Matt Houlihan is an experienced business professional with 25 years of experience in the printing industry as a manager and business owner. For 16 years, he was the owner and managing director of Printmaster, growing its annual turnover from €0 to €700,000. He has strong skills in sales, marketing, customer relations, production, logistics, finance, and HR management. Currently seeking new opportunities, he brings extensive experience in running all aspects of a printing business.

1. Matt Houlihan
Oakview Lyre, Lismore, Co. Waterford.
E Mail: mbhoulihan@gmail.com Mobile: 086 8258471
I am an enthusiastic progressive business professional with 25 years’ experience working in the
printing industry as a manager and business owner. I have strong business acumen and a proven
track record in business development and consolidation, resulting in sixteen successful years as
owner and Managing Director of Printmaster.
Key Skills: Sales & Marketing, Customer Relations, Production, Logistics, Finance, HR management
Printmaster / Signmaster April 2000 – April 2016
Managing Director and Owner
Sales & Marketing
• Offered a large selection of print and signage products including; business cards, brochures,
folders, letterheads, docket books, promotional material, shop signs, car and van wraps,
exhibitions stands and point of sale.
• Grew the business turnover from zero to €700kpa over 8 years, building a strong customer
base in Waterford, Cork and Tipperary.
• Advised new customers on their ideas and guided them to get their message across in the
best possible way, which led to a high percentage of repeat business.
• Planned and followed 1 year and 5 year sales strategies, which kept the business on track in
achieving targets for sustaining and increasing market share.
• Acted as account manager for key clients, providing quotations and designing specifications
and was the first point of contact for any order queries.
• Attended networking events to meet customers and build brand awareness.
• Arranged bi-monthly visits to customers to ascertain their needs and sustain relationships.
• Advertised sales promotions using I Contact, social media and local newspapers, and then
followed up with customers which proved very successful for securing business.
Production
• Designed customer specifications, taking measurements, choosing colour schemes, picking
materials and directing staff to ensure that these specifications were approved by customers
and delivered as agreed.
• Moved to a purpose build site to facilitate business growth, working with builders, arranging
finance and delivering a state of the art printing facility for our customers in 2007.
• Organised and monitored the weekly production schedule to ensure continuous output so
order deadlines were met and delivered to customers on time.
• Dealt with production issues promptly to facilitate continuous throughput.
• Carried out preventative maintenance on all equipment and developed a thorough working
knowledge of all the machines so basic repair could be carried out immediately to avoid
unnecessary downtime.
• Checked quality of product at all stages of design and production, resulting in a reputation
for a superior standard of printing.
EXPERIENCE
PROFILE

2. Finance
• Launched Signmaster in 2007 which by 2016 provided 70% of the businesses turnover.
• Followed up on debtors, dealing with payment issues to ensure steady cash-flow
• Priced all bespoke jobs, providing detailed quotations to customers which helped to close
sales and secure margins.
• Procured best possible suppliers and continuously negotiated best prices to ensure a
balance between quality material and costs for the benefit of customers.
• Consolidated operations by implementing cost controls and reducing overheads which
steered the business successfully through the recession.
• Built a strong relationship with the company’s bank which ensured continuous finance
throughout my 16 years as Managing Director.
HR Management
• Employed up to fourteen members of staff during high turnover periods.
• Communicated regularly with staff, through meetings and one to ones which ensured a good
team spirit and staff loyalty.
• Issued staff with contracts of employment and arranged induction and continuous
development and training which contributed to continuous business improvements.
• Enforced high standards of housekeeping and health and safety, resulting in a zero injury
days record over sixteen years.
Cola Thermoprint February 1994 – April 2000
Print Department
! Organised weekly production schedules which resulted in customer timelines being achieved
99.9% of the time over three years.
! Communicated with customers, assisted in providing quotes and advising them on job
progress.
! Facilitated a highly productive environment, contributing to increased profit margins.
! Printed brochures on a Heidelberg two colour ensuring quality and efficient through put.
! Ran the thermographic machine for raised print, delivering a highly specialised product.
! Ordered stock to ensure availability for production.
WIT Cert in Business Management 2008
Samco Cork: Sales training 1991.
Prontoprint Cork: Printing Apprenticeship 1993.
CBS Lismore: Leaving Certificate with honours 1988.
• I was a Director of the Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber of Commerce for 14yrs.
• I train twice a week in Martial Arts achieving a brown belt in Karate and a blue belt in
Hapkido and I am due to grade for a black belt in Karate in June 2017.
• I have a keen interest in GAA and through my print business have produced the Waterford
County GAA annual since 2004.
• I am an owner of a motorhome and have travelled extensively throughout Ireland and
Europe with my family.
EDUCATION
INTERESTS & ACHIEVMENTS