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Let’s celebrate the good things! By donating 35,000 bag labels, Wise helped collect nearly 40,000 in food donations for people in need in the Minneapolis, Minn. area. Read More
Outside of competent people, the biggest constraint on the long-term success of your business is the lifetime value of the commercial relationships contained in your customer base. In the article, Wayne Lynn explores how to drive growth when the only constraint you have left is found in the sales department. Read More
Label converters facing margin pressure can shift from price competition to value creation through digital embellishment. By enabling premium finishes on short runs without complex setup, these technologies help differentiate products, enhance brand impact, and create more profitable opportunities in an increasingly competitive and demanding market. Read More
Held every three years in Düsseldorf, Germany, interpack is one of the world’s leading trade fairs for the packaging and processing industry. WhatTheyThink contributor Oleg Litvinov reports from this year’s event, which was held May 7–13. Read More
The productivity promises of robotics and AI sound almost too good to be true, and yet somewhere between the trade show demos and your actual production lines, there’s a gap that nobody seems to want to address, but understanding it is the single most important thing you can do right now to position your operation for success over the next decade. Pat McGrew and Ryan McAbee talk about the J-Curve. Read More
This issue of the WhatTheyThink Quarterly is all about labels, which are seen as a high-growth part of commercial printing, driven by e-commerce, food/beverage demand, and regulations. The market has surpassed 1.2 trillion square meters of label production volume per year, and is moving toward high-mix, low-waste production rather than only high-volume throughput. While flexo is still used for high-volume label production, digital label printing often complements it—or in some cases replaces it. But labels are about more than printing technology. Read More
So supposedly, a goal of U.S. tariffs on products imported from other countries, including textiles, apparel, and footwear, was to incentivize bringing manufacturing back to the States. Of course, setting up a new factory takes time and money; it doesn’t happen overnight. But it seems that producers had other ideas…the results may surprise you. Read More
Commercial, direct mail, and publishing printers accustomed to producing jobs over several weeks can now print them in days with the SCREEN Truepress JET 560HDX. The press can accommodate 120 lb. coated or uncoated paper up to 560 mm wide. Read More
Leverage 30+ years of plant-floor expertise. Trusted by 700+ packaging manufacturers globally to reduce waste, optimize scheduling, and drive digital transformation. One unified foundation. Eight packaging-native pillars. Zero fragmentation. Read More
April 2026 saw printing industry employment overall generally flat, down 0.4% from March. And while production employment was up 0.6%, non-production employment was down by 2.5%—basically the reverse of what we saw in March. Read More
A sign-writer created the visual style of music festivals. The “2026 Milky Way Photographer of the Year” winners. AI appears to be catching on among the Amish. Sony has upgraded its wearable air conditioner. How to easily reuse produce bags. A complex digital water clock. A Nobel Prize–winning technology is able to extract water from dry air. Yes, it is possible to be allergic to water. Laser-induced graphene on Kevlar enables multifunctional structural composites. The “most desired” place in each of the 50 states. “The rise in plastic surgeons asked to create ‘AI face.’” K-pop band BTS has teamed with Oreo to release limited edition OREO x BTS Cookies. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Most printers, when pressed to name their top three differentiators, end up with the same list as the printer down the street. Over the next few weeks and months, Heidi Tolliver-Walker follows up with printers who actually know what makes them different. That list starts with The Hartley Press. Read More
In this article, provided courtesy of PostPress magazine, Liz Stevens looks at a collaborative promotional project by Neenah, Glenmore Custom Print + Packaging, and Print Design Academy that combines small packages, evocative decoration, creative copy and more. Read More
In partnership with the Foundation for Graphic Communication Education (formerly the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation), each month we profile a promising student in a graphic communications or related program. The goal is to raise awareness of graphic communications programs, as well as help students get a “leg up” on entering the industry after graduation. This month, we profile Adrian Martinez, a third-year student at the Illinois State University majoring in Graphic Communications Technology. Read More
