Meet Luke Symes, our loyal Sales Lead here at Clone brings print campaigns to life with passion and precision. With years of experience in the industry, Luke balances client relationships, print solutions, and a busy family life.
What does an average day look like for you?
My days are incredibly varied, which keeps things exciting. I spend most of my time working closely with clients to bring their print campaigns to fruition. It could involve a quick turnaround direct mail campaign (often needed yesterday!) to helping clients prepare their print materials or stand for exhibitions. I also work on some interesting bespoke packaging projects. The diversity of tasks keeps me on my toes.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is onboarding new clients and revealing what we can do. It’s particularly satisfying to see these initial interactions develop into long-standing partnerships, especially when their campaigns are successful. That’s a big win for me and keeps me motivated.
What inspires you about branding, print or design when working with your clients?
There’s nothing quite like print when connecting with an audience. In today’s world, we’re inundated with online content, which certainly has its place. But take direct mail, for instance – when the right message reaches the right customer at the right time, it’s incredibly powerful. Some might call it old school, but it’s still highly effective.
The ability to get detailed with print is fantastic. We can create personalised messages, segment data, and send different messages to different people. When it’s done right, the impact is unmatched.
What are the most promising trends or innovations that you expect to shape your industry in the future?
There’s a significant focus on eco-friendly printing, and rightly so. This includes everything from where materials are sourced to how sustainable or recyclable specific stocks are and new, greener ways of sending out direct mail. Many of our existing clients and new prospects are asking how they can improve their print materials from an environmental perspective. This trend will only grow stronger.
We’re seeing a range of eco-friendly options emerging. For instance, there are paper stocks that are 100% recyclable and even recyclable lamination options. The best part is that these environmentally friendly choices don’t significantly increase the cost of campaigns.
What’s been your most interesting project to work on?
While we work with fantastic, well-known brands, some of my favourite projects come from lesser-known names. For example, I work with a luxury home builder, and we design and print brochures to showcase their properties from start to finish. The print quality for these is exceptional – we’re talking top-quality stocks, textures, foils, and really high-end finishes. Combine that with images of these stunning luxury homes, and the result is truly impressive.
What makes this project particularly rewarding is our involvement from the initial concept of the brochure to its delivery to the client. Being part of the entire process and seeing the high-quality end product is satisfying.
What do you get up to outside of work?
Outside of work, my two young kids keep me pretty busy! My oldest is six and has just started playing football. I’m helping coach his team, so my Saturday and Sunday mornings are spoken for. Seeing how excited all the kids are to get on the pitch and kick a ball around is brilliant.
I’ve also recently gotten back into playing tennis a few evenings a week. It’s my way of staying active and blowing off steam after work. A few years ago, I realised how much time I was sitting at my desk or in the car during my commute, and I felt the need to get more active. It’s been great for both my physical and mental wellbeing.
Balancing work, family life, and personal interests can be challenging, but it’s all part of the juggling act. Whether I’m helping clients bring their print visions to life or cheering on my kids from the sidelines, every day brings something new!
Ready to bring your print vision to life?
Whether you’re looking for creative direct mail campaigns, eye-catching exhibition materials, or sustainable printing solutions, our team is here to help. Contact Luke and the Clone team today to discuss how we can help with your next project.
