Graduate takes company to top of the POPs
A Teesside University graduate is helping a Wearside company find new opportunities in a competitive global market.
Matt Burford, who achieved a degree in Design Marketing, has been working with Washington-based Simpson Group, which specialises in creating point-of-purchase material (POP) for large chain stores.
Improving the competitive edge
The company provides POP, in the form of instore advertising boards and stands for clients
such as Sainsbury's and Matalan. Matt is using his expertise to help the company improve its competitive edge.
This Partnership received financial support from the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships programme (KTP). KTP aims to help businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK knowledge kase. KTP is funded by the Technology Strategy Board along with the other government funding organisations
Peter Reid, Senior Lecturer in Design at the University, said, 'Simpson Group works in an industry traditionally driven by sales, where price is paramount. However, there's not much to differentiate one POP manufacturer from another. Matt’s project is focusing on introducing and embedding new product development processes as well as a number of new products. Hopefully this will help the company to win new customers as well as improve the service provided to existing customers.'
A strategic decision
Bill McNally, Managing Director of Simpson Group, said, 'Matt’s recruitment was a strategic
decision which was key to the development of our product portolio and future growth. Matt is
currently working with a number of our key customers on new product launches.'