Mosaic's Tresta Keegan says that printers are beginning to approach the company based on good reports they've heard about TharsternSQL.
"We feel that we've finally reached a milestone as Mosaic are now being approached by prospective users in both New Zealand and Australia who have been told that they should look at TharsternSQL first when considering an MIS choice.
"This has come from both other users and other partners in the industry who have complementary products to TharsternSQL. For quite some time we've had to battle the credibility questions of 'are we as good as we seem to be; how long will we be around; and why should printers consider anything new when other printers have used local solutions for such a long-time?' This is clearly now starting to change as customers recognise the quality and value of TharsternSQL."
TharsternSQL has also gained some special attention in recent times as users increasingly consider the possibilities that are available in a web-to-print or online ordering solution.
"Once they come to appreciate the value that such a solution can offer, they do their research and come to understand that such technology is best utilised when it is integrated into an MIS for fuller controls, functionality and reporting," Keegan says.
"But more than that, Tharstern UK is the only MIS supplier who has written their own online solution so one overall product is available from one source with the benefits of security in support, ongoing development but seamless integration between two aspects of the business that address very different needs for the user."
From its beginnings more than five years ago, New Zealand's Mosaic has grown into a strong international business and has created a large base of TharsternSQL users, with almost 30 sites, predominantly in New Zealand, but also in Australia. With offices in Wellington, Auckland and Melbourne and now a sales office in Australia, Mosaic has the trans-Tasman market covered. Customers are located all over New Zealand, Auckland to Invercargill and in Australia, Brisbane, Melbourne and as far afield as Perth.
Having succeeded in making the Tharstern brand a success in this part of the world in a relatively short time, Mosaic will undergo an identity change at the beginning of next year. The company will start trading in both Australia and New Zealand as Tharstern New Zealand and Tharstern Australia.
"It is important that we emphasise the Tharstern brand since that is the product we are selling," Keegan says. "It gives a greater degree of clarity for potential customers and gives more prominence to the Tharstern name, which is critical to building the brand in this part of the world."
Tharstern already has a very strong foothold and brand in UK and Europe, with now over 800 companies using the product, so the New Zealand and Australian operations will simply be falling in line with the worldwide image, including the 'gold T' that many worldwide users associate with a proven MIS partner.
The Australian side of Mosaic's business has taken off this year, following the appointment of Napil Abdel, who was appointed Sales Manager for Australia six months ago.
"This has changed the business for us in Australia significantly," Keegan says. "It is a hive of activity over there, with a number of deals in the final stages of sign-up."
The Australian side of the business is set to develop even further in the new year, with an ex-Tharstern user from the UK arriving in Australia over Christmas to start with the Melbourne office in the New Year. Stephen Bowering has been a long-time administrator and user at Sterling Financial Print in London and has worked in the print industry for 17 years in a number of roles so will add both product and industry experience to the team, Keegan says.
One of the beauties of Tharstern, and Mosaic as its representative, is the ability to work successfully with customers of all types and sizes, and that trend is set to continue as the company expands.
"We have managed to retain our objective of delivering to both the small and larger users with our smallest site being a single user, and the largest having 87 users.
"We also have a range of companies using the product from brokers to gang printers, multi-site operations with offices in both Australia and New Zealand, and the most recent sign-up being the Wellington Prison printshop which will add an interesting dimension to user training!"
Partnerships with other suppliers are an important part of a strong MIS, and Tharstern in the UK already has a strong relationship with a number of the biggest names in the graphic arts.
Locally, Mosaic and Kodak have partnered up a number of times to present integrated solutions to users and to actively demonstrate that industry vendor alliances are a reality.
Earlier this year, Kodak hosted an event in Australia where Tharstern product and development manager Eamon Booth and managing director Keith McMurtrie shared the latest applications of JDF technology that is being widely adopted in the UK.
"Vendor alliances strengthen the position of printers who wish to be very specific about who they want to work with and what products should sit on their floor; for hardware, plant, and software such as pre-press, workflow, web to print and JDF," Keegan says.
"Other partners we are progressing demo systems onsite with are Heidelberg (Printready), Agfa (Apogee X and Delano integration) and Fuji Film NZ Limited (Trueflow and Trueflownet integration)."
