Tēnā koe e hoa
2022 has been another stellar year for the team at Excel Digital. Our big news is we had an ownership change, with the company being acquired in August by Muri Capital, a group of five investors, Kiwis. Our new owners are committed to growing the company, broadening our client base and doing this sustainably.
The new owners hit the ground running with the recent sign-off of a new printing press, which we will install in February. The new press is in line with our environmental commitments and keeps us up to date with the latest equipment and systems. We are committed to continuing to be leaders in data management and complex, secure files – whilst doing it at speed.
We launched our Mahere Reo (Māori Language Plan) in May 2022. The initial plan ran for six months, with the purpose being to direct and guide the celebration and integration of te reo Māori within Excel Digital. The plan had three goals:
1. Te reo Māori is valued and is seen and heard within Excel Digital
2. Staff have an opportunity to learn te reo Māori
3. Excel Digital is acknowledged externally as contributing to the revitalisation of te reo Māori.
In November, we reached the end of the initial six months for the Mahere Reo and recently published a report on the plan’s progress. This report is available from here. We look forward to continuing our te reo journey into 2023 and beyond.
We stay true to our focus on three sustainability pillars: our people, community, and the environment. This year was our second year releasing a sustainability report (available on our website) and our second year as a Toitū net carbonzero certified company.
From a sustainability perspective, COVID-19 has been a mixed bag. For example, business air travel reduced dramatically during the last couple of years. We expect travel to increase as we return to some semblance of normality. We will continue to look for ways to reduce our carbon footprint, including getting an electric van for local deliveries. We will have an EV charging station, so drop in for a top-up if you are passing and find yourself running low on volts.
For us, sustainability isn’t purely about being environmentally responsible. It’s also about how we interact with our people and the wider community. We are at the sharp end of becoming an FSC-certified company and expect this accreditation to come through early in 2023. We are now also New Zealand Made certified. Our vision continues to be the most sustainable digital printing brand in New Zealand. This is extremely important to us.
In the community, we continue our funding of an annual scholarship for a Māori or Pacifika student studying for a Graduate Diploma in Publishing or NZ Diploma in Creativity at Whitireia Community Polytechnic. In 2022 we also supported the Child Cancer Foundation, New Zealand Open Dance Championship, Wellington Chamber of Commerce, HITO Annual Awards, Annual Connections Awards, Connexis Excellence Awards, Franchise Association Awards, and the Cancer Society.
We will have our first company volunteer day in early 2023. This will be a day for our staff to give back to our local community by planting native trees. We plan for this to be an annual event for the Excel Digital team.
Our staff have again been fantastic this year, across the board. We are lucky to have such committed, positive people. They are looking forward to a well-deserved break. Thursday, 22nd of December is our breakup day – it’ll be a half day, with a BBQ lunch before we end for the year. We open the doors again on Monday, 9th of January.
Finally, thank you. At Excel Digital, we know that you, our customers, are everything. You hold all the cards, you have options, and we are extremely grateful for your orders and support.
Next year, we aim to take another step in the speed to market, making your experience with us second to none – we want you to keep coming back. Our door is always open to you, so feel free to drop in anytime.
Have a wonderful holiday period and enjoy those special moments our country has to offer. We all look forward to seeing you in the New Year.
Ngā manaakitanga
Guy Phillips
Managing Director
