Digitalab & Colorworld Imaging Merger
What started two years ago with a conversation between two of the photographic industries most recognised and experienced Pro-Lab owners is now the launch of an incredibly exciting new business venture.
Jump forward to 9th February 2022 and history is in the making as we proudly announce that this new business venture is the merger of Digitalab and Colorworld, owned by Jill Roe and Mike Brydon respectively.
“This is a hugely exciting customer driven merger; we will become an even stronger entity as one company giving us the ability to provide a far wider range of our already award-winning products and services to the photographic community”. – Jill Roe
With a combined trading history of over 120 years, generations of experience have gone into making these individual businesses the success stories they are today with both Mike and Jill being 2nd and 3rd generation owners respectively. Literally growing up within the industry, Jill took the reins of Digitalab 14 years ago from her father Basil who in turn followed Jill’s grandfather after he founded the company in 1949. Similarly, Mike Brydon took on the responsibility of Managing Director of Colorworld 14 years ago from his father Alex who after an illustrious 62 years in the photographic industry will be stepping down and enjoying a much-deserved retirement as this exciting new merger commences.
Customer Service and product quality has always been the priority for both owners and will remain so during this exciting transition and service times will remain as they are today.
“Myself and Jill have discussed over the years the various strengths and unique attributes of each business and it became clear that aligning ourselves in a strong partnership would not only create one of the most prominent Pro Labs in Europe but we would be able to vastly extend our product ranges and services to our all-important customers”. – Mike Brydon
Both companies have individually gone from strength to strength in recent years with a series of successful acquisitions including Colorworld purchasing the MTA Album Manufacturer and Digitalab recently acquiring the Wee Album Company. The next logical step for Jill and Mike was to unite their skills with the key purpose being to deliver more product options and services including training to their highly valued customers. Offering the very best from both companies whether it be Wall Art & Framing, Album & Books, Presentation Products, Schools Photography Services and of course Print Products.
Investment never stops and significant plans are in place to introduce new equipment and technology to the company. Over the coming weeks and months, we will be communicating with our amazing customers and highlighting the upcoming improvements in ordering platforms, extended ranges of products plus much more.
Mike and Jill respect that the heart of both companies are its staff, and there is no better a Production Director to head up the Lab than John Wilkinson, who has worked with the Colorworld family of staff for over 42 years
“We are building on the decades of success and experience of both companies and this merger of skills will ensure we remain an industry leader but more importantly, as two family business coming together, we will proudly maintain our position as a Pro-Lab producing the finest hand finished products and not just a wholesale factory for printing” – John Wilkinson
The new business will be called Digitalab Ltd and co-owned by Jill Roe & Mike Brydon alongside fellow Directors John Wilkinson & Calum Thomson and working out of the hugely impressive purpose built Colorworld premises in North Shields, Tyne & Wear –
Digitalab, a multi-award professional lab that’s seen exponential growth over the past five years with a proud legacy in print for over 70 years and with the reputation for creating the finest made award winning wall art in our industry.
Colorworld a heritage of innovation and producing stunning albums and working with schools’ photographers for decades and with manufacturing and technology capabilities rivalling the biggest labs in Europe.
Together as the New Digitalab we look forward to giving both our existing and new customers a full-service lab experience with the very best customer service, product quality, training and a commitment to truly working together with our clients in making it easier for them “to buy to sell”.
For more information regarding the above please contact either Calum Thomson, Commercial Director on 0192 232 3558 or calum@digitalab.co.uk or Alex Ingram, Business Manager on 0191 232 3558 or alex@digitalab.co.uk
