Our 2025 Vision: A New Umbrella Brand for a 58-Year-Old Company
General Business Machines Limerick Ltd., a business machine supplier and reprographics house, was established in 1967. Over the years the company has gone through many changes: new logos, brand colours, service offerings and production offerings, to name but a few. We entered the large format digital print world in 1994, and we have not looked back since.
Rebranding and updating many times over the years imbues a sense of pride in all that this family company has been, clarity on where it is positioned currently, and ambition as to what the vision for the future will be.
What Is Studio GBM?
For 2025, we are creating a new umbrella brand, Studio GBM, to allow greater and easier client access into the company’s capabilities and offerings. With 58 years of client service, the width of what GBM does can be difficult to navigate. So 20 breakout sessions and 4 million coloured post-its later, we are listening, hearing, understanding and implementing changes.
Studio GBM is a creative space. It is the umbrella brand under which our sub-brands sit. It is the space in which good branding matters.
The Studio GBM Sub-Brands
GBM
GBM, the original brand, remains the production hub. It is the powerhouse behind our large and small format print, concept design, signage, installation work, lamination, large format scanning and technical graphics.
Fine Art Printing
Fine Art Printing is a brand which offers ICC profiled and certified prints. Acid free papers, conservation standard papers, dye sublimate panels and wallcovering non woven papers allow clients an unparalleled choice of sizes and materials. A certified colour laboratory since 2022, the FAP teams have been producing fine art prints since 2010 under the GBM brand.
Just Exhibit
Just Exhibit is the Studio GBM brand that advertises client brands. The JE strap line is “We make it so you can just exhibit,” and it offers just that: promotional material, flooring, expo systems, printed collateral and advice. The company has been in this market since 2001 under the GBM brand, as an importer, an exporter, a distributor, a retailer and a stand builder. 2024 saw the new brand JE move into the expo rental and installation market, giving clients even more options when it comes to marketing.
Story on a Wall
Story on a Wall is the design based visual storytelling brand that takes guidelines, mission statements, corporate culture and company history and weaves it all into a design. SOAW offers an empathic and holistic design service to clients who are looking for a unique and exciting visual representation of their brand or company. This brand flexes well for different scales and applications. From creating one off showcase pieces to full building rebranding, the creative engine of experienced designers has scope to take it on. SOAW is also a good bolt-on for architects, HR teams, marketing departments and interior designers when collaborating on a fit-out.
Wallpapers of Ireland
Originally launched in 2022, the Wallpapers of Ireland brand has moved direction in terms of its offering based on market learnings over the past 24 months. This brand will relaunch as an online exclusive, Designed in Ireland wallpaper for the global market in 2025. Starting with a heritage range of designs, WPOI will offer digitally printed, high quality rolls of wallpaper for residential or commercial applications.
A Note on Wallcoverings of Ireland
Wallcoverings of Ireland as a brand will be retired in 2025. The creative baton will be passed to Story on a Wall, the fine art baton to Fine Art Printing, and the “of Ireland” baton will be passed to Wallpapers of Ireland.
Why We Reimagine Every 18 Months
This reads a bit like a marketing plan, and maybe that is how it should read. It has always been our philosophy that this company only remains fresh and relevant if it is reimagined every 18 months. This reshuffle has taken a bit longer to nail down, but the team are focused, happy and looking forward to the new Studio GBM.
About Studio GBM
Studio GBM is the creative home of General Business Machines Limerick, an Irish-owned family business trusted since 1967. From large format print and signage to exhibition stands, fine art printing and visual storytelling, we help brands across Ireland and beyond make an impact. Good branding matters.
Want to see what our sub-brands can do for you? Explore our Services or browse the Just Exhibit range to get started.
Have a project in mind? Talk to the team at sales@studiogbm.ie or call +353 61 317 977.
