Our Story
At Franklin Direct, we believe every amazing product starts with a great idea.
Founded in 1998 by the Hawker family, The Franklin Press Pty Ltd was a prominent Tasmanian commercial printer specialising in design, and traditional flat-sheet printing services.
By the late 2000s a change in the industry was forecast and the need for change identified. The Franklin Press became Franklin Direct in 2012 and a wider range of capabilities were added to our customer offerings.
Today we are a commercial printing solutions company drawing on strong global supply chains. We specialise in packaging, print, book production, signage, labels and promotional items for our ever-expanding customer base.
Your Business. Our Business.
Nicholas Hawker
Managing Director.
Nicholas Hawker established The Franklin Press Pty Ltd in 1998. Now, he brings over 40 years of industry experience to Franklin Direct to lead, innovate and grow the business.
Thanks to his leadership, Franklin Direct has evolved from a local business to a global procurement company based in Tasmania.
Nicholas has guided us in building a secure procurement process, delivering a wide range of high-quality products to the Australian market. With our reliable door-to-door delivery, competitive pricing, and easy online ordering process we help your brand stand out.
David Thorne
Prepress Manager.
David Thorne joined us in 2006 as a prepress operator after finishing his computer science degree at UTas.
Over the years, his role has grown along with the company, thanks to his dedication and hard work.
Now, he leads Franklin Direct Online, our latest venture that focuses on making the customer experience as easy and efficient as possible. David’s expertise, attention to detail, and knowledge of technology have helped build Franklin Direct into the company it is today.