Douglas first entered the world of print when he fell into a sales job with Xclusive Solutions, selling Xerox fax machines. It was there he met Phil Tucker and Joe Gallagher, who had a major influence on his personal and business outlook.

During this time, Douglas also learned how managing costs can increase the bottom line.

He said: “I worked out that I was paying somebody to install the fax machine. So I said to Joe and Phil, that I could install the fax machines and take some of the money from the installers and save the business some money. So, I dived into more of the technical side.”

During this time, Douglas says that not only did he develop his personal skills, but he also learnt a lot of business, particularly the way that Phil and Joe worked together.

“It was really the first time I saw two very dynamic managers joining forces. Phil was out there selling hard, while Joe was out there managing the team, building a team. And to see that dynamic in action was really interesting for me.

Because normally, in business, you don’t get that combination. I learned a lot from that and I believe that it is reflected in the operating structure of Infigo today.”

The birth of Infigo

After being headhunted, gaining valuable experience in budget management and covering international sales territories for EFI (and also becoming a qualified Microsoft Engineer), Douglas found himself back at Xclusive Solutions, which had been acquired by the Altron Group, under the Bytes Document Solutions brand, as web-to-print Product Manager, overseeing the software division.

However, by this point, Douglas quickly realised that the corporate world, and answering to senior management, wasn’t for him. However, his new role had given him the kernel of an idea, for what was to become the Infigo platform.

He said: “At that point we were using a couple of software platforms that cost the customer a huge amount of money, would take a long time to install, and therefore, these businesses weren’t getting much value out it.

“Using the old engineer’s brain, I thought ‘there must be an easier, faster, better way of doing this’. We developed a platform, and it started to gain traction, but then I got very frustrated with the way it was being sold.

“Their idea then was to bundle it with the machines, but that really wasn’t the right thing to do because people have got to take the value.  I didn’t want to just bundle it, sell lots and nobody use it. I was really passionate about that. If people are buying it and people are investing and paying money, they’ve got to use it and get the value out of the product. And I was starting to work out how we could do that.”

However, Doug’s frustration hit breaking point and he decided to move on. However, no-one knew the platform as well as Douglas did, and after several discussions, he purchased the technology from Bytes Document Solutions and set out on his own.

Leadership, culture, and personal growth

While acquiring the technology proved to be a draining process, it again inspired Douglas’ approach to leadership and the type of company culture he wanted to build for himself.

He said: “It wasn’t, shall we say, the easiest of journeys.

And it wasn’t made easier by the people around me back then. They were people who didn’t share the same values, and certainly not people like Phil and Joe, who I had worked with previously, or other manager’s that have a genuine interest in you as a human, rather than it being all about the profit.”

Another important lesson learned from Phil and Joe was the importance of constant improvement. Douglas believes that investing in his team is crucial, not just for the company’s growth but for the personal development of every employee.

He said: “I’ve seen the benefit of self-development both physically, mentally, professionally, spiritually, all of that sort of stuff. And you discover that and people can exist, or people can exist and learn. And I think too much of the population doesn’t exist and evolve, instead are content to just exist every day.”

Douglas also explains the importance of balance. After experiencing his own health struggles due to stress, he’s made it a priority to create a culture where work-life balance is more than just a buzzword. Infigo’s adoption of a four-day working week is just one example of how the company fosters a supportive environment, encouraging employees to thrive both professionally and personally.

Douglas said: “As a society, we spend a lot of time in the office or at work. And it shouldn’t be the making of us. And I think, sadly, too much of society is driven by work, work, work. But the reality is you just become counterproductive. We’ve been operating a 4-day week for a year and a half now and the business has gone from strength to strength. I just think people are happier.

“Infigo is much more than just a software product. It really is embodied by the people that are wrapped around it.”

The role of AI and automation in print

As the print industry continues to evolve, Douglas is passionate about the potential of automation and AI to transform the sector. He’s quick to acknowledge that while AI is still an emerging tool, it holds great promise for improving business processes and decision-making.

However, he urges caution.

“I think you have to be a little bit tentative with some of these things as an industry. I think we’ve just got to make sure that we don’t jump on the bandwagon and do it for the do-it sake. Make sure it adds value and benefits.

“It’s a bit like automation, why automate where you don’t need to automate? I think we can over-automate sometimes. It’s the same with AI, but there are still lots of unknowns. There are definitely benefits, too.”

Looking ahead: The future of Infigo

As Infigo continues to grow, Douglas remains focused on building a company that not only delivers great products, but also creates lasting value for its customers and employees. His vision for the future includes expanding into new markets, fostering a culture of innovation, and staying true to the company’s core values of personal development and customer success.

In a world where so many companies focus solely on profit, Infigo stands out for its people-first approach. Douglas’ entrepreneurial journey is proof that success will follow with hard work, vision, and a commitment to doing things the right way.

Listen now on Spotify and YouTube

Infigo’s PrintPod podcast consistently delivers industry insights. So, to hear more from the podcast, make sure you subscribe through our YouTube Podcasts or Spotify channels, for regular updates on the latest trends in print and business in general – from industry leaders to those taking up their first role in the print industry and everyone in between.