ePublishing vs. Self-publishing. These two topics can seem frightening to people in the graphic communications industry. Some people look at ePublishing as, well, an enemy, while others feel that self-publishing is dead. The truth is, offering either one of these services are just another great potential revenue stream for printers and publishers with the right business plan and technical know-how. ePublishingMobile devices and tablets are a hot item today! Half of all cell phones in the U.S. are smartphones, and a quarter of those smartphone owners also use a tablet device—by 2014 experts predict 20% of all U.S. consumers will own a tablet! While people want their content in print, they also look to consume their content from these popular devices. The questions isn’t, “What has gone digital,” but rather, “What has not gone digital?” Not only have newspapers and magazines provided consumers with digital offerings, but books have essentially followed suite. Today, e-books are one of the fastest growing areas of book sales. There is enormous potential around epublishing, and it is imperative for anyone in the print communication industry to investigate this potentially lucrative service offering. Don’t feel threatened by this growing trend, take advantage of it. ePublishing is a great opportunity for your business. Self-PublishingWhile people may think that self-publishing is dead, it is actually just the opposite—it is thriving. In the last few years, self-publishing has continued to grow at an exciting rate while creating opportunities for both publishers and printers Establishing a self-publishing center for your business can create new revenue streams that you may have not even thought about yet. This great business opportunity can put printers in the controls to provide their clients the direction they need for a successful self-publishing campaign. Get the Skinny On these Exciting Business OpportunitiesLearn first-hand how you can be a forward-thinking printer and adopt these revenue-generating services at the upcoming Integrated Print Forum 2012, October 29-30. This two-day event will give you the insight on how to take the mystery out of your future. Become a detective and scope out today’s hottest business trends and new opportunities in the graphic communications industry. Speakers will have the intel on how to keep print in the mix, while providing your clients with new, integrated printing services. The entire event will be dedicated to offering real strategies around new business options, including ePublishing and self-publishing, with a focus on providing tactics to take back to your business in which you can apply immediately. At the Forum, attend the session, Don’t Fear the Tablet! ePublishing Trends & Tactics. This informative session will be presented by business strategist Peter Muir, of Bizucate, Inc., who will talk with John Bell, of...
Take a Crash Course in Inkjet Printing!
Inkjet printing is a $33.4 billion market today and is forecast to double by 2017! Signage is the largest sector in the inkjet printing realm, representing 57% of the market in 2011, much of it printed on flatbed inkjet presses. But the types of work a flatbed device can produce are almost endless. Take a crash course covering everything you need to know to get up to speed on flatbed inkjet–including a review of everything from the types of machines, inks, and finishing equipment out there to real-world applications and markets that you can jump into! Flatbed Inkjet — A Crash Course for Print Service Providers will be presented by Printing Industry of America’s Julie Shaffer, Vice President of Digital Technologies. Flatbed Inkjet — A Crash Course for Print Service Providers Sponsored by Océ October 2, 2012 2:00 PM Eastern FREE for Printing Industries of America Members $99 for non-members Register for this webinar and learn how to get in on this very profitable business...
Quality Is the Servant
This article, contributed by John Compton, Master Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt, looks at the relationship between technology and the practice of continuous improvement. He demonstrates why, although technology drives your business, maintaining quality is essential to gaining a competitive edge. John is an independent consultant for Printing Industries of America, conference consultant for its Continuous Improvement Conference, industry veteran with executive-level experience, and professor emeritus of Rochester Institute of Technology. I learned early in my career a simple but important truth about the practice of quality: technology is the master and quality is the servant. By that I mean the goods and services we are able to provide to the marketplace are profoundly impacted by technology and its influence on our materials and equipment. It could be said that technology is what permits us to have a business. Our customers buy the printed products we produce and the benefits those products bring to their businesses. That’s why we call ourselves printing and or packaging companies, not quality companies. On the other hand, quality is the servant in that there will always be a need to improve whatever systems that technology has allowed us to create. There will always be a need to produce products with fewer defects, shorter lead times, and fewer mistakes. And there will always be a need to deliver our services with fewer errors and in a more customer-friendly manner. All systems need improvement on a continual basis. None of our processes and operations—for as technologically advanced as they may be—are free from mistakes, errors, downtime, and other cost-generating problems. Yes, technology is the giant that drives our industry, but the practice of continual process improvement is what serves to achieve and sustain competitive position and profits. Quality improvement practices such as Lean manufacturing, six sigma, and ISO9000 bring needed discipline and structure to our businesses. Numerous presentations made at the recent Printing Industries of America Continuous Improvement Conference provided evidence of just how well they do apply to our industry. One case in particular involved a company that had recently moved to a new all-digital workflow. The new technology was providing benefits in time and cost reduction but was failing to achieve the levels they had originally targeted. The quality improvement manager and his staff diagramed the workflow, identified the critical control points, established measures of performance, and employed a PLAN-DO-STUDY-ACT approach to continually improve this state-of-the-art digital production process. Significant gains in productivity were attained and sustained. A simple example of how technology is the master and quality is the servant. Remember, any company can buy equipment and the technology that drives it. But without a strategy and structure to continually improve upon its...
