Ireland are also interested in talking to this company with me and the idea is to link up via the web both companies so that commercial print transactions can be performed.We are intending to create a network of these printers firstly Europe-wide and then in the US, etc”.As a next step, Tony now intends to get a follow-up e-mail translated into Catalan and then send it to his contact at the company in Barcelona.
After this positive experience, Tony is keen to have his website translated into different languages.Of course, the Spanish/Catalan company brochure makes a great starting point for the Spanish version of the website.At a recent visit, the RLN East advisermade Tony aware of the most important issues to consider when translating and localising his website.
“My experience in Barcelona has definitely taught me a lesson regarding languages and the importance of using them for advancing my business overseas”.