The inkjet printing industry is in one of its most consequential periods of transformation, with the graphic and packaging market now valued at over $101 billion and output growing at nearly 9.4% CAGR. To make sense of what is driving that growth and where the market is heading, Smithers analyst Jon Harper Smith identifies the forces reshaping the competitive landscape. Read More
Labor shortages continue to challenge print and packaging providers, driving the need for more accessible, efficient production. Digital technologies that simplify operation, reduce setup time, and rely on automation help companies maintain productivity, expand hiring flexibility, and build more resilient workflows in a constrained labor environment. Read More
The Ghent Workgroup (GWG) has been the global industry association focusing on standardizing best practices in print and packaging for 25 years, and has been expanding its scope, reach, and focus, all with the goal of facilitating consistent, higher-quality output as well as process automation, to facilitate the promise of Industry 5.0 and beyond. Read More
A new film pays tribute to Roger Cook, designer of the standard Department of Transportation sign symbols. Dory Sign is a 5.2-in. E Ink display designed for small signage applications. Four men were convicted of smuggling cocaine in Xerox printers. An online gallery of phone booth photographs. Converting a hamster wheel into a phone charger. Putting AI in charge of a radio station. May 25 is Towel Day! Researchers develop ultra-sensitive graphene aerogel pressure sensor for flexible e-skin and wearables. How to tune rubber chickens. Could rice be the new graphene? “Vape sommeliers: the next frontier in fine dining?” Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Labor shortages, production bottlenecks, and growing workflow complexity are forcing print service providers to take a closer look at robotics and automation. In this article, Keypoint Intelligence examines where robotics can deliver the greatest operational impact, the challenges PSPs should prepare for, and the practical steps companies can take to build a more efficient and stable production environment. Read More
Only in California: a law that claims to support recycling by removing recyclability symbols from recyclable materials. A coalition that includes print and packaging businesses is pushing back Read More
University of Wisconsin-Stout senior Rebecca Gaspord writes about how she and her fellow students won the Student’s Choice Award in the 2026 Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA) Student Chapter Competition & Awards. Read More
Label printing doesn’t feature prominently in discussions about the digital transformation or the future of the printed page. Even so, it is one of the most consistently active segments in the broader printing landscape. This article explores the evolving factors that make label printing worth a closer look. Read More
What truly differentiates you from your competition? Every printer says they have great quality, great prices, and great customer service. What makes you different from them? Do you even know? Read More
Wayne Lynn looks at The Six Leadership Actions, which derive from a philosophy that the key to improvement in a business usually comes from the efforts of leadership to drive fear out of the organization, as fear inhibits open, honest, and willing feedback about what the real problems are that are holding a company back from success. Read More
Offset printers worldwide continue to seek higher efficiency, lower costs, and more sustainable operations, driven by customer demand for resource-saving, energy-efficient methods and eco-friendly materials. Kodak addresses these needs with KODAK SONORA Process Free Plates. Read More
There’s a phrase that has echoed through prepress departments for decades: garbage in, garbage out. The same principle now applies to AI adoption across your entire operation, and most print service providers are missing it. Read More
Hanway hosted 200 global industry leaders at its 2026 Huizhou Digital Factory Open Day on April 16-17. The event featured live demonstrations of advanced water-based inkjet solutions, highlighting high-quality, efficient digital packaging capabilities and cementing Hanway's role as a strategic industry partner. Read More
Nothing better demonstrates the turmoil the textiles and apparel industry is going through than two news items I received in my inbox, basically back to back, stating that the U.S. is holding its own while Europe is losing steam. What else is going on in the industry today? We dive into that here. Read More