Sustainability Matters. Become SGP-Certified (before your clients demand it).
To better serve our members and industry, Printing Industries of America is proud to support Sustainable Green Printing (SGP) Partnership. The SGP Partnership is an industry-specific, voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact and increase social responsibility of the print and graphic communications industry. The Partnership certifies printers against specific criteria and requires printers to commit to making continuous improvement in the product, process, and envelope areas of the graphic arts industry.The following is contributed by SGP. SGP-Certified Printers Make a Difference SGP Certification does more than reduce your environmental footprint. Your business will operate more efficiently and save you money. Use SGP Certification to satisfy your current customers and increase opportunities to win new ones. Become Certified. Preference Certified Facilities. Support SGP. “Printing is renewable, reusable, and recyclable. Last year we printed enough materials to plant well over half a million new trees, and we are 100% landfill free, thanks to SGP. This has resulted in tremendous savings and efficiencies, while doing our part to improve the environment. Our SGP Certification is just one more reason why our customers choose us as their partner.” — Sharon Tucker, Alcom Printing, A leading provider of print, direct mail marketing and business development solutions “As a land conservation organization, it’s very important that our publications are produced as “green” as possible. We are extremely impressed by Alcom’s commitment to sustainability. They carefully analyze and manage every part of their processes, including sourcing sustainable papers and inks, managing a net-zero landfill contribution plant, using software-based proofing systems to minimizing the use of fuel, and using ultra-energy-efficient equipment and building design. And they’ve been able to expertly guide us to ensure that the printing process of our publications reflects our own commitment to be good stewards of the earth.” — Willistown Conservation Trust Learn more: Register now for our next EHS workshop Safety Matters: OSHA Compliance for Printers on September 18–19, 2012. Certifying Sustainable Print Facilities in the Graphic Communications Industry ...
Take Your Seats, Printers, and Prepare for Economic Turbulence!
It’s here—that scenario you thought your business would not encounter. What do you do now? It is better to prepare for the worst than be left standing in the dust of the still-eminent Great Recession that is affecting so many in the printing industry. Our own Dr. Ronnie H. Davis, Vice President & Chief Economist, Printing Industries of America, provides today’s printers with useful resources and an action plan to assess and prepare for tough economic stretches. Action Plan for Turbulent Times Step I: Take stock of what is actually happening Evaluate your business and the current print markets. Members can download 2012–2013: A Planning Guide to get an accurate report on economic trends. Step II: Review likely economic scenarios By benchmarking your company, you can prepare for your financial future. Companies that benchmark are more efficient, better managed, and more profitable in the long run. Ratios 2011-2012 reports are a great resource that is available to you, as well as the ability to participate in Printing Industries of America’s annual financial benchmarking survey. Step III: Prepare for the worst “Those who fail to prepare, prepare to fail,” the always-inspiring Ben Franklin once said. Education is the antidote for uncertainty, and having a strong business and staff will sustain you through the tough times. Find great learning opportunities for any business aspect, including specialized industries like the financial and labels and packaging industries on our events calendar. Step IV: Focus on key management actions Unsteady times call for highly focused management strategies. Create your plan of action based on the operating keys of profit leaders detailed in Keys to Profitability. Step V: Review talking points before meeting with your banker Take a look at the liquidity, funding, and leverage ratios that banks and other lending institutions base their lending practices on. Review Ratios 2011-2012 to self-evaluate, then take it to the bank! Learn more at the 2012 Printing Industry Financial Executives (PIFE) Conference November 7–9 in Coronado (San Diego), California. Join Dr. Davis, who will be presenting “Competing for Print’s Thriving Future: Understanding and Taking Advantage of Emerging Economic and Industry Forces,” and other leading industry experts as they delve into the topics and trends that matter to you. The 2012 PIFE Conference is co-locating with the Label Printing Industries of America (LPIA) Innovation Conference. For more information or questions, please contact Justin Goldstein, PIFE Manager, at 412-259-1806 or via email at...