PREPARATION: We've had clients critically delayed because exhibition organisers and other suppliers have taken days or even weeks to respond to urgent requests for information. Poor communication leads to frustrating delays.

DESIGN: One of our newest clients came to us very last minute when their usual freelancer wasn't available because they were travelling around Europe. Don't assume everyone is ready to drop everything and work with you.

PROOFING: We know of someone whose client had to reprint an entire 24-page brochure because they spotted errors they missed when they had previously checked and approved it. And this happened three times! Rushing things only leads to more error

PRINT: One of our print partners has suffered a number of power-cuts in the last few months, losing hours of production. If the deadline is tight there is very little a supplier can do to help you if they have a technical problem beyond their control.

DELIVERY: A print broker requested samples be delivered to his address in Sheffield, but instead was given the entire consignment when it was urgently needed in Central London. And we've had a client's print damaged in transit by chemicals that leaked in the van. Even at the end of a project things can go wrong. Without adequate time to correct it, every issue becomes a critical and possibly insurmountable problem.