Blueprint Operations will be attending the second edition of ARE buoyed by a positive Q1 and an unswerving commitment to support operators through the provision of cabinet and content that according to Managing Director Andy Tipple ‘continues to break the mould and continues to help protect income levels.’
Reflecting on the opening to 2026 he said: “To be honest we entered the year with a degree of trepidation, driven by an unstable political landscape, the hangover from MGD concerns, and the ongoing debate on Technical Standards. However, following positive performances first at EAG London and closely followed by ICE Barcelona it became clear that the industry continues to move forward with a sharp focus on investment.”
The positivity from the market has continued with Q1 providing the momentum to take the business forward and a positive outlook for Q2. “Our core focus has been customer relationships, with the sales team prioritising long-term partnerships rather than short-term sales” confirmed Tipple. “To further strengthen this customer-centric approach, we have added to the team in order to ensure account manager diaries and appointments are managed effectively.”
Alongside the customer-centric systems and processes the foundation stones of the business remain its portfolio of outstanding high-income cabinets and content. “The Revolution B3 Cabinet and the Velocity Cat C cabinet have both performed strongly” stated Andy Tipple. “EAG marked the second anniversary of the Revolution B3, and we now have strong market penetration across both cabinets. A key indicator of their success is the continued level of repeat orders from customers. This momentum has been supported by our content roadmap and the launch of Monopoly, alongside the second Bullseye title, which together underpinned performance in Q1”
Whilst ARE is very much the junior show when compared to both EAG London and ICE Barcelona the Blueprint team is approaching it with the same focus and commitment as Andy Tipple noted: “Relaxed is the mantra for the ARE show. This is not a derogatory term; rather, following on from ICE, the bells and whistles are stripped back. We will be showing our core products, and adopting a pure back-to-basics approach.
“The team is looking forward to Manchester and the opportunity ARE provides for meaningful one-to-one time with customers to discuss the full product range. Feedback from last year highlighted that having everything in one location, including the evening entertainment, was a real plus.”
As for the mood of the market Andy Tipple said: “The phrase ‘business as usual’ is overused, but it genuinely reflects the conversations that we are having with customers. Pressure on operational businesses is constant, and ongoing financial strain never makes the role easier. James Fergusson and I both come from an operational background, so we fully understand what it takes to remain profitable, and that challenge is not getting any easier.
“That said, when speaking with customers about expansion and growth, the mood is notably stoic and resilient. From a broader industry perspective this outlook is extremely reassuring and augurs well for what will be our fourth exhibition in four months.”
