The group will be chaired by St Ives chief executive and Ipex president Patrick Martell and signed-up members include Malcolm Lane-Ley, executive chairman at Anton Group; Communisis client services director Tim Ainsworth; Roger Pitt, managing director of Headley Brothers; ProCo managing director Jon Bailey; Scott Logie, strategic marketing director of St Ives; and York Mailing and Pindar director Norman Revill. “I know that Ipex has come through a difficult period, but that is very much behind it now. I think what the show stands for now on the content side means it will still be a big event and will still offer incredible value to visitors,” said ProCo’s Bailey. “We’ve been tasked with making sure that the visitor journey on offer at Ipex adds value to printers like me. The show has an important role to play in the industry through education and joining people together, and I’m really pleased to be part of that.” Martell added: “I look forward to chairing the first Ipex 360 Committee meeting with my industry peers. Ipex 2014 promises to be a world-class ‘must-attend’ event that will reflect and address the latest trends and issues in the industry.” The first 360 Committee meeting takes place 9 October, by which time Ipex event director Trevor Crawford hopes to unveil some additional brand owner members. “We’re still talking to several other significant players, who I hope to tie down in the coming weeks,” said Crawford. “With Ipex 2014 pre-registration now open and our visitor marketing campaign in full swing, the Ipex 360 Committee will play a vital role to deliver an event that printers and marketers want.” Click here to register for your free Ipex visitor pass....

The event aimed to raise the profile of promotional merchandising including printed products, which is worth more than £765m, said association deputy-general Gordon Glenister. The week was a first in the BPMA’s 48-year history, he added. Initiatives included a dedicated website, www.promotionalproductsweek.co.uk, an awareness-raising campaign including 300 Brunel University students, the handing out of promotional products including branded cupcakes and window stickers, and activity on Twitter and Facebook. “The print and promotional industry are not great on social media and we are desperately trying to educate them. This week was a great vehicle for us to share content,” he said. “It was not just focusing on the BPMA but individual members including suppliers and distributors. “Our event was supported by almost 600 members who conducted their own marketing campaigns around the week and promoted it in their own regions and to their own clients to raise awareness of the importance of promotional work and what they do.” Highlight of the week was a House of Commons dinner, where 25 members discussed issues such as trading standards and future challenges with MP and industry supporter MP Brian Binley. The week was also flagged up with a survey of 1,000 people. It concluded the UK was “a nation of freebie hunters”, said Glenister: “Brands, companies and organisations should note that three in 10 consumers have changed their regular brand in order to receive a promotional product.” Nearly half of consumers would switch brand for cooking accessories, while nearly 42% would switch for a coffee mug. Other popular items included fizzy-drink branded glasses, cuddly toys, and cosmetic purses or tote bags. Many products are kept and used such as pens, T-shirts and keyrings. “The power and attraction of promotional merchandise is clearly demonstrated, with almost a sixth of consumers saying they would use devious means such as giving out false personal details or gaining uninvited entry to a venue or event, to get an item. The most fibbed-for item was toiletries.” Nearly half said ‘significant’ branding was acceptable, whereas a third said it should be ‘subtle’. In the current economic difficulties nearly three-fifths of consumers were more likely to keep freebies than before the recession. One in 10 would give a free branded product as a gift. Glenister said: “Promotional merchandise is far more than just a freebie. Used correctly it delivers powerful and positive advertising messages, as well as a thank you. Our recent research showed branded gifts can deliver a higher or equal return on investment than most forms of advertising.”...

The event aimed to raise the profile of promotional merchandising including printed products, which is worth more than £765m, said association deputy-general Gordon Glenister. The week was a first in the BPMA’s 48-year history, he added. Initiatives included a dedicated website, www.promotionalproductsweek.co.uk, an awareness-raising campaign including 300 Brunel University students, the handing out of promotional products including branded cupcakes and window stickers, and activity on Twitter and Facebook. “The print and promotional industry are not great on social media and we are desperately trying to educate them. This week was a great vehicle for us to share content,” he said. “It was not just focusing on the BPMA but individual members including suppliers and distributors. “Our event was supported by almost 600 members who conducted their own marketing campaigns around the week and promoted it in their own regions and to their own clients to raise awareness of the importance of promotional work and what they do.” Highlight of the week was a House of Commons dinner, where 25 members discussed issues such as trading standards and future challenges with MP and industry supporter MP Brian Binley. The week was also flagged up with a survey of 1,000 people. It concluded the UK was “a nation of freebie hunters”, said Glenister: “Brands, companies and organisations should note that three in 10 consumers have changed their regular brand in order to receive a promotional product.” Nearly half of consumers would switch brand for cooking accessories, while nearly 42% would switch for a coffee mug. Other popular items included fizzy-drink branded glasses, cuddly toys, and cosmetic purses or tote bags. Many products are kept and used such as pens, T-shirts and keyrings. “The power and attraction of promotional merchandise is clearly demonstrated, with almost a sixth of consumers saying they would use devious means such as giving out false personal details or gaining uninvited entry to a venue or event, to get an item. The most fibbed-for item was toiletries.” Nearly half said ‘significant’ branding was acceptable, whereas a third said it should be ‘subtle’. In the current economic difficulties nearly three-fifths of consumers were more likely to keep freebies than before the recession. One in 10 would give a free branded product as a gift. Glenister said: “Promotional merchandise is far more than just a freebie. Used correctly it delivers powerful and positive advertising messages, as well as a thank you. Our recent research showed branded gifts can deliver a higher or equal return on investment than most forms of advertising.”...

Dall, who had been ill with cancer since earlier this year, died peacefully in his sleep on the 18 September. He joined the company in Normanton, West Yorkshire, in 2007 after serving as sales director for Alcan. “His earlier career was in marketing and a standout achievement was the round teabag, which he is credited with helping to pioneer,” said development director Chris Kozlik. “Lawrence was a charmer and an entertainer. “He was gregarious and outgoing, the essence of Parkside and the driving force of the business for the last five years. But he left us in a very strong position with great growth options, so we have time to take stock. He will be a very, very hard act to follow.” Parkside flexographic printer and specialist laminating company has been supplying bespoke packaging to the tobacco industry for more than 40 years. The business has 150 staff, a manufacturing base in Malaysia and a turnover of around £30m....

The Ultra digital press costs from £320,000 and can produce 1,250 B2+ size sheets an hour. It can handle stock from 135 to 675gsm on thicknesses up to 700 microns. The manufacturer claims its incorporated patent-pending RSP technology delivers pin-point accuracy, while its Variable Density and 99GU applications allows for variable polymer thickness and “the highest level of gloss attainable” for print. “It has taken a while for the print market to speed up to the fact that print is no longer merely a 2D medium but has become something that’s raised and textured,” said Mark Nixon, managing director for sole UK and Ireland distributor Conversion UK. “This is twice the speed of our other B2 machine, the S75, and it employs twin-tray technology that loads twice as fast. At 1,250 sheets per hour, the Scodix Ultra can produce 10,000 B2 sheets, 40,000 photo-book covers, 80,000 greeting cards, or 480,000 business cards during every eight-hour shift,” he said. The device is targeted at commercial printers, folding-carton packaging converters, web-to-print shops and trade finishers servicing the luxury stationery, photobook, greetings cards and packaging markets....