In Japan, a colored ink shortage has led a major snack company to decolorize its chip bags. The worst counterfeiter in the country was the most successful. Can an AI agent run a coffee shop? Digg (remember that?) is back—as an AI news aggregator. We all know “the house number font”—but where did it comes from? The world’s first ordained robot monk. “RIP social media.” GMG’s (not GMG Color) graphene coating boosts air conditioning performance. A chessboard that administers an electric shock to players who make bad moves. The American Oil Company’s (AMOCO) 1958 map of space depicted some of the unsolved space mysteries of the day—and some remain unsolved. “Scientists Think the Fifth Dimension May Exist.” An ice cream spoon automatically turns your cellphone to silent mode. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2023 there were 360 establishments in NAICS 323117 (Books Printing). This represents a decrease of 33% since 2010—although establishments were up from 2021 to 2022. In macro news, inflation in April grew 3.8% year-over-year. Read More
How does a fashion brand founded in 1951 leverage its legacy as a springboard for growth, innovation, and responsible production, without ever diluting what makes it? This great story, compliments of textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan, is worth a read! Read More
True print and color quality are not only determined on the print engine but on the finishing line as well, where tension, folding, cutting, and binding can make or break registration, color stability, and overall consistency. Automated imposition, real?time image correction, barcode-driven control, and robotic trimming eliminate cumulative errors, color drift, and mechanical damage, enabling short?run and variable?data books to maintain perfect registration and color fidelity, proving print quality cannot truly be judged until the product is fully finished. Read More
As more commercial printers begin optimizing their websites for AI search, many are running into a problem they didn’t anticipate. It’s not the content. It’s the platform. Heidi Tolliver-Walker interviews Matt Hunt, web guru for Great Reach Communications, who is inside the bowels of printers’ websites optimizing for AI search every day. Read More
Callaway Arts & Entertainment Files Chapter 11, and more … Read More
Whether you are a manufacturer or a print service provider, as market demands continue to change, you need to build for the future. The data is there, and it shows opportunity for those who embrace the change. David Zwang reports from a recent Konica Minolta open house. Read More
Sign and graphics companies are handling broader work with tighter schedules. This article looks at how organized online supply sources can help shops standardize material buying, reduce production delays and support everyday work across print media, vinyl, laminates, equipment-related products and sign components. Read More
The new Printing Outlook 2026–27 Report describes a year of single-digit growth. At the same time, standards adoption around the growing topic of “appearance management” is becoming more and more necessary. Don Carli explains how 2026 is the right window for brand and OEM product managers to fund credible glTF and iccMAX standard pilot programs. Read More
Correcting us about the Pentel 8 color pencil. An artist who transforms discarded cartons into “collagraphs.” Ask.com (né Ask Jeeves) has been shut down. Some “wearables” from 100 years ago. An electric vehicle available for under $100—but you have to be under five years old. Personalize the planet with NASA’s “Your Name in Landsat.” “Talkie” is a large-language model (LLM) that has been trained solely on text sources from before 1930. When in Amsterdam, be sure to visit Micropia, a zoo that collects bacteria and microbes. Plaid Technologies provides update on graphene coating initiative for drone systems. A meter-long robotic tail to help people keep their balance. Previewing “Project Hail Mary.” Would you eat a “perpetual stew”? Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
2026 kicked off with January shipments coming in at $7.08 billion, down from December’s $7.19 billion. Not a very auspicious beginning to the year. Read More
Wars, tariffs, supply chain breakdowns, you name it—they’re all kicking up what printers have to spend for raw materials, and the upward trend shows no sign of abating. Patrick Henry rounds up some examples. Read More
Personalized print is a tangible form of communication that can bridge the gap between a customer’s desire to be recognized and the often impersonal nature of digital-only content. This article explores the psychology of personalized print and why it’s such a powerful way for brands to connect with their audience. Read More
When economic times are uncertain, print marketing is one of the first things to go. If your clients are among those pulling their print budgets, you can remind them of other companies who once did the same and regretted it. Heidi Tolliver-Walker looks at some examples. Read More
If you want a thriving culture where people are engaged and productive, give them leaders who fit the role. Wayne Lynn describes what good leadership looks like. Read More
The best way to describe Lakeside Book Company is “a diversified book manufacturer as well as a book warehousing, fulfillment, and distribution services provider for publishers.” It is one of the largest book-printing and book-distribution operations in North America. The are becoming a publishers partner and help their customers manage the full life cycle of their titles, their book titles, whether it’s a single copy or over a million copies of softcover, casebound, one-color, four-color. And they keep on growing. Read More
