Sponsored by Veritiv, session discusses critical economic and industry trends and challenges

Lexington, Kentucky USA - WhatTheyThink announced today that it is continuing its 12-year tradition of hosting an educational breakfast meeting at Graph Expo 2014. The event features Dr. Joe Webb, Director of WhatTheyThink’s Economics and Research Center. The session is sponsored by Veritiv and will be held on Tuesday, September 30^th, from 8:30 to 10:00 AM in Room S104 A/B at McCormick Place.  Breakfast will be available beginning at 8:00 AM. There will be a brief break at 9:40 AM to allow show floor personnel to get to their booths for the show opening.

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“We are pleased that Veritiv is sponsoring this event,” said Dr. Webb. “The economy is transmitting conflicting signals, and the printing industry continues to experience pressures from technology and other forces. Yet, there are print businesses that are doing exceptionally well, distancing themselves from competitors.” Dr. Webb will discuss how broadband, mobile, social media, marketing automation, analytics, postal rates and many other factors are affecting how consumers and business people view and use print. ”We are excited about the opportunities these trends can offer printing businesses willing to innovate on behalf of their customers and in their own businesses,” Dr. Webb added.

During the session, Dr. Webb will cover the following topics:

• Economic conditions and forecasts
• Mid-term elections and the economic outlook
• The new challenge to print and printers: engaging the automated and analytic communications marketplace
• Print shipment forecasts and the unseen restructuring of the marketplace
• Hidden and emerging challenges to print business management
• This Point Forward: An executive overview of a new book by Dr. Joe Webb and Richard Romano 

“As always, we expect this session to be both informative and entertaining,” said Eric Vessels, President of WhatTheyThink. “It is a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. We appreciate Veritiv’s thought-leadership position and its generous sponsorship which makes this session available to Graph Expo attendees at no charge.”

About Dr. Joe Webb

Dr. Joe Webb is one of the graphic arts industry's best-known consultants, forecasters, and commentators. He is director of WhatTheyThink's Economics and Research Center and president of Strategies for Management, Inc. A 35+ year veteran of the graphic arts industries, his forecast webinars and industry presentations assist C-level executives, owners, and analysts understand how changes in the economy, technology, and the industry affect their strategic decisions. He is a Ph.D. graduate of the NYU Center for Graphic Communications Management and Technology (1987) and served on the Center's Board of Advisors.

He holds an MBA in Management Information Systems from Iona College (1981) and was a magna cum laude graduate in Managerial Sciences and Marketing from Manhattan College (1978). He started in the industry with Agfa's Graphic Systems Division, was a marketing executive with Chemco Photoproducts, and entered consulting full time in 1987. In 1994, he founded the influential TrendWatch information service, sold to multinational publisher Reed Elsevier in 2000. 

His book, Disrupting the Future: Uncommon Wisdom for Navigating Print's Challenging Marketplace, written with Richard Romano, has been described as “the manifesto for a new generation of printers” and has had more copies printed than any other printing industry specific book.

About WhatTheyThink

WhatTheyThink is the printing and publishing industry's leading media organization. We offer a wide range of publications that deliver unbiased, real-time market intelligence, industry news, economic and trend analysis, peer-to-peer communication, and special reports on emerging technology and critical events. Special interest sections include Economics, Wide Format, Print Software, Labels & Packaging, Production Inkjet and Mergers & Acquisitions.

WhatTheyThink hosts webinars and live events as well as providing content through a syndication program, delivering content directly to related websites. In addition, WhatTheyThink offers a wide range of lead generation and branding programs that help print- and publishing-related companies achieve business growth.

For more information about partnering with WhatTheyThink, contact [email protected].