As printers are still seeking to take advantage of the opportunities available thanks to digital label production, new direct-to-object (DTO) systems are potentially muscling in on the label printing market. Or are they? Is DTO merely “labelless label printing” or does it represent an entirely new opportunity?
Join us on Tuesday, June 2 at 1 pm EDT when David Zwang will take a close look at the current state of direct-to-object printing. DTO is not new; it has been used for years to decorate all kinds of objects from dining ware, to golf balls, pins, industrial parts, bottles, cellphone cases, and many more items we often classify as specialty or promotional items. But new printing systems—especially UV printers—have boosted interest in DTO, as well as the range of items that can be printed.
At the same time, while most of product and packaging decoration (i.e., labels and tags) is handled by a label converter, it can—and is—being challenged by inline DTO printing solutions, offering even more new opportunities. Will DTO eliminate the need for printed labels and tags? Of course not, but it will undoubtedly challenge the existing models and offer new possibilities. Join this Webinar to learn what is possible and how it’s being done. Zwang will focus on DTO systems from Norwalt, but the principles he discusses apply to DTO systems across the board.
What you’ll learn:
Printing industry research has consistently found that shops are looking to diversify their product and service offerings—DTO could represent an excellent way of achieving a greater printed product mix and a new class of print customers. Join us and learn how.
Can’t make it live? No problem. The session will be recorded and a full archive—slides and audio—will be available.
Recorded June 2, 2026
Whether we like it or not, so-called artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay, with AI-generated content appearing in more and more places—press releases, marketing materials, webinar registration page copy (but not this one), news stories, blog posts, editorial features, even entire books. While few deny that it is useful for certain of these applications, even fewer disagree that it requires a great degree of oversight. What does that oversight comprise? And how can we detect “bad AI”?
Join Joanne Gore of Joanne Gore Communications and Richard Romano of WhatTheyThink on Wednesday, April 1 at 1pm ET, for an AI tutorial session. This enlightening—and entertaining—session will look at some of the top AI platforms (ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gamma), including presenter-generated examples of good and bad AI. The session will also identify some of the common “tells” that something is unvetted AI. The presenters will also explain how to use AI platforms responsibly to generate high-quality content.
In this session, you’ll learn:
Who should attend this session?
There’s no escape from AI—but we can all learn how to live with it.
Can’t make it live? No problem. Registrants will be notified when a complete downloadable archive—slides and audio—is available.
Recorded April 1, 2026
The worst mistake a printing company can make is assuming “if you buy it, customers will come.” Our annual Taktiful/WhatTheyThink Embellishment Survey is now in the field, and what we have found in the previous two studies is that few print businesses that added embellishment production capabilities had a strategic business plan for adding those abilities—while those that did have a business plan reported greater satisfaction with embellishment sales and profits. But what does such a sales plan look like?
Join us on Tuesday, March 31, at 1:30pm ET when Taktiful Chief Experience Officer Eric Vessels will lead an interactive workshop on creating a business plan for adding print embellishment capabilities, joined by Taktiful President Kevin Abergel. The session will identify the fundamental pillars of business plan—market analysis, unique value proposition, sales and marketing strategy, operations/training, and financial projections—and what each pillar should include, as well as other essential components of an embellishment business plan.
The session, sponsored by swissQprint, will also give attendees access to the Miro interactive workspace to actively participate by answering questions, making suggestions, and essentially helping draft an actual, workable business plan. Attendees will then be sent a copy of the final business plan which they are welcome to use for their own purposes.
What you’ll learn?
Whether you are considering adding embellishment capabilities or already have the equipment and want to get the most out of it, you’ll want to attend this session.
Please note that due to the nature of this session, it will run longer than the usual Lunch’N’Learn webinar, so be prepared to allot 60–90 minutes for the full session. But it will be worth it!
Can’t make it live? No problem. Registrants will be notified when a complete downloadable archive—slides and audio—is available. However, only actual attendees will receive the final business plan.
Recorded March 31, 2026
We often read about how, as an industry, we need to transform our businesses to keep up with an evolving market. An MIS system is crucial to not only automating business and production processes, but also as a way to identify and reduce costs and cycle time. But as print and packaging service providers evolve and expand their offerings, are print MIS solutions ready to handle the challenge?
