Out of the hot metal and into the fire

Out of the hot metal & into the fire

How did we operate before Andy started working for us? He’s been doing things like checking stock and making sure that what we’ve got is actually for sale.

He’s also probably the coolest person working at HebTroCo.

Before becoming a Hipster Twat at HebTroCo he served 37 years in the print trade. As he says, “a skill you could be proud of.” Starting with a four year apprenticeship as a hot metal typesetter, before constantly adapting to changing times, firstly by moving on to the Doctor-Who-sounding compographic typesetting machine.

Andy describes the end of print, as we once knew it, as being characterised by slipping standards and the relentless cutting of costs, that took the pride and quality out of the job.

In the end Covid and lay offs finished that chapter of his career and after a spell as a cargo bike delivery rider he wandered onto the HebTroWay.

Andy is working with Aran (who will be leaving us in September as he goes off partying at university).

As well as counting stuff Andy’s printing, picking and packing orders, then delivering what you buy from us to the local post office by cargo bike, from where it’s sent to your door.

Here are some handy Andy facts:

He started road cycling at the age of eight.
When mountain bikes came along he said, “that’s not cycling it’s just messing about”.
When he had a go on a mountain bike he dropped road cycling.
He’s ridden many solo 24 hour mountain bike races.
He’s got three whippets: Maverick (named after the bike not the Top Gun geezer), Noah and Hugo.
He sometimes wears a cap.