TEXINTEL TALKS - EPISODE 143- Driving Change in Print: Jon Bailey’s Leadership Journey
In this insightful interview, Jon Bailey, COO of Precision Proco, shares his journey into the print industry, leadership philosophy, and how embracing change and innovation has shaped his success.
Discover practical lessons on building a resilient business, nurturing talent, and leveraging AI for future growth.
Listen to learn more >>
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Leadership Flourishes in Authenticity and Integrity
True influence comes from honesty, clarity, and consistent integrity, not niceness or softness. Leaders who communicate purpose and standards openly foster loyalty and inspire followership.The Human Edge Is the Only Sustainable Competitive Advantage
In a future where AI levels the playing field technologically, the differentiator becomes the quality of people-more committed, happier, more accountable. Investing in human relationships and culture is paramount because it’s the only element AI can’t replicate.Long-Term Success Is Rooted in Continuous Transformation
Evolving a business over decades requires relentless innovation and “thinking outside the box,” rather than rigid adherence to a static business model. Businesses that embed continuous reinvention into their culture can sustain relevance and growth despite rapid technological shifts.Opportunity Lies in Early Adoption and Digital Mindset
Early embracing digital and innovative workflows creates first-mover advantage, especially when competition is slow to adapt. Shifting your team's mindset from traditional to digital-first unlocks new margins and keeps pace with industry transformation.The Greatest Lesson Is the Power of People and Mentorship
Mentorship and integrity are foundational pillars for leadership; aligning with core values and giving clarity to teams create genuine followership. Success hinges less on technical skill and more on relational integrity, trust, and leading by example.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to John Bailey and Precision Proco
05:56 Mentorship and Learning from Experience
12:04 Innovative Business Practices and Culture
18:00 Sustainability and Ethical Business Practices
23:59 Creativity vs. Process: Finding the Balance
32:05 Lessons Learned: The Value of People and Integrity
In this podcast episode, James Watson, Managing Director of Surface Print, discussed the evolution of his fourth-generation family business in Lancashire.
Surface Print combines traditional craftsmanship with digital innovation- investing £2 million in a hybrid rotary screen Gravure machine and £600,000 in new HP digital printers.
The company achieved ISO 14001 accreditation, introduced solar panels, and plans to install a new boiler and water recirculation system. Watson emphasised the importance of balancing traditional techniques with modern technologies to maintain quality and sustainability. The company also leverages AI for efficiency and marketing, while maintaining a family-oriented work culture.
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From Dongles to Digital: Future‑Proof Licensing for Global Creative Teams
Host Debbie McKeegan talks with NedGraphics President Frank Maeder and 10Duke CEO Neil Fenton about the shift from hardware dongles to secure, user‑centric cloud licensing.
They discuss how this transition reduces friction for designers, supports hybrid and global workflows, strengthens security and resilience, and even contributes to sustainability by eliminating physical keys and their shipping footprint.
If you’re in fashion, design, CAD/CAM, or any creative production environment and want to future‑proof your software delivery, this discussion is packed with insight and real‑world examples.
Listen to learn more >>
In this insightful interview, Dave Conner, Director of Product Marketing at Stahls and Fulfill Engine, shares his journey into the textile industry.
The commercial opportunity presented by printed, personalised merchandise is already a lucrative revenue stream; it is the core driver of growth in a multi-billion-pound industry. And the mandate for print businesses is clear: automate, adapt, and offer undeniable added value, or choose to gradually lose market share.
This is not merely a shift in consumer demand; it is the fundamental evolution of the printed surface. By leveraging adaptive manufacturing, 3D added value, and sustainable surface effects, digital printers can secure their future by offering unique print applications across apparel, interior décor, accessories, and bespoke objects.
Discover how automation, materials, and community collaboration are shaping the future of on-demand garment decoration and fulfilment.
Listen to learn more >>
In this podcast episode, Ulrich Scherbel, CEO of AMSilk, discusses the innovative production of bioengineered spider silk protein and its applications in the textile industry, going far beyond fibre and with the power to radically transform inks and chemistry.
He explains the challenges of scaling up production, the importance of sustainability, and how AMSilk's technology can significantly reduce carbon emissions. The conversation also touches on the role of AI in protein bioengineering and the future vision for transforming the textile supply chain through collaboration and innovation.
Listen to learn more >>
In this insightful interview, Jon Bailey, COO of Precision Proco, shares his journey into the print industry, leadership philosophy, and how embracing change and innovation has shaped his success.