One certainly is. Join us on Wednesday, February 4 at 1pm ET when WhatTheyThink contributor David Zwang and Kit Tomshøj, Senior Consultant for PrintVis Europe, take a deep dive into PrintVis, an MIS/ERP solution developed on MS Dynamics 365 Business Central, the cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution for small to midsize businesses. It integrates financial management, sales, service, operations, supply chain, project management, and more into one system. The MS Copilot AI agent and assistant also brings new enhancements to PrintVis as well as many benefits to the overall platform.
What you’ll learn:
Can’t make it live? No problem; a full recording—slides and audio—will be available after the session.
Join this Webinar to learn about how PrintVis is designed for the print, label, and packaging service providers of today and tomorrow.
Recorded February 4, 2026
Production inkjet printing is not a new technology, but it has been continually evolving for what is almost 20 years—and yet it still represents a small percentage of overall print volumes. Conversations still revolve around what inkjet can’t do. But that’s old thinking. Better substrates, ink chemistries, and workflow automation have made production inkjet competitive with offset and other technologies for both short- and longer-run jobs in a wide variety of print segments. Join us on January 28 at 1 pm ET when David Zwang takes a deep dive into the latest trends and product releases in the production inkjet market.
Join us for a technical exploration of the trends and advances shaping 2026:
What is the present—and future—of production inkjet? Expect bold insights and actionable frameworks which make you reconsider your current print production. This session is sponsored by the Graphic Arts Alliance, Canon USA, and Xerox.
Can’t make it live? No problem; a full recording—slides and audio—will be available after the session.
And don’t forget to register for the complementary Inkjet Insight webinar, Inkjet Labels & Packaging 2026: The Future is Sexy, Smart, and Intimidating.
Recorded January 28, 2026
The label and packaging market isn’t just evolving; it’s moving production with smarter substrates, ink chemistries, and workflow automation. Join us on January 27 at 1 pm ET when Mary Schilling takes a deep dive into the latest trends and product releases in inkjet labels and packaging.
Join us for a provocative, technical deep-dive into the trends and advances shaping 2026:
This isn’t your average webinar. Rather, it’s a technical rendezvous with the future of packaging. Expect bold insights and actionable frameworks which make you reconsider your current packaging production. This session is sponsored by the Graphic Arts Alliance and DynamicsPrint.
Can’t make it live? No problem; a full recording—slides and audio—will be available after the session.
And don’t forget to register for the complementary Inkjet Insight webinar, Production Inkjet: Commercial Production Inkjet in 2026: So Many Opportunities.
Recorded January 27, 2026
GelatoConnect has just released its “Peak Season Playbook,” an essential strategic guide for Print Service Providers (PSPs) and e-commerce Creators preparing for Q4 2025—the peak season for the industry. The detailed analysis examines the complex global landscape—dominated by the dual pressures of economic uncertainty and caution as well as heightened consumer expectations—and identifies actionable “plays.” The objective is to equip businesses not merely to survive the annual Q4 rush, but to master it, turning unprecedented challenges into unparalleled opportunities for profitability and market leadership.
Join us on Wednesday, October 8 at 1 p.m. ET, as industry analyst Richard Bellamy presents the highlights of the Playbook, including:
The session will also spotlight GelatoConnect’s additional content resources: the software series for printers and “The $100B print boom: How PSPs can win the on-demand race.” Representatives from GelatoConnect will also give attendees a look at GelatoConnect’s new AI Estimator, an online tool that allows users to get precise job estimates in 15 seconds and deliver customer-ready quotes in under 5 minutes. Learn how you can cut quoting costs by up to 50% while protecting your margins with consistent pricing across your team.
Who should attend?
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available following the session.
Recorded October 15, 2025
On Friday, September 12 at 1 pm ET, our sixth annual Technology Outlook series of Webinars finishes up with binding and finishing. Join Patrick Henry as he highlights the latest trends and technology and product announcements from manufacturers of binding, finishing, and embellishment equipment. This session, sponsored by Tecnau, will give you the lowdown on new features, capabilities, and applications that can give your business a competitive edge.
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Other Technology Outlook webinars include:
The Technology Outlook Week webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up to date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded September 12, 2025
On Thursday, September 11 at 1 pm ET, Richard Romano and Cary Sherburne will highlight the latest trends and technologies in display graphics, signage, and textiles and apparel. Display graphics (aka “wide-format printing”) is a maturing market, but new application areas are gaining traction and seeing tremendous growth. Meanwhile, digital textile printing is a hot new area—and in fact display graphics printers are starting to add textile printing. This session, sponsored by EFI, will identify the top trends in both these areas, and how they complement each other.
