Inside the Integrated Print Forum 2013
In a Q&A with Julie Shaffer, Vice President, Digital Strategies, Printing Industries of America, we learn what to expect from the highly anticipated Integrated Print Forum 2013. Q. What sets the Integrated Print Forum 2013 apart from other conferences featuring the printing industry’s latest technologies? A. We’ve built the Integrated Print Forum to be different from other conferences, which often feature many breakout tracks and a wide swath of topics. For the Forum, we wanted all attendees to share the same experience so that they can better engage during networking times. That’s why we built a program with short back-to-back sessions, all (with the exception of a few hands-on labs) on the same stage. When a group stays together for two days, very often people develop camaraderie with each other and the presenters. While so many of the topics of this conference center around mobile and digital technologies, the event itself is very steeped in personal communication and learning. Q. Is there a session you’re looking forward to the most this year? A. No, I have to say what I’m most looking forward to watching the audience be blown away by the spectacular speaker lineup! Q. How do the speakers of the Integrated Print Forum set this conference apart? A. The Integrated Print Forum features a diverse group of speakers who all have tremendous credibility in marketing, business, and commerce—but they’re not the “usual suspects” who are often found on the podium of most other industry conferences. We have author and respected blogger Jason Falls, who’s a huge name in the social media circles—even some of the other speakers are pumped to be able to meet him! Our keynote, Andrew Davis, is a top name in brand marketing, and his book, Brandscaping, which all attendees will receive, is a must-read for anyone striving for success in the marketing services space. We’ll hear from entrepreneurs both in and out of the printing industry, people who know what it takes to start a business and offer solid practical advice to the audience. Of course, we’ve included a few respected and knowledgeable people well known to our members, including the incomparable Daniel Dejan of Sappi Fine Paper. I can say this; no one is going to be bored for a minute at the Forum. Q. What are some of the unexpected benefits of attending this conference? A. Since the Forum is right here at Printing Industries headquarters, attendees can tour our great facility and meet our staff—people they may have only talked to on the phone or followed through their articles and columns, like our lab manager, Brad Evans. Then there’s the fun dinner event we have planned for the evening of May 14th, when the entire group will load onto buses and head down to Penn Brewery to experience some award-winning craft beers and an entertaining dinner theater show. But mostly it’s the connections attendees get to make with each other, the speakers, and our staff. The networking opportunities at an event like this can’t be overstated. Q. What level of understanding of integrated media technology and developments is required to benefit from IPF? A. I believe everyone—from complete newbie to expert integrated marketing professional—will be equally enthralled by this program. The sessions offered center around five overarching themes; online business...
read moreThe Gathering of Strategic Minds at Integrated Print Forum 2013
You have only to consider the smartphone in your pocket, the tablet device your kids are scrolling through, and the computer that sits ever at the ready on your desk to understand this fact: digital communication is here to stay. Can print remain an important part of the communication mix today? Of course! For example, did you know that one in ten magazine ads contained a mobile action code last year? Integrating print with digital is at the core of what we call “Integrated Print,” and it can represent significant business potential for print and marketing service providers. Sharing the insights of renowned brand and marketing leaders, social commerce experts, publishers, business entrepreneurs, and printers who are finding new successful business strategies is what the Integrated Print Forum 2013 is all about. Much like the popular “Ted Talks,” the sessions at Integrated Print Forum, May 14–15, will be presented in a clear, concise format. Our lineup of powerful and expert speakers will deliver their message on one main stage, getting right to the valuable material that attendees need to know—a new idea or technology, a fresh strategic direction, or realistic tactics for business growth. With the recent release of the lineup of presenters, people are already talking about these sessions that will be presented at the Forum: The Future of Print Is Digital—Andrew Davis, Monumental Shift Get inspired to re-think current print, digital, and mobile strategies and consider aligning them as a content continuum instead of unrelated initiatives. It’s Time for Direct Mail 2.0!—Joy Gendusa, PostcardMania The concept of Direct Mail 2.0 addresses all of the current issues that can plague direct mail marketing and replaces them with a modern, integrated program. The Digital Frontier: What Social Media Means for YOUR Business, YOUR Customers—Jason Falls, Social Media Examiner Learn why social media is such a powerful sales and marketing force and how we can embrace it to drive offline revenues. Business Black Box: A Magazine Success Story—Jordana Megonigal, Editor-in-Chief Explore how a regional business magazine adopted a new way of doing business and, in doing do, is on the way to achieving the sought-after trifecta among publishers: journalistic integrity, full issues, and bottom-line profitability. Topics at Integrated Print Forum 2013 will include: Social Commerce, Integrated Media Marketing, Online Business Engagement, Business Transformation, and Sales Growth. You can’t miss this event! Visit www.printing.org/integratedprint to learn more about the speakers, read up on featured topics and stories in the blog, and most importantly, sign up to attend! Get Involved Before the Forum Have questions, comments, or suggestions about the event? Visit us at the following locations: Blog: www.integratedprintforum.org/blog Twitter: www.twitter.com/printind YouTube: www.youtube.com/printingindustries Facebook: prnt.in/integratedprintforumevent Hashtag: ...