For years, the spotlight has been fixed on presses, speeds, substrates, and finishing capabilities. But as digital embellishment technology matures, a new truth is emerging. Taktiful’s Kevin Abergel explains how the real differentiator is no longer just what the machines can do, but what designers choose to do with them. Read More
According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2023 there were 5,854 establishments in NAICS 323113 (Commercial Screen Printing). This represents an increase of 31% since 2010. In macro news, real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.0% in Q1 2026 Read More
Typography as a conveyor of culture. Independent bookstores are making a comeback. A children’s book about city planning. Remembering the telephone memo pad. Why were there drawings of armed rabbits in Medieval manuscripts? The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is impacting the helium market. Positive results from trial production of graphene-enhanced roof tiles. An alternative to the traditional beach umbrella: a giant windsock. In the early 20th century, weather forecasters were forbidden from mentioning tornados. Tokyo’s Haneda Airport is implementing humanoid robots as baggage handlers and cargo loaders. AllBirds has decided to pivot from being a shoe manufacturer to an AI firm, because of course it did. AI food videos featuring animated, creepy talking foods. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Speed, automation, and profit matter more than ever. PrintFactory delivers smarter workflows, less waste, and higher margins so you can scale your print business with confidence. Read More
Learning more about rigid print materials for flatbed printing can give your business the flexibility to design and develop unique printed products. Eileen Fritsch rounds up some substrates on display at the ISA Sign Expo. Read More
In the latest edition of “Voice of the OEM,” presented in conjunction with Taktiful, Sharp’s Dino Pagliarello talks about how innovation is not just about a specific product, but rather about how you show up in the market, how you position what you do, how you support the people who trust you enough to buy from you, and how consistent you are in delivering on that promise. Read More
In partnership with the Foundation for Graphic Communication Education (formerly the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation), each month we profile a promising student in a graphic communications or related program. The goal is to raise awareness of graphic communications programs, as well as help students get a “leg up” on entering the industry after graduation. This month, we profile Chans Montgomery, a fourth-year student at the University of Houston majoring in Digital Media. Read More
How the story of a failed university mailer and the accident scene in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” illustrate BPI Media Group’s automation philosophy. Read More
Too often, conversations about Gen Z center on what they lack: experience, patience, or deep technical understanding of legacy systems. That framing misses the opportunity. Gen Z represents the industry’s best chance to rebuild institutional knowledge, modernize workflows, and redefine print as a technology-driven manufacturing career. Doing so requires a shift in how companies recruit, onboard, develop, and retain talent. Read More
A recent article in Apparel DECODED caught Cary Sherburne's attention. It notes that the second-hand apparel market is growing, and highlighted Vinted as an example. In this article, she takes a look at the market, recent changes, and projections for growth among key players. Read More
The Creators Coalition on Artificial Intelligence (CCAI) is a new organization established to define the ethical and artistic boundaries of AI in the entertainment industry. Why are pencils yellow? Japan’s Pentel has just come out with an eight-color mechanical pencil. The exact location of Shakespeare’s London property has been found. A special beanie can allow us to type by mind. A visual illusion called neon color spreading, in which the brain makes up color where none really exists. A $5 Bluetooth tracker gave away a warship’s whereabouts. A clock that “sorts the 43,200 times of day alphabetically.” Mark Twain had a longstanding rivalry with the Postal System. Patient recruitment completed for first-in-human study evaluating its graphene cortical interface. Meet the winner of the recent Beijing robot half-marathon. Prego, the pasta sauce company, is getting into hardware with a device that sits on your table and records dinner conversations. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
March 2026 saw printing industry employment overall generally flat, up 0.3% from February. And while production employment was down 0.8%, non-production employment was up by 2.9%. Read More
