Orlando Magic: ISA Sign Expo Comes to Town
Richard Romano reports on some new product launches/introductions at last week’s International Sign Association Sign Expo.
For Paragon Press, Variable Data Drives Digital Investment
In this video, sponsored by HP, Kevin Abergel speaks with Macy Flash, CEO of Paragon Press, a printing and direct mail company based in Louisiana. Once all-analog, the company’s variable-data needs impelled the company to go all-digital.
thINK Is Preparing for its 10th Anniversary!
Lori Messina, President of the thINK board, discusses thINK's preparation for its 10th anniversary and the support of its membership with an amazing annual event and a great web resource.
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Industry News
- Epson Introduces New 64-Inch Fine Art Printer Offering High-Quality, Wide Color Gamut and High-Productivity
- BPI Installs Landa S10 to Transform Plant Productivity and Maximize Global Sales of Aftermarket Automotive Parts
- WrapFest Returns to Silverstone Amid Vehicle Customization Boom
- Introducing Scodix AI: The First AI Solution to Automate Design Creativity for Print Embellishment
- First Timer Recognition Program Now Accepting Applications for 2024 Summit
- This Earth Day, AMERIPEN Advocates for Packaging Sustainability—Regardless of Material or Format
- Canon USA Announces Cooperation with Image Access
- BOBST and Huhtamaki: A Partnership of Pioneers That Has Fast-Tracked Progress in Sustainable Packaging
- Scodix Leads Embellishments into the Future with New Product Lineup at Drupa 2024
- OnPrintShop Announces New Upgrades for Diverse Print Segments at drupa 2024
- PHD Marketing Cements Position as Packaging Industry’s Go-To Marketing Partner with David Pittman Appointment
- Epson Launches New Color Management Tool for Achieving Accurate, Consistent Color
- ColorCloud: Simplified, Professional-Level Color Management Now Available
- INX Promotes Three to Vice President Positions
- Flint Group Leadership
- Siegwerk and Borouge Collaborate to Develop Fully Recyclable Mono-Material Solutions to Advance Circular Economy
- DREWSEN SPEZIALPAPIERE Invests €1.9 Million in Film Press for PM1
Marketing Content: When a Survey Isn’t Really a Survey
Want to draw people into a marketing pitch in a way that gets under the radar? Try the survey that’s not really a survey. Heidi Tolliver-Walker explains.
Highlights from FESPA 2024—Sign and Display Printers
European section editor Ralf Schlözer rounds up some wide-format product launches and announcements made at the FESPA Global Print Expo, held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, March 19–22.
You Should Join a Printing Industry Association
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. Print industry associations are like that. Once you become involved, you find a vast group of people to talk and trade ideas with. You enter a hive where you are not alone facing challenges. If you haven’t considered joining, or you looking for more groups for networking, this is the year to jump in!
Kevin Abergel of Taktiful Discusses the Release of Taktiful Software Solutions
WhatTheyThink's Eric Vessels spends some time with Kevin Abergel, Founder & CEO of Taktiful, about the company's recent launch of Taktiful Software Solutions. Hear more about the three major points in digital print embellishment and how this new company eliminates them for printers who have this technology.
Proposed Ban on Carbon Black Raises Red Flags for New York State Printers
Patrick Henry explains how a lack of understanding on the part of lawmakers could have a potentially devastating effect on printing and packaging companies in the Empire State.
Industry Data
Printing Outlook 2024 - The WhatTheyThink Overview of the Current State of the Printing Industry
The Printing Outlook 2024 report provides detailed analysis of the latest WhatTheyThink Printing Industry Survey, the latest industry economic data and macroeconomic trends, as well as industry and cultural technological trends to look out for in 2024 and beyond.
Assorted Publishing Establishments—2010–2021
According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 726 establishments in NAICS 511199 (All Other Publishing). This category saw a net decrease of 39% since 2010, although establishments spiked from 2020 to 2021. In macro news, estimates of Q1 GDP are running around +2%. Full Analysis
Tales from the Database: These Are Not the Applications You’re Looking For
Drawing on six years’ worth of Print Business Outlook surveys, our “Tales from the Database” series looks at historical data to see if we can spot any particular hardware, software, or business trends. This issue, we turn our attention to specialty printing—or any printing beyond traditional offset or digital commercial work. Full Analysis
February Graphic Arts Employment Remains Generally Flat
Overall printing employment in February 2024 was little changed from January, with production employment down -1.0%, while non-production employment was down -0.6%, with net employment down -0.1%. Full Analysis
WhatTheyThink Magazine
WhatTheyThink Magazine is the resource for the Commercial Printing, Visual and Graphic Arts Industries. Industry experts share their ideas and technical knowledge on ways to improve operations.