read morePGSF Scholarship Recipients Ready to Make Their Mark in the Industry
Gregory DeGross Today we continue our series of blog posts profiling students pursuing graphic arts careers who have received monetary awards from the Print and Graphic Scholarship Foundation (PGSF). Our second interviewee, Gregory DeGross, is currently a senior at Western Michigan University. Greg spoke with us about job search strategies, student participation in professional conferences, and his thoughts on the future of the printing industry. What area of the graphic arts do you consider your primary focus (design, print production, digital media, etc.)? My primary focus is in print production and digital media, including RFID technology, color management, and quality assurance. Have you started job searching? If so, what has been your experience thus far? I had two internships at Nosco, Inc., a pharmaceutical printed packaging company in Gurnee, IL. These internships lasted 4 months each, and I have accepted their job offer as a Senior Quality Assurance Specialist. From my experience, industry meetings and conventions are definitely a good place to start your job search. The networking that goes on is tremendous—building contacts for the near and distant future. I’ve had contacts through LinkedIn, which is also a good resource for new grads. What were your top considerations when looking for a job in the graphic arts field? What I was looking for in a potential employer and something I feel all new graduates should be looking for is a growing company, even if it is a new company—a company that will provide health benefits and the opportunity to advance. Companies with multiple branch locations are worth the application process as well. Other considerations would include companies with a variety of graphic positions, e.g., computer design, mechanical prep, production, purchasing, customer service, shipping, etc. What are one or two interesting graphic arts projects you’ve completed at school? I was a part of the 2012 Phoenix Challenge team at Western Michigan University. The Phoenix Challenge is a flexographic printing competition. Multiple schools from across the country participate in this competition every year. My team created labels and packaging for reusable containers and a sweet and salt snack mix. We worked with experts in the industry, as well as new and innovative materials. The most interesting part of the competition was having the opportunity to print on dissolvable label paper. Have you attended any professional events or conferences? Yes, I’ve been to Info Flex, which was hosted by the FTA (they also sponsored the Phoenix Challenge competition). I also attended the annual conference of the Association of Independent Corrugated Converters, which was held in Salt Lake City, UT. What could organizations that host professional events and conferences do to attract more student participation? Students do not typically have discretionary income for travel and lodging expenses, which are not typically paid for by the universities, even if the registration fees were complimentary. A reduction in the registration fees helps, but sponsoring events close by, or at, each of the top graphic and printing universities would also be a plus. How do you see print’s role in the media mix today? What do you think is the future of print? The role of print is not as black and white as it has previously been thought to be. I’m sure others have said that before, but what I mean is that print...
read moreCreating Standard Work: Get Your Company on the Lean Path to Improvement
This blog was adapted from an article by Manoj Ramachandran, Operations Manager, Label World, who has more than a decade of experience as a lean operations practitioner. He has gained his insight through experience in many different industries, including printing, aviation, and health care. He is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and PMP. Mr. Ramachandran will present on Standard Work at the 2013 Continuous Improvement Conference, April 7–10, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Implementing a Lean manufacturing plan can be like composing a symphony: getting all of the intricate details working together harmoniously requires not only attention to minute detail, but also an overall vision of the project. However, you can lay an integral piece of a Lean foundation and put a Standard Work process in place. Standardizing your work methods will set you on a positively evolving pathway to better workflow and operational excellence. But you have to have the right plan supported and firmly in place. The method of Standard Workor “The documentation and application of the best practices of a manufacturing process,” can be focused to three parts: Creation, Implementation, and Sustenance. Find a glossary of Lean and related terms here. Create: Identifying where Standard Work Is Necessary Ask the question, “What processes would benefit most from standardization?” Take a look at your value stream map and confer with the team or department that performs the work and, therefore, owns the process. Be sure to review the process with the equipment operators—their input will help a great deal in ensuring buy-in and continually improving the process. Finally, analyze the process to identify waste sources using tools like takt time, sequence of activities, and inventory levels. Implement: Making the Process Known For your standard work process to be effective, make it available and understandable to all. Place images of the work sequences close to the work site in graphical, easy-to-follow terms. This will not only set the standard but also act as a grading tool as well as a training tool for new employees. Sustain: Ensuring Compliance The team performing the work should be responsible for auditing the standardized process once it is in place. Supervisors and operators will track and determine if the process is being followed and, if not, determine why. Perhaps someone has found a better way to perform the process and can make suggestions for change. The end goal is improvement, not strictly maintaining a stated process. Want to learn more about Standard Work and implementing a Lean manufacturing program? We have great resources for you! Complimentary Articles, Glossary of Lean and Related Terms,and the Lean Manufacturing Assessment Tool. CI resources page for valuable information like Article Collections, Books, andWebinars The 2013 Continuous Improvement ConferenceApril 7–10, 2013 in Indianapolis,...
