From the profession of a painter to becoming a print service provider, Mustafa Shaikh has come a long way. His Nashik-based company, Mustafa Art, initiated its journey 14 years ago, when he switched his occupation to produce printed signboards. At present, the company has gained significant ground in its own space with its thriving home decor business.
Recently, Mustafa Art equipped its state-of-the-art unit with the HP Latex 360 press to manage the challenging jobs of 3D wallpapers, indoor and outdoor prints in an ergonomic manner. In addition to the Latex 360, the unit has four machines for digital and postpress solutions.
On the addition of the HP Latex 360 press, Shaikh says, “The percentage of revenue I used to generate in a year can be now achieved in just a month with HP technology.’’
Mustafa Art is also equipped with Onyx graphics—a large-format RIP and print workflow software to get the desired color output that strengthens the “what you see is what you get” attitude. Having great confidence in HP technology, they plan to expand their business in Mumbai by processing the jobs at its new unit at Vasai in the northern region of the financial capital. At the same time, they plan to gear up the new plant with 64-inch UV flatbed FB 550 in order to cater to the demand for high-quality graphics for indoor signs and home decor products. The crux of HP technology is an efficient automated workflow that reduces manual intervention and produces ondemand products with the stunning quality of 1200 x 600 dpi resolution in an easy and affordable way. “Use of eco-friendly and sustainable inks not only ensures a safe and sound working environment for the employees but also eliminates the need for any ventilation,” says Shaikh.
Talking about the market for home decor business, he shares, “At present, the market has emerged for customization in wallpaper and canvas prints as the consumers are ready to spend extra for the desired product. In today’s personalized and customized world, digitally printed home decor is transforming the spaces we live, work and play in. With the latest technology, designers can carry their creative vision into all corners of the interior environment and produce them on materials such as glass, MDF boards and ceramic tiles.”
Mustafa Art has been able to impress many renowned interior designers with its custom design and print services. Although the creative potency of digital décor can be a thin market; it can generate high-margin revenue streams. Home improvement has always been something that people have savored and never before have so many been willing to work on their domiciles. Regarding volume and profit, both customer bases are relatively even but the demand for such a niche market has been a recent development.