Modern businesses are struggling to accomplish more with less due to rising costs, an aging workforce, and ongoing labor challenges. Workflow automation is more important than ever, and robotic solutions can be an attractive way to automate. This article cites recent robotics survey findings to help determine how robots are being used today and how they might be deployed in the future. Read More
No printing business is exempt from hacking attacks and the online con games known collectively as “social engineering.” Technology safeguards, cyber insurance, and relentless vigilance are mandatory for firms that don’t want to risk having to close their doors in the aftermath of a cybercrime incident. Read More
Even if automation and AI transform your business into a much lower headcount situation, the employees you are left with will need a couple of key things: good leaders and the assurance their higher-level needs can be met working for your company. Read on to find out why. Read More
Everywhere you look, new tools are popping up promising to help you gain visibility in AI search and to tell you how visible you are in AI engines like ChatGPT. But there’s a big difference between a clean-looking score and a reliable diagnosis. Heidi Tolliver-Walker takes a look. Read More
While the politics of governments turn a blind eye to these concerning facts, upcoming generations, especially Gen Z and Millennials, tend to treat sustainability as a core expectation rather than a niche preference. Sustainable printing at a very basic level is printing that is produced using environmentally and socially sustainable materials and processes for environmentally and socially sustainable products and services. Read More
HEIDELBERG Days 2026 was held April 15–16, at the Print Media Center, the Home of Print in the town of Wiesloch-Walldorf, Germany. Existing and potential customers from around the world, accompanied by their respective country reps looked at everything Heidelberg has to offer. Dr. Abhay Sharma reports from the event. Read More
About a year ago, we provided an update on Digital Product Passports. While the news on this topic has been somewhat quiet, a recent article published by GlobalData caught my eye—the launch of the world’s first China-EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) for a textile product! Read More
Finishing 360 is returning May 20th & 21st to our National Demonstration Center in Andover, MA! Experience our full lineup of automated Horizon solutions in action and explore innovative technologies from our partners. Read More
You can now buy physical books via Spotify. Swedish schools are reintroducing printed books. Dickens is a new tough typeface for these hard times. In the early 17th century, alphabet cookies were all the rage. Did you know the @ sign dates from the 1500s? A 1962 Japanese law effectively stopped deceptive advertising and packaging. Archaeologists recently unearthed 12,000-year-old dice. Doubling the energy density of a six-minute charging graphene aluminum-ion battery. Steampunk meets haute cuisine in a weird performance art/culinary event in France. A “garage door opener as a service,” because we are truly living in a dystopian hell. An experimental “vaccine beer” uses beer to deliver antigens that target polyomaviruses. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
In a world overwhelmed by digital noise and AI-generated content, print is standing out. It is building trust, creating impact, and driving stronger results. Our research shows, marketing print applications continue to grow, reinforcing the opportunity—but capturing it requires a shift in thinking. Learn how leading print professionals are shifting the way they sell print to deliver more value, stronger results, and lasting customer partnerships. Read More
According to textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan, we are currently witnessing the single greatest shift in information retrieval since the invention of the search engine. The internet, once a library of blue links, is rapidly transforming into an oracle of direct answers. The challenge now is not how to use AI to do more—but to use AI to matter more. Read More
Last week’s International Sign Association (ISA) Sign Expo brought the latest in physical, printed, and digital signage to Orlando, Fla. One unique section of the show floor was the Next Gen Tech Zone, a showcase of the next level of technology for signmakers. Read More
In this article, provided courtesy of PostPress magazine and Foldfactory, Trish Witkowski looks at five snazzy ways marketers can up their postcard game. Read More
Even in today’s topsy turvy economy, Independent Graphics (West Wyoming, Pa.) is excited about the installation of its new RMGT 920PF4 LED UV 24 x 36-in. four-color perfecting press, which will expand its offset capacity by 25%. Read More
Employers in every business segment have been told to expect something extraordinary from Generation Z—they are digital natives, born with a device in their hand, tech savvy from day one, intuitively fluent in software, platforms, and tools that previous generations had to learn the hard way. Core software skills were assumed rather than taught. Today, that assumption is unraveling. Read More
