Pictured above: (l-r) Peter Smith and Rob Pearson
A Stoke-on-Trent photography and design business is seeing rapid
growth after diversifying into computer-generated imagery (CGI)
with help from an Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) loan from
Lloyds TSB Commercial.
CIC Photographic was founded in 1998 by Robert Pearson, who was
initially a commercial pottery photographer working in the heart of
the Potteries with brands such as Royal Doulton and Wedgewood.
The business has since diversified and now provides photography,
design, digital asset management and a new CGI imaging facility for
its global client base. It currently employs 20 people at its head
office on Cross Hill, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.
Robert went on to launch an office in China in 2008 after
recognising that 60 per cent of the business' work came from
packaging shots where the products had to be flown or shipped in
from the customers' manufacturing bases in the Far East.
Since opening this office in China and being able to offer
clients his services in the country that they manufacture their
products, thereby cutting down their transport costs, CIC
Photographic has experienced significant growth and has been able
to double its headcount in the UK to 20 employees.
The most recent funding from Lloyds TSB Commercial through a
Government-backed EFG loan, has allowed the business to further
expand its offering by investing in the equipment and software to
launch its high-tech CGI department.
CGI allows CIC Photographic's customers to have a digital model
of their product for marketing and packaging purposes before it has
been made - enabling them to start selling the product before it is
in the shops. Robert has seen significant growth in demand for the
service and has subsequently employed four new CGI programmers in
Stoke-on-Trent.
The firm is now aiming to double its turnover this year with the
help of the new CGI facility.
Robert Pearson, director of CIC Photographic, said: "Since
setting up the business as a single photographer, I have always
focused on pushing boundaries and innovating within the industry.
The pottery sector has had a traumatic thirty years and, while we
continue to work with some of the large pottery names, it became
clear to me that we would needed to diversify to grow.
"Launching the CGI arm of the business has been a challenging
but rewarding task that will keep the business moving with the
times - gone are the days of dark rooms and chemicals! We have had
a long standing relationship with Lloyds TSB Commercial for many
years and they have worked with us to help develop CIC Photographic
from a small operation to the success it is today.
"Lloyds TSB Commercial understands our business and the funding
it has provided, particularly in allowing us to expand into CGI,
has enabled us to better service our client base. We are seeing a
real appetite for this new technology and we expect our early
adoption of it to help us continue to grow and bring new jobs to
the area."
Peter Smith, relationship manager at Lloyds TSB Commercial,
said: "I always enjoy visiting Robert at the studio because he
inevitably has something new and exciting to show me, and his
enthusiasm is infectious.
"CIC Photographic works in such a creative industry which can be
challenging at times, but the company has a strong business model
with substantial room to diversify and grow. It is embracing this
diversification that has allowed Robert to ride the storm over the
past few years, both in the fragile economic climate and the
troubled local pottery trade.
"Lloyds TSB Commercial is committed to supporting innovative
businesses with a strong business model to grow and the EFG loan is
a great mechanism for us to provide the funding for people like
Robert to expand into new territories where the demand for the
service is high."