G . F Smith Interview with Ben Watkinson - Preparation - The Questions

• What does a typical day entail for you both working at G . F Smith?

• What is the size of the team at G . F Smith?

• What would you say sets G . F Smith apart from other paper merchants?

• You work with everyone from large agencies to students — would you deal with any client in the same way?

• What would you say your favourite part of your job is?

• Both Andrew Cottam (Foilco) and Ian Cavanagh (Pressision) told me they don’t consider themselves sales-people. Would that be the same for you also?

• G . F Smith, Pressision and Foilco are a triad of names I often see together. Do you find that establishing these relationships and having recognition as a collective effort is important?

• The phrase ‘Print is Dead’ gets thrown around quite a lot in recent times, but there has obviously been a resurgence in print. Do you think that it’s because of the papers that you provide and the finishing that is why print will never really cease?

• At the end of last year I attended a Glug event on creative potential and talent in the north. Though many say you have to go to London to ‘make it.’ Do you agree or disagree?

• As you’ve mentioned, the G. F Smith show-space has just opened, there has been the ‘World’s Favourite Colour’ campaign and there’s going to be the Paper City in Hull soon. What’s next for G. F Smith considering all these things?