Summer is an exciting time to be a business based in Newquay, there are lots of events and visitors, the weather brings out the best of the coastline and everyone hits the beach, even the Chevrolet dealers.  

We had a surprise phone call from the PR manager for Chevrolet UK based in Luton asking if we could source and print some rash vests for them for a July deadline. “Of course we can” we said and being curious we asked what he was planning.  It turned out that Chevrolet were planning to hit the beach just like everyone else and were going to bring along their boards on the roof of their one off, surf styled ”Chevrolet Spark Woody”

 The Chevrolet “Woody” is a spin on the best selling Chevy Spark supermini, it recalls the iconic, timber framed surf wagons of California in the early fifties and sixties. Though timber framing became obsolete due to expense and difficulty, the cars remained a huge part of American Culture as a symbol of surf and summer as immortalised by the Beach Boys in Surfing Safari. Chevrolet have cleverly captured the retro wooden feel using Di-Noc wood grained vinyl panelling whilst still fulfilling the modern surfers need for an environmentally efficient set of wheels.

 Chevrolet went one step further than talking, by bringing the “Woody” to Newquay for the Boardmasters Event complete with racks, boards and a team of keen Chevvy surfers, it made a fun addition to the vintage campers and trucks and proved its worth as a vehicle that does the job as well as looking the part.

 We were very pleased Chevrolet UK brought their business to Cornwall.  It’s great when our ‘out of county’ customers actually come to Cornwall and see why we are so cheerful about what we do. The Chevy team sent us a photo of themselves thoroughly enjoying working here as well. Hopefully they will come back for more. 

 “ASP were great – superb value and able to work to an incredibly tight deadline. As you can see from the attached pic, the rashies looked fantastic!”   PR Manager Chevrolet UK

It’s not everyday that ASP gets a customer like Russ Pierre.   When we do it’s a chance to be involved in a project where any potential financial gain is immaterial.  It was only after Russ asked for a quote for some T Shirts and rash vests that we found out what his organisation “Surf Action” does.

“We take them surfing and put smiles on their faces” is how Russ Pierre described it.  He is referring to the returning combat veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or disabilities – such as amputees – whom Surf Action takes surfing.  Surf instructor Russ, 40, set up the company with ex-British Army soldier Rich Emerson, 43, last September.  Mr Emerson, who served with the Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars in Desert Storm, suffered from PTSD after serving in the Gulf War.  

Russ explained: “What we do is use the beach environment as a way to escape daily barriers faced by the veterans and their families.  ”It’s hard to say what it is about surfing that is so therapeutic. They say that only a surfer knows the feeling – it’s either the anticipation of going surfing or the excitement.”

Last month, The Western Morning News featured a group of Marines from Plymouth who took part in a surf therapy course organised by Russ and Surf Action.  Ben McBean, 23, who lost his left arm and right leg during combat; Nicolas Gibbons, 19, a below-the-knee amputee, and Jay Hare, 29, who lost his leg below the knee, all managed to stand up on their surf boards by the end of four days instruction.  The Marines, based at HMS Brave in Plymouth, said surfing boosted their confidence – and gave them a massive sense of achievement.

As a result of meeting Russ and hearing about all the positive stuff he is doing locally with returning combat veterens, we offered to print Surf Actions Rash Vests for free.

ASP enjoy working with all of our different clients, but when we get one like Russ who gives so much of his time and energy to others for no profit, we’re stoked to be able to help out.  If you are interested in finding out more about Surf Action, or going along as a group or individually, go to www.surfaction.co.uk or call Russ on 01736 811920.

Whilst it seemed everyone else in town was packing for Glastonbury we were packing several hundred of our own representatives for the festival, but not the human sort.  Following a call from the National Trust, ASP were given the task of printing a design specially created by Pop Artist Peter Blake to commemorate The National Trusts attendence at the festival for the first time and celebrate the successful re-introduction of the large blue butterfly back into the Somerset countryside.

Peter Blake may not be known to everyone, but the cover of Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band is!!  The T Shirt Peter designed, evoked a vintage transport poster whilst combining the diverse elements that make Glastonbury the special place it is. As a really colourful and interesting piece of art, the job of converting to screen print, gave graphics team something to get really excited about.  Especially as Amelia was going to the festival as well and would see her T shirts live.

The whole team went to work and ASP even learned a bit about the large blue as a result.  We were thrilled with the end result, it did the fantastic artwork justice and we were especially proud when the T shirt design was featured in the Guardian Newspaper and National News and TV.

It’s great to have been able to provide the expertise needed for such a special job and in such a good cause and now we are looking forward to taking on more challenges.

“ASP were an absolute saviour - having been given a short deadline to produce high quality organic fair trade T shirts designed by Peter Blake for our Glastonbury stand and having no experience of ordering or designing T shirts, Chris and Amelia were fantastic. They offered practical advice from their years of experience as to what would look best, sent images for approval quickly and were happy to make changes as and when needed right up to the print run deadline.  We achieved some fantastic highly coveted T shirts that our staff and festival goers were proud to wear and made the whole process stress free by their friendly approach and their great communication.”

Colette - NT Project Manager

Peter Blake on YouTube - Peter discusses Glastonbury and more about the design 

No one could have believed just two years ago that the launch of just one style in thirty colours in a tiny brochure could have led to what you see here today. This AWDis collection is without doubt the biggest, broadest and best in Europe with its’ phenomenal ten great styles now available in up to forty five great colour variations. 

Click here for the new 2010 brochure – and here for a colour swatch

Really surprised to be nominated, let alone pick up an award!  The Cornwall Sustainability Award’s for 2009 held their annual award ceremony at the Royal Cornwall Showground in Wadebridge last week – we were up for the Best Managed Small Business and stoked to pick up the runners up spot.  Rick (Production Manager) and Amelia (Head Of Graphic Design)  expected just a freebie lunch but came away with our ‘Christmas Bonus’ – our congratulations go out to St Austell Brewery who picked up top prize, Primrose Valley Hotel (winners of the Best Managed Small Business) and all the other local companies who have addressed  the need not only to try and been sustainable from a commercial view but also to look after the planet and the people who work with you.

We have just been told that we have been short listed for this years Cornwall Sustainability Awards.  Bit of a surprise to be honest and we’re stoked to be nominated.  Printing is notoriously a ‘dirty’ industry but we have many projects in the pipeline as to ways we can continue to save energy and water as well as making ASP a place where ‘it’s all good’ – we strive to look after not only the planet but also the people that work here.  Hopefully over the next few months we’ll be sharing these improvements on the blog

At the end of a really busy season in the print shop, we thought it a good idea to give our production manager Rick, a little treat. Not sure how he would feel about jumping out of a plane at 10,000 ft so thought it wise to ask him first just in case he was scared of heights!  As always, Rick was up for it and arrived at the Cornwall Parachute Club before everyone else (as usual) – even the Instructors and Air Traffic Control!  

Good effort mate, thanks for all your help!