read moreNew Generation of Graphic Arts Professionals Entering the Job Market
Brittany Bolenbaugh It’s no secret that printers are always on the lookout for enterprising young professionals who can help their companies stay ahead of the curve in a constantly evolving industry. That’s why, over the next several weeks, we’ll be profiling some talented students who are about to enter the workforce. All of the students we’re profiling have received monetary awards from the Print and Graphic Scholarship Foundation (PGSF), a not-for-profit, private, industry-directed organization that dispenses undergraduate college scholarships and graduate fellowship assistance to talented men and women interested in graphic communication careers. Housed under the same roof as Printing Industries of America, PGSF has coordinated the printing industry’s largest scholarship program since its inception in 1956. Our first interviewee, Brittany Bolenbaugh, is currently a senior at Ball State University. Brittany was kind enough to share with us a little bit about her university experience, her goals for a graphic arts career, and her thoughts on the future of the industry. 1. What area of the graphic arts do you consider your primary focus (design, print production, digital media, etc.)? I would say that my primary focus in the graphic arts would be the design as I have a great passion and love for being creative. Although through my classes at Ball State University and my experiences I have grown to love all aspects of the graphic arts. 2. Have you started job searching? If so, what has been your experience? I have begun the job search since I will be graduating this May and I have found that my school career center and professors have been my biggest resource. I have had many opportunities to pursue and I just hope that I am able to find the right one for me. 3. What will be your top considerations when looking for a job in the graphic arts field? (In other words, what characteristics are you looking for in potential employer?) As I look for a job in the graphic arts field, it is important to me that I come into a position where I can not only utilize my skill sets, but also enhance them and grow with a company. It is important to me to have that opportunity to move forward and gain responsibility as I further my career. 4. What are one or two interesting graphic arts projects you’ve completed at school? There are so many! I love to create things and learn new techniques, but I think the process that was the most fun to learn and explore was screen-printing. There are so many possibilities with screen-printing that I wish I had time to do even more with it. I also have been able to do some really neat digital projects with Adobe Creative Suite, making vector graphics with Illustrator and page layouts with InDesign. 5. Have you attended any professional events or conferences? What could organizations that host professional events and conferences do to attract more student participation? I attended the NBM show in Indianapolis, Indiana in the summer of 2011. I wasn’t aware of the show until a professor mentioned it to our class. I had a great time there and it has made me want to attend more professional events and conferences. I think the biggest part of attracting students to these...
read moreDevelop Quickly, Or Else!
