Star Cutouts Using AI to Stay One Step Ahead

A Manchester-based firm makes lifesize cutouts of movie characters and other famous names.

22:57 05 May 2022

A Manchester-based firm that creates celebrity cut-outs is using technology to quickly react to popular trends in TV and film when designing and printing its new quirky products. 

 

Star Cutouts, which is based in Ashton-under-Lyne, combines the use of artificial intelligence and trend analysis software to stay ahead of the game. Its biggest selling cut-outs include Jurassic World dinosaurs, Minions and Shrek, and Harry Potter. 

 

The firm uses Made Smarter's North West Adoption programme allowing it to quickly react to viral programs like Netflix's mega-hit Squid Game. 

 

Ian Ravey, managing director, said: “Selecting the right character is extremely time consuming as it involves research via social media to spot who and what is trending.

 

“Sentiment also changes so quickly day to day. When you are spending a considerable amount on licensing agreements you need to be confident in your investment...

 

“Big data and analytics offer a huge and exciting opportunity for us to not just be quicker to react to trends, but to influence them.

 

“The increased accuracy of our product launches will save a considerable amount of time and resources, making much better use of our talented design team. We will be able to use that efficiency to focus on growth.”

 

Donna Edwards, Made Smarter’s North West adoption programme director, added: “We are delighted to be supporting Star Cutouts on its digital transformation. It is a fantastic example of a business using technology to transform how it designs, tests and manufactures products.”