The printing industry is shifting from selling products to delivering business outcomes. All powered by predictability and uptime that customers can rely on. At Dscoop Edge Rockies 2026, HP introduced several tangible steps tied directly to that “outcomes” shift. Read More
In part 2 of this two-part feature, Taktiful’s Kevin Abergel talks with Sean Roberts, National Director of Digital Embellishment at Konica Minolta, about the kinds of applications that are seeing the most traction with digital embellishment. Read More
Our own Cary Sherburne talks with Terrance Barkan, Executive Director of the Advanced Carbons Council (né the Graphene Council). A short story written without using the letter I. Wite Out may have been invented 3,300 years ago. Beulah Louise Henry, aka “Lady Edison,” has 49 patents and more than 100 inventions. An overdesigned clock that makes it difficult to determine what time it is. Melting down 300 different-colored crayons and forming them into one, giant, mutant crayon. Remembering forgotten sites from the dawn of social media. Jenny’s famous phone number—876-5309—is now a cancer support hotline. Scientists at CERN have discovered a new fundamental particle of matter. Cloning a mouse one too many times. The horrifying “features as a service” model continues to tempt automakers. Is beer good for lawns? Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2023 there were 15,140 establishments in NAICS 323111 (Commercial Printing except Screen and Books). This represents a decline of 31% since 2010. Read More
Is it really true that the U.S. Postal Service could run out of money in the next 12 months? In theory the answer is yes; in realistic terms the answer is no. But the system’s problems are genuine, and without serious intervention, they could prove insurmountable. Read More
Some people (myself included) still prefer to pack a few printed books when traveling, even if it means sacrificing a layer or two. Printed books are facing challenges in today’s digital world, but they are proving remarkably resilient. As discussed in this article, modern readers are finding new and inventive ways to share their love of traditional books. Read More
Manroland Sheetfed Files, BP Print Group Acquires, and more … Read More
Revisiting a previous theme, Wayne Lynn adds new thinking and perspective to the challenge of getting the most out of our people. This article starts a short series on smart leadership focused on unlocking the discretionary energy employees could, if motivated to do so, invest in making your company better, more productive, and more profitable. Read More
How are printers handling “garbage” files, including the growing influx of files from Canva? Another “fly on the wall” peek into a subreddit discussion reveals an industry divided on what best practices should be. Read More
The most practical AI wins in print do not happen on the pressroom floor. They happen earlier, where sales, CSR, estimating, and admin teams translate customer intent into production reality. This article explores how generative AI reduces friction, rework, and risk before ink ever hits paper. Read More
The Comexi Offset CI Evolution is a solvent-free hybrid press using EB curing for sustainable packaging. It offers digital-like agility with industrial productivity, reducing costs via low-cost aluminum plates. This solution ensures food safety and compliance with PPWR while maximizing efficiency. Read More
In conjunction with Taktiful, we have launched a new feature called “Voice of the OEM,” in which representatives from industry vendors share their thoughts about leadership from the OEM perspective. In this installment, Sharp’s Dino Pagliarello talks about how to build trust. Read More
The Graphene Council, now renamed as The Advanced Carbons Council, has been a key source of information about graphene, often called a miracle material. As graphene, which was discovered in 2004, has matured and is less of a niche material, this expansion of the group’s focus signified by its renaming creates a unique entity, as explained by its Executive Director, Terrance Barkan, in this interview. Read More
March 10, 2026, was the 150th anniversary of the invention of the telephone. Using skull vibrations as passwords. When in Las Vegas, check out the Neon Museum. An office desk with built-in cat compartments. AI-integrated smart glasses for people with dementia that projects visual prompts onto the lenses. How did the elements get their names? Do sick addition with a high-end luxury calculator. Graphene-coated aluminum foil. An unlikely ally in the fight against climate change: beavers. Who knew that “ant trafficking” was a thing? When in China, take the world’s longest escalator—or, potentially, flight of stairs. The world’s largest Cadbury Mini Egg. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
December 2025 shipments came in at $7.21 billion, a slight rebound from November’s abysmal $7.11 billion. Read More