By Don Piontek Hans Muller, founder of today's Muller Martini and a master bindery engineer died last week at the ripe old age of 96. This got me thinking about where we are today, versus 20 or so years ago. Back in the heyday of high-volume print, the…
read moreDirect Mail 2.0—Talking Integrated Marketing and Postcards with Joy Gendusa
Joy GendusaFounder and CEO PostcardMania Joy Gendusa is the Founder and CEO of PostcardMania. After more than twelve years of leading one of the most innovative and successful postcard marketing companies in the industry, Joy has obtained a level of marketing expertise that is sought after for counsel and speaking engagements all over the country. We are delighted that Joy will joining us as a speaker in May for the Integrated Print Forum and we recently had the opportunity to speak with her about her business, direct mail, and the value of integrated marketing strategies. Along with speaking engagements, Joy also regularly shares her knowledge and expertise on her blog Maniac Marketing. How has your personal experience as an entrepreneur shaped your approach to business and your relationship with your clients? I feel like entrepreneurs are “my people”(if you know what I mean)! I know what it’s like to have to make a payroll despite a lousy month and what it feels like to have lay off good people that just aren’t cutting it at their job (heartache). We entrepreneurs have a certain camaraderie that can only be experienced. With that said—being that my customer base consists mainly of entrepreneurs—I feel like I really understand what they need and what their pain is. It takes my personal care factor for them to a level I don’t see often enough. For instance we just had our third client appreciation event where we had 100 attendees. These folks REALLY want help growing their businesses and are hungry for the information! I love these guys! So, my relationship with my clients is at the forefront; they are not considered numbers in a database or CRM, they are my people. Why is direct mail still an effective marketing and communications tool? These days, people are so inundated with online advertisements that when they receive a postcard in the mail regarding something that is relevant to them, they take notice. Postcards are also an effective way to drive people to your website or get them to call your business—they get people to reach out for more information about your products and services. Plus there are loads of businesses out there that folks are not searching for online—direct mail is a GREAT way to enlighten the market and truly target. This cannot be done with paid search to the same degree. In the video above, Joy shares the 10 elements of a successful postcard. What are the main benefits of an integrated marketing strategy? They hit the prospect from many channels. Prospects see the message over and over and you get the benefit of repetition for a low cost. They give credibility to the marketer/business—meaning when prospects get a piece of direct mail and then also see that business online (or visa versa), the trust and affinity for that business rises in the mind of the prospect What will attendees to your session at the Integrated Print Forum learn? Attendees will learn the importance of integrating both direct mail and online marketing and how to integrate them effectively! What do you hope take away from the Integrated Print Forum? For me personally, I just love meeting like-minded entrepreneurs and sharing ideas! We’d like to thank Joy once again for speaking with us, and we look...
read moreDigital Printing Issues Solved! Join us for Optimizing Color from Your Digital Press
One of the biggest challenges we face in the print production environment is achieving accurate, consistent color. There are many factors that contribute to getting optimal color results, including proper digital file handling, calibration, profile creation, and more. Your solution? We have developed hands-on workshops that show you how to troubleshoot, manage, and print the best digital color. Our instructors are knowledgeable with years of field and training experience. Best of all, the techniques you learn here at our world-class training center can be applied back at your very own facility. Join us for a practical training workshop that covers the techniques you need to know to get the best color from your digital presses. Check out Optimizing Color from Your Digital Press, today! Take it from the expert: in this video Dave Dezzutti, Technology and Research Analyst at Printing Industries of America, and experienced workshop instructor, gives some insight into what you can learn about producing more consistent color. Discover how to optimize color output from your digital press in an in-depth, experiential workshop, Optimizing Color from Your Digital Press, May 21–22, 2013. You will leave knowing these essential skills and more: Digital printing and color management terms, techniques, and practices Standards and specifications—the best ones for digital and how to color manage your digital press to get there How to troubleshoot color and output-related issues using common desktop tools and how to diagnose digital file problems—hands on! How to get your digital press to print to G7® and ISO 12647-2 Don’t just take our word for it! Hear the comments from a few of our previous attendees: “I found the Optimizing Color from Your Digital Press workshop very helpful. My coworker and I learned a great deal of information on digital printing operations that we can apply to our unique situations here at our facility. Beginner or experienced, this course is extremely helpful and applicable!”—Steve Yoder, Prepress Manager, Schlabach Printers The information I received from attending Optimizing Color from Your Digital Press workshop will definitely help us achieve our color management goals as a company. I am a novice to digital printing, but our presenter spoke to us in easy-to-understand terms and made certain we would not leave the class without a complete understanding of the topic. I have recommended this workshop to my coworkers!”—Crystal Cole, Color Manager, Graphic Dimensions, Inc. This is the only Optimizing Color from Your Digital Press course offered in 2013. Due to the hands-on applications of this course, class sizes are kept small and fill quickly. Register you or your staff members today here. See all of our training workshops at www.printing.org/training under the “Public Workshops”...
read moreGo EAST Young Bindroid!
By Don Piontek It's no secret that the printing industry in the United States has contracted over the past 10 years. This has created challenges not only for printers themselves, but for the vast array of suppliers and manufacturers to the print industry….
read moreModern Litho Focuses on Short-run Work with Speedmaster Press
KENNESAW, GA—March 4, 2013—Expectations were high when Modern Litho (Jefferson City, MO) took delivery of an eight-color Speedmaster XL 105 long perfector with CutStar sheeter, Inpress automated color control, and AutoPlate XL last…
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