Subscription are free to qualified industry professionals or via paid subscription.
Around the Web
WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany
Around the Web: Publishing Posters. Pyrotechnic Packaging. Mock Media. AI Aide. Agile ANYmal. Tail Tech. New Nova. Silent Solo. Dairy-esque Dye.
A new book celebrates the short-lived “literary poster” craze. A new zine looks at the art of fireworks packaging design. One of the most game-changing technologies in the history of civilization was affordable artificial light. A social media platform that doesn’t actually exist. A new wearable AI device. A four-legged dog-like robot can do parkour moves, freakishly enough. Jet suit racing is now a thing. A prehensile stabilizing tail for floating astronauts. Another upcoming celestial event. The decline of the guitar solo. Apparently it’s a real thing: Velveeta Hair Dye. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Around the Web: Eclipse Eats. Wood Work. Modifier Methodology. Checkout Change. Wi-Fi Weirdness. Electronic Eyewear. Kangaroo Collisions. Bus Battle. Stick Status.
Eclipse-themed food and beverage items for Monday’s event. Cardiff, Wales’, Printed Festival 2024, this June. A new 3D printing ink based on wood waste. Did you know that there is a “royal order of adjectives”? Amazon is ending its “Just Walk Out” checkout—which wasn’t actually an automated system. What does the term “Wi-Fi” stand for? LCD lenses that can turn sunglasses into reading glasses. Volkswagen is working on an electronic device to avoid car-kangaroo collisions. New York City’s acrimonious “tour bus battle.” The James Webb Space Telescope takes a close look at galaxy I Zwicky 18. Instagram’s “Official Stick Reviews” rates actual sticks—and is more popular than you would think. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Around the Web: Packaging Preferences. Cover Conundrum. Impressive Impressionists. Dial Dilemma. Timepiece Trouble. Rockin’ Roads. Drone Danger. Tarantula Tempura. Sun Snacks.
Pentawards’ annual packaging Trends Report is out. When a company appears on the cover of a popular magazine, what signals does it give the market? More than two dozen new works have been added to the OED, 23 of them from Japanese cooking and art. Really? If you’re in France this summer, celebrate the 150th anniversary of Impressionism. Bad UI design on an ice cream thermostat. New options for non-wrist-based watches. Time Out lists the “30 Coolest Streets in the World.” “AI drone that could hunt and kill people built in just hours by scientist ‘for a game.’” Different ants have different flavor profiles, we are horrified to tell you. Appropriately, SunChips has an eclipse tie-in product. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Recent Discussion
"Two leading companies" my eye! Konica Minolta's financial position is precarious at best, and has been so for some time. I am glad to see that they are taking a step to shore up their vulnerable supply chain. Reply
Pat McGrew on You Should Join a Printing Industry Association
Thank Patrick! Great advice for every printer! Find your tribe! Reply
Patrick Henry on You Should Join a Printing Industry Association
Pat, thanks for this inspiring endorsement of trade associations. I've worked with and for trade associations throughout most of my career, and I can attest that the services they provide are highly valuable. They also serve as a voice and an advocat… Full comment Reply
Robert Godwin on International Paper Announces Agreement to Acquire DS Smith
Let the M&A activty continue. The size of this acquisition (Combination!) is impressive. The next year will test the managment's ability to digest the operations and spit out the redundancies. The numbers look good, but 12 months from now is when we … Full comment Reply
Special Report
drupa 2024 Coverage
WhatTheyThink is the official show daily media partner of drupa 2024. More info about drupa daily programs
WhatTheyThink is the official show daily media partner of drupa 2024. More info about drupa programs
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Patrick Whelan on Marketing Content: When a Survey Isn’t Really a Survey
My opinion only...I'm tired of being surveyed. Reply