Last May, the PRINTING United Alliance hosted its first Legislative Fly-In, gathering about 45 print business owners and other industry representatives to meet their elected representatives in Congress and discuss pending or proposed legislation that affects the printing industry. Richard Romano attended as part of the Media Team. Read More
Two printing giants, one shifting landscape. Sean Smyth, consultant and analyst at Smithers, breaks down the technology trends, growth markets, and competitive pressures reshaping the industry to 2030. Read More
Digital marketers cite fragmented tech stacks as their top barrier to personalization, yet consumers say even “personalized” digital experiences still feel generic. For print, that's an opening. But technology alone won't close that gap. Read More
In part 1 of this two-part feature, Taktiful’s Kevin Abergel talks with Sean Roberts, National Director of Digital Embellishment at Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) about the latest trends driving this market, from the rise of embellished direct mail to innovations on the horizon. Read More
In partnership with the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF), each month we profile a promising student in a graphic communications or related program. The goal is to raise awareness of graphic communications programs, as well as help students get a “leg up” on entering the industry after graduation. This month, we profile Audrey Walch, a third-year student at CalPoly majoring in Graphic Communication and minoring in Packaging. Read More
Is your printing press a Millennial or even a Boomer? Is it older than the people running it? Is the cost of printing plates cutting into your bottom line every time you fire up the press? Let’s look at how you can get a little relief without ditching the technology you know and love. Read More
According to the latest, just-released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2023 there were 21,354 establishments in NAICS 32311 (Printing). This represents a decrease of 21% since 2010. In macro news, 2025 Q4 GDP growth revised down to 0.7%. Read More
A postmark no longer indicates the date a piece of mail was deposited with the USPS. What is “treasure binding? A publisher pulls a horror novel after it was found it was written with AI. The author of a book on grief, written after the death of her husband, turns out to have murdered him. A wall-mounted bookshelf with an integrated, adjustable bookend. Cryptic billboards are going up around the Bay Area. Aquarium staff name rescued sea turtles after fonts. A new spray-on powder that immediately seals wounds. The Wall-Lift allows a single person to raise a stud wall all by him- or herself. The plan to launch massive mirror satellites to reflect sunlight onto darkened portions of the Earth. An opera based on Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations.” Kraft’s PowerMac and cheese. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Marketers and printers haven’t run out of innovative ways to infuse print with digital content with the help of augmented reality, an if-you-can-dream-it, you-can-do-it technology if there ever was one. Read More
Since the beginning of our post-COVID world, the printing industry has been undergoing a structural shift. Office printing has declined, commercial printing has plateaued, and OEMs across the industry are searching for the next area of growth in response. For many, packaging has become that area. This article explores packaging’s appeal and discusses the complexities of the three OEM worlds that are simultaneously entering the packaging market. Read More
As industry consolidations continue, Wayne Lynn takes a look at the thought process that guides the dynamics of companies looking to acquire print businesses. Read More
Are you ready to learn from TikTok? Your buyers are on TikTok, and TikTok is shaping their expectations about how you communicate, what you communicate, and how you find them in the first place. TikTok is an important laboratory for teaching us all a lot about how reel those customers into the net. Read More
The print industry has continuously evolved through reinvention, but today’s next move requires more than a new press or clever idea. As margins tighten and customers demand new forms of value, many printers are eyeing fresh markets like packaging, labels, or décor, only to discover that crossing segments means rethinking everything from workflow to sales strategy. Here are the five strategic considerations that separate smart diversification from costly distraction, and guidance on how to expand your print footprint with purpose, confidence, and long-term success. Read More
The water footprint of a single pair of jeans is surprisingly high, primarily because of the "thirsty" nature of cotton and the intensive chemical washes required to get that classic denim look. Plus cotton growing requires a lot of pesticides and herbicides. Is hemp a possible cotton replacement? Fashion for Good believes so. Read More
