Episode 15. Chris Edwards from CVI Group

In this episode of The Printerviews, I am joined by Chris Edwards, Director of CVI Group and the CVI Training Centre. Chris is an industry veteran with over two decades of experience, but his start in the graphics world was entirely accidental. From washing cars on cold weekends to making Tasmanian Devil stickers layer by layer, he built his skills from the ground up on driveways and in workshops long before the advanced materials of today existed.

We dive into Chris’s personal philosophy of getting comfortable being uncomfortable. This mindset shift has been the catalyst for his recent success, pushing him to overcome a lifelong fear of flying to judge the World Wrap Masters and to take on high profile projects like wrapping Eddie Hall’s truck. Chris also shares the reality of opening a dedicated training facility, discussing both the financial challenges and the immense reward of seeing young talent transform in just a few days.

Whether he is talking about his passion for ice hockey or the technical nuances of a shark fin aerial, Chris’s energy for the trade is infectious. We explore why he believes every day is an apprentice day and why an open mindset is the single most important tool for any professional in the print and wrap industry today.

Key Takeaways

• Accidental Beginnings: Chris entered the industry after getting fed up with cold hands while washing cars at a local garage.

• The Power of Mindset: Adopting the motto "get comfortable being uncomfortable" has been the key to accelerating his career in recent years.

• Overcoming Barriers: He conquered a major fear of flying specifically to accept a role as a World Wrap Masters judge.

• Training Reality: Opening a training center involves significant financial risk and "lessons" rather than just instant success.

• Youth Development: Chris has seen 15 and 16 year old students surpass expectations by being receptive "sponges" for new information.

• The "Shark Fin" Test: A signature part of his training involves teaching students to wrap a shark fin aerial in one piece to build their confidence.

• Industry Collaboration: Partnerships with associations like Fespa UK and the BSGA provide a "work family" that prevents the isolation of being a one man band.

• Eddie Hall Project: One of his proudest technical achievements was wrapping Eddie Hall’s truck with zero paint left on show.

• Continuous Learning: Despite 22 years in the game, Chris lives by the rule that "every day is an apprentice day".

• Openness to Help: He believes the industry would thrive if more people were willing to share knowledge and access the training resources available.