WOMEN IN PRINT
Print is in my DNA:
Kirsten Taylor Continuing to grow her business’ value with leadership skills is Kirsten Taylor
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patron of Women in Print in Victoria, Taylor’d Press co-owner Kirsten Taylor aims to continue to grow her business in value. Taylor’d Press is a small family-owned business specialising in short and long run spot colour printing, letterpress printing and embellishments. Having been in operation since 1995, Taylor’d Press was established by James Taylor when he first purchased a one-colour GTO offset press and installed it in his parents’ garage. “James grew the business himself and in 1997 moved the equipment to Richmond, on the outskirts of the city, to continue to grow it,” she said. “In 2004, I joined the company in an administrative role. As the business grew, I became more involved, challenging myself with the understandings of print. I was in a position where I was running the day-to-day finances, client liaison, and estimating, while James was doing the hands-on work. “I became challenged in my role on how much I knew about print. I only knew how to put the paper into the feeder, make an impression and receive it at the delivery. But I never backed away from a challenge and gained the best understanding of print possible for my clients by commencing my apprenticeship in late 2015 and completing it in March 2017. “Where I was once a mother to smaller children, my girls are also now of an age where they are more self-sufficient. This has allowed me to explore the industry more. I’ve looked to mentors, asked a lot of questions, and listened to what others have to say.” Print has been in Taylor’s family DNA even before she took on the role at Taylor’d Press. Her mother, who lived in Manchester back in the day, used to work in a Linotype factory. “I recently took a trip to Manchester, which is my family hometown. My aunt took me out to the location of the linotype factory in Altrincham – this was where my mum, who worked as a young woman, met my aunt, who then introduced her to my dad,” she said.
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“My mum worked on the production line of the Linotype factory, producing little letters called matrix, which are like moulds for the type to be made. When I left Manchester, my aunt gifted me with some that she had kept. “It’s just an interesting turn of events that my mum was working in this magnificent building all those years ago and today, we own letterpress machines and continue the craft of print.” Building on her strengths, Taylor was recently granted a partial scholarship and completed a course with Women in Leadership Australia. This allowed her to explore her values of leadership and enhance her skills. She was also identified by ProPrint as one of the top 10 in its Power 50 list for her natural leadership and dedication to the industry. “The work I do with Women in Print for Victoria means I’m providing a platform for all women in our industry to network, look for inspiration, or mentors,” she said. “Some of the best opportunities and lessons have come from the males in our industry. We are becoming more noticed for our talents, and the acknowledgement of women in the ProPrint Power 50 and Emerging 50 and what they offer is outstanding. “I value all of the women with whom I’ve had interactions with for so many different reasons. I look up to my husband too, for teaching me his ways of print and for keeping me inspired when there’s not much of me left to give.” Taylor is also a representative of the Print and Visual Communications Association (PVCA) and sits on the board for PrintEx and PacPrint. In terms of improving her business, Taylor wants to build on Taylor’d Press’ emphasis on pleasing customers with quality work first time around. “Being a small business, we can’t really grow our business in acquisitions but I continue to grow my business in value – by maintaining my passion, and being honest and transparent about the work I’m doing,” she said.
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