Sponsored by EFI, webinar featured industry leaders discussing how innovative digital technologies can generate new revenue streams

Lexington, Kentucky USA -- WhatTheyThink today reported that hundreds of industry professionals attend a free printing industry educational webinar, as many of them were preparing to head to Print 09. Business as unUsual: New Revenue Streams from Innovative Digital Technologies, was led by WhatTheyThink Senior Editor Cary Sherburne.  Sponsored by EFI, the event was held September 9^th.

Access to the webinar archive is available at the webinar archive.

“Our two speakers agreed that we are in unusual times that require unusual strategies,” said Sherburne. “Both speakers have taken an aggressive and innovative approach to their businesses to ensure continued growth, and we were pleased with the level of detail they were willing to share with our audience.”

Sherburne was joined by:

• Elizabeth (Libby) Dahlin, Vice Presidient of Communicorp, a subsidiary of Aflac, Inc.  Communicorp is located in Columbus GA and prints for Aflac as well as for other companies (about 50% of the company’s business is external to Aflac), and uses EFI PACE as its MIS.  The ability to easily integrate with other systems was a key driver in Communicorp’s buying decision.  Dahlin says, “We already have existing variable data web sites as well as digital asset management and print fulfillment e-commerce sites and recently installed a new Heidelberg press, so it is helpful to have all of that feeding into one system.  Print customers today want low cost, high quality products delivered faster than ever before, and this enables us to be very well positioned to meet those demands.”
• Wes Shinn, Co-Owner, PVS In-Store Graphics, Portland, Oregon. PVS In-Store Graphics is a retail graphics manufacturer. The company recently purchased a second EFI VUTEk UV printer superwide format printer and is using it to aide in growing and expanding its business to a broader client base, focusing on projects that other print companies would not want to even touch.

“If you missed this session, it is well worth reviewing,” said Randy Davidson, President, WhatTheyThink. “These companies display an entrepreneurial spirit backed by innovative investments that position them well for business as unUsual and success in the face of new market realities.  We appreciate the fact that EFI is sponsoring this important session, allowing us to make it available at no charge.”

About EFI

EFI (www.efi.com) is the world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation. EFI's award-winning solutions, integrated from creation to print, deliver increased performance, cost savings and productivity. The company's robust product portfolio includes Fiery® digital color print servers; VUTEk® superwide digital inkjet printers, UV and solvent inks; Rastek UV wide-format inkjet printers; Jetrion® industrial inkjet printing systems; print production workflow and management information software; and corporate printing solutions. EFI maintains 28 offices worldwide.

About WhatTheyThink.com

WhatTheyThink is the printing and publishing industry's leading media organization; offering a wide range of publications delivering unbiased, real-time market intelligence, industry news, economic and trend analysis, peer-to-peer communication, and special reports on emerging technology and critical events. WhatTheyThink also hosts webinars and live events that are timely and relevant o today's busy industry executives along with consulting and speaker services that leverage a talented pool of writers and industry analysts.

WhatTheyThink consists of flagship site WhatTheyThink.com, discussion forum site PrintPlanet.com, and industry blog PrintCEO.com.

About Cary Sherburne

Cary Sherburne has been a Senior Editor at WhatTheyThink.com and a marketing communications consultant since 2002.  She is a well-known journalist, author and strategic marketing consultant working primarily with the printing and publishing industry. Prior to launching her consulting practice, Sherburne was the Vice President of Marketing Communications and Outsourcing Solutions at IKON Office Solutions. She also served as a Director at CAP Ventures (now InfoTrends), an internationally known firm specializing in market research and strategic consulting for the digital document and print on demand industry, where she launched and managed the company’s Document Outsourcing Consulting Service. Sherburne has written six books, the last of which, No-Nonsense Innovation: Practical Strategies for Success, co-authored with Bill Lowe, the Father of the IBM PC, can be ordered on Amazon.com. Sherburne was honored as a Woman of Distinction in 2009 by Output Links.

Sherburne can be reached at [email protected].