Editor's Blog

Of course it plays into HP’s hands to grow demand for its latex printers and output by offering marketing assistance to companies buying into the technology, but who’s to complain about anything that helps put wide-format printing in front of a wider audience? Seems a win, win situation to me. Wonder if other manufacturers will help build business in a similar fashion…

‘Integrated print’ has become a buzz term. The key takeaway from the Fespa Global Summit at the beginning of this year was that printers have to become much more proactive in embracing other technologies and in using them within their print offering to deliver customers their much demanded campaign analytics and, in a way, to ‘re-launch’ print as a branding and communications tool for the modern era.

This enews reaches you as I prepare to wend my way to Birmingham for the start of Sign and Digital UK at the NEC tomorrow. Obviously I’ll bring you all the news and highlights of the show – but I’d be interested in hearing from you as to what you aim to gain from attending the event, and afterwards, what particularly caught your eye. If there’s something you think I should follow up let me know…

You’ll see that Image Reports has become the media partner for Fespa London 2013 VIP visitors’ campaign in conjunction with Xaar. Given that the title is focused on helping readers learn about the new and emerging opportunities that wide-format digital printing and associated technologies offers, it’s a partnership that should benefit all involved, including you. It means that as a reader of Image Reports you can receive VIP visitor status at the event – go to http://www.fespa.com/london/en/component/content/article/334 for details.

If you have youngsters on your staff who could do with an extra £1500 in their pocket then get them to apply for a Futures Award. It’s not to spend on wine, women and song mind you – but on skills training. Those aged 16-30 have until 31 May to apply for the cash grant.

I don’t mean Margaret Thatcher – I mean Efi Arazi, founder of namesake EFI, whose death last Sunday marks the passing of a real innovator and entrepreneur who took this industry forward. He has certainly left an indelible mark.

As part of our commitment to providing readers with learning and development opportunities we have a 10% discount offer on Matthew Park’s book ‘How to Make Print More Profitable: The Print Industry Negotiation Handbook’ -  more details are at the bottom of the newsletter. You can also download a free pdf of his book ‘10 Common Print Selling Errors and What To Do About Them’ at http://profitableprintrelationships.com/e-book/

If you’re serious about offering merged media services it might be worth noting the new Media Marketplace event taking place in Leeds towards the end of this month. It won’t be on the scale of Cross Media 2013 which takes place in October, but if you want a heads-up before then…

The first data analysis from the Image Reports Widthwise Survey 2013 is in – and it shows that almost 30% of the 223 UK and Ireland wide-format print companies polled are unsure about investing in new digital print kit in the next two years. Concern about the economy in general is one issue, but so is finding finance. That said I’d be interested in hearing your opinions on whether you think the new business bank - phase one of which is just going live – will have any impact at all on your business.

Here’s a useful little tool to watch out for – the SmartSign Analytics system shown by EFI at the International Sign Expo in Las Vegas last week. Sadly I wasn’t in the US to see the technology demo first hand, but it sounds like a neat little offering that could deliver the Big Data info so many customers are yearning.

It’s great to see Astley and Elite Graphics UK pledge to sponsor a local veteran of the armed forces onto RBLI’s LifeWorks course and provide them with paid work experience. If you are doing anything similar please drop me a line.

It’s proving a tough time for exhibition organisers in general, what with the continuing economic turmoil and the changing ways in which manufacturing companies now aim to establish and build customer relationships. And then there’s the shift in how printers themselves want to do business – an increasing number considering shows passé as a shop window and place to do actual business. So just how relevant are print trade exhibitions?

It will be interesting to see Clarity’s new Web-to-MIS system at Sign and Digital given the discussion that was had between print company chiefs at the W2P Round Table held by Image Reports at the end of last year (see Jan/Feb issue or go to http://www.imagereportsmag.co.uk/features/special-report/3507-round-table for the subsequent editorial report). Is Web-to-MIS to your wish list for 2013?

OK – what’s your take on last week’s Budget? I’d love to know whether you think it will help or hinder your business.

Also, can I remind you to take part in the 2013 Widthwise Survey. The link is: www.imagereportsmag.co.uk/widthwise 2013.

In this issue you’ll find a story on the coming together of 11 print-related charities to promote what they do. As part of that programme Stephen Gilbert, chief executive of The Printing Charity, has asked that “if you know of anyone experiencing difficulties, please spread the word that there is help available. These print-related charities exist for people in our industry and their dependants.” So please pass on the offer of help where you think it may be needed.

Also, can I remind you to take part in the 2013 Widthwise Survey. The link is: www.imagereportsmag.co.uk/widthwise 2013.