HP launched a new Web-based service called MarketSplash, targeted at small businesses to provide “the industry’s lowest prices and fastest delivery times for brand marketing services such as professional-quality design and print fulfillment.” The announcement includes a call for retail partnerships, as the platform can be licensed to retailers for co-branding, allowing them to offer MarketSplash design and print services directly to their customers. HP has provided graphic design services for small businesses through LogoWorks, which it acquired in April 2007, and this appears to be an extension of that service. Interestingly, Kodak tried the a similar thing in 2007 with its Kodak Creative Network, which it shut down five months later. It will be interesting to follow how MarketSplash works with print service providers for printing and fulfillment. HP expects that network to grow as the MarketSplash customer base expands.
What's your reaction to HP's launch?