Skins4Things

This print-on-demand venture is lean as a whip. Skins4Things holds no stock, it is powered by a fully-automated e-commerce system that flows customer orders direct to the printers, and orders can be turned around in under a week. With only four employees, the company turns over £250,000 and is firmly in the black, despite the effect of recession on non-essential purchases and the rise in the price of raw materials. Founder Alex Meisl has bolstered revenues by targeting the promotional market, where fast turnarounds and slick delivery are key. Plus, a partnership with hit kids gaming site Moshi Monsters has proved a huge boost for the brand.

• Smart print-on-demand model brings down costs
• Full automation of business processes
• Smart partnerships and diversification ensure new revenue streams