Discover practical lessons on building a resilient business, nurturing talent, and leveraging AI for future growth.
Listen to learn more >>
Colour Is Too Important to Leave to Chance
Print will always be the part of the garment people see first.
But the sum of all parts — the fabric, the trims, the fasteners, the finish — is what determines whether a design actually delivers on its promise. Brands that continue to treat colour as a single creative decision, rather than a coordinated technical discipline spanning their entire supply chain, will keep paying for it in re-dips, delays, and disappointed design teams.
A Century of Textiles, and an Ever-changing World
Few companies can trace their roots back more than a century and still count themselves among their industry's innovators. Texia, headquartered in Monistrol de Montserrat, Spain, is one of them.
But the story of Texia is not simply one of longevity.
It is a story of continual reinvention. As the textile industry has grown more global and competitive, Texia has repeatedly reshaped its business, investing in technology, developing its own brands, and placing sustainability at the centre of its mission. In doing so, it offers a compelling example of how a heritage manufacturer can lead rather than follow through a period of profound industry change. Image Credit: Texia
What are we craving Ultimately?
The instinct to slow down while simultaneously optimising every measurable aspect of life isn't a passing curiosity. It's a structural response to a world that feels increasingly unstable, and it's reshaping what people expect from their homes, hotels, workplaces and healthcare environments alike.
For the design and manufacturing sectors, this means rethinking both product and process.
The Structual Shift is Real and its Already Here
Volumes are moving east, where digital production is accelerating rapidly. Consumer behaviour has shifted.
Demand is now driven by personalisation, shorter buying cycles, and an expectation of near-instant responsiveness. Regulatory pressure is intensifying, with supply chain transparency now a legal and commercial fact in many markets. And margins? They are under sustained, structural pressure.
This is not a temporary disruption. It is a fundamental reordering of how textile manufacturing must operate.
The Challenge: Standing Firm as the Industry Shifts
The wallpaper landscape has changed dramatically. Digital printing has lowered the barrier to entry, spawning countless direct-to-consumer brands and pushing much of the market towards faster, cheaper production.
At the same time, manufacturing in the UK has grown steadily harder - rising minimum wage, national insurance, energy and substrate costs all bear down on margins. Surface Print have embraced all of these challenges - and stand resolutely prepared for the future.
Leicestershire – September 2026– Vivid Laminating Technologies Ltd, a leading provider of laminating and print finishing systems, has announced its participation in The Print Show, where it will unveil its latest technologies to industry professionals.
The company will be located at Hall 1, Stand P460, welcoming both new and existing customers to experience its systems firsthand.
As exhibition preparations reach their final stages, Vivid is preparing to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and quality in the print finishing sector.
Las Vegas, NV – 25 September 2026 – PRINTING United Expo 2026, produced annually by PRINTING United Alliance, the most comprehensive member-based printing and graphic arts association in North America, concluded today following three dynamic days at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Preliminary results point to another highly successful gathering of the global printing community, with 27,000 registered attendees from 100 countries and more than 850 exhibitors spanning approximately one million square feet of show floor space. PRINTING United Expo will return next year in Las Vegas from 14-16 September 2027.
London, UK – Septembder 2026 – The UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT) has launched the latest edition of its Discover British Brands map, showcasing more than 100 British brands exhibiting across Paris Women's Fashion Week and the SS27 pre-collections from 28 September to 6 October 2026.
The initiative continues UKFT's commitment to strengthening the international standing of UK fashion businesses, giving global buyers and press a clear route into the depth and diversity of British design.
Birmingham, UK – September 2026 – China Print Supplies UK Ltd (CPS UK) has announced its participation in The Sign Show 2026, where the company will present one of its largest-ever line-ups of print and finishing equipment.
The event will take place from 29 September to 1 October 2026 at the NEC Birmingham, with CPS UK exhibiting at stands S220 and S420.
Accrington, UK, September , 2026: Soyang Europe will showcase three core products from the Platinum Technologies LIYU range on its stand at The Sign Show 2026.
Following its debut in 2025, The Sign Show will return to NEC Birmingham this autumn, once again co-located with established print industry exhibition The Print Show.
This year, the two events will run from 29 September to 1 October, with thousands of visitors expected across the shows.
Soyang, which exhibited at several previous editions of The Print Show, will take the largest stand in The Sign Show section of the hall, with a focus on its new distribution partnership with Platinum Technologies LIYU