Women in Print: Natalie Taylor

Each month in print, Australian Printer will be interviewing a different woman in the industry, to celebrate their work, discuss opportunities, and how women can be promoted in what has traditionally been a male-dominated trade.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, here is a preview of the upcoming March profile on Natalie Taylor, the national sales director for Franklin Web and Blue Star Web, the heatset web offset divisions of the IVE Group

 

Starting in print straight out of high school, Natalie Taylor undertook an apprenticeship in Graphic Prepress for a newspaper and newsprint publisher of community newspapers, Torch Publishing. Staying there for 12 years, Taylor first learned the production processes, with a range of background from platemaking to compositing newspapers.

Then, after learning the range of estimating and product planning, she evolved again, moving into sales, driving the commercial heatset and coldset mix into the business.

Taylor explains, “Torch was a publisher, printing newspapers, while also printing commercial work. From my perspective it was about bringing more commercial value into the business.

“I think it was a fantastic opportunity to get into an industry that I had a passion for. I always had a passion for printing and magazines. I was glad the managing director of that business, Trent Engisch, saw an opportunity for me to be mentored and grow across the different divisions of the business. He pushed me to go into sales, which was a natural progression from production.

“I have been fortunate throughout my career to have amazing male mentors, and they have all encouraged me to have opportunities and progress.

“It was a great experience, I was sad to leave, but it was about building upon it, and making the next step to high-quality commercial and magazine printing. Web Star was the perfect choice for me.”

From that role there was an opportunity at Webstar in 2007, and growing her sales acumen, Taylor begun to predominantly sell print contracts for the magazine sector.

She explains, “I vividly remember the first day I was shown around the plant. I was absolutely blown away with the excitement of cutting edge technology, the hum of the web presses, the high speed binders all rolling away and the passionate buzz from the team. It made me want to be part of it.

“Coming from a newsprint background, the appeal of selling high quality magazines, travel brochures and so many diverse parts of the market was endless.

“From winning business from small niche publishers to securing large tenders – there was never a dull moment over my four years at Webstar as Sales Executive, I loved every minute.”

Be sure to catch the full interview in the March edition of Australian Printer, covering Natalie’s work with Women in Print, IVE Group, and mentoring young women

 

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