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Other Technology Outlook webinars include:
The Technology Outlook Week webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up to date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded September 11, 2025
On Wednesday, September 10 at 1 pm ET, our sixth annual Technology Outlook series of Webinars continues with software and workflow, sponsored by Fiery and Infigo. Join WhatTheyThink contributor Pat McGrew and Pixel Dot Consulting’s Ryan McAbee as they look at the latest trends in software and workflow—which are not the same things. Software is the collection of tools to support your workflow processes. Software, when used well, allows the business to succeed by improving efficiency, exceeding key performance metrics, and enhancing the customer experience. The path is to disrupt the flow of endless phone calls, emails and texts asking questions, chasing information, and looking for approval by creating solutions where customers can self-serve for most of their needs.
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive of—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Other Technology Outlook webinars include:
The Technology Outlook Week webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up to date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded September 10, 2025
On Tuesday, September 9 at 1 pm ET, our sixth annual Technology Outlook series of Webinars continues with labels and packaging. Join WhatTheyThink contributor David Zwang as he highlights the latest technology and product announcements from manufacturers of label and packaging solutions. This session, sponsored by Canon, EFI, and Michelman, will detail new product announcements, new features, capabilities, and applications in the label and packaging market, as well as prevailing and emerging trends.
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Other Technology Outlook webinars include:
The Technology Outlook Week webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up to date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded September 9, 2025
On Monday, September 8 at 1 pm ET, WhatTheyThink’s sixth annual Technology Outlook series of webinars kicks off with Production Print Outlook, sponsored by Canon, eProductivity Software, and Ricoh. Join WhatTheyThink contributor Kelly Lawrence as she highlights the latest technology and product announcements from manufacturers of production inkjet digital printing equipment.
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Other Technology Outlook webinars include:
The Technology Outlook Week webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up to date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded September 8, 2025
Hot on the heels of artificial intelligence (AI) comes intelligent automation (IA), which can be roughly defined as the intersection of AI and machine learning (ML) and robotic process automation (RPA). The alphabet soup of AI, IA, ML, and RPA has the potential to automate complex workflows—automate repetitive tasks, glean data about the workflow and the business, and support better decision-making. And, of course, automation—both hardware and software—can help alleviate the employee shortage that many industries are facing, printing in particular.
That’s the promise of IA; but what’s the reality? Where does it stand today, what relevance does it have for the printing industry, what are the components of IA, and who is currently implementing it and how?
In this session, WhatTheyThink contributor David Zwang will offer a primer on intelligent automation as it applies to print production workflows, identifying the components of print-specific IA, routes to implementation, questions to ask vendors, and other aspects of IA that printers need to know to effectively utilize IA to improve and streamline their businesses.
What you’ll learn:
Can’t make it live? No problem; a full recording—slides and audio—will be available after the session.
If you want (or need) to transform your business, you won’t want to miss this session.
Recorded August 13, 2025
Digital embellishment isn’t just a passing trend, it’s a creative shift reshaping the future of print. It’s a wake-up call for printers, designers, and brands to move beyond ordinary, low-margin work and lean into something bold, beautiful, and profitable.
So where are things now? How are embellishments being used across the industry - and what’s changing? More importantly, where are the opportunities hiding, and what’s standing in the way?
Join Kevin Abergel of Taktiful and Richard Romano of WhatTheyThink on June 24 at 1pm ET for a fast-paced conversation on the current state of digital embellishments. They’ll also offer a sneak peek at the 2025 Taktiful/WhatTheyThink Digital Embellishment Study, officially launching this June at Amplify Print.
Here’s what you’ll take away:
Whether you’re already experimenting with embellishments or just curious how to build a new profit center into your business, this session is built for you.
Can’t make it live? No problem. A full recording (slides + audio) will be available after the session.
Recorded June 24, 2025
One segment of the printing industry continues to see strong growth is packaging. Research from Smithers had identified a $231.7 billion world corrugated packaging market as of 2024, and expected it to continue to grow at an average annual growth rate (AGR) of 2.5% (by volume), with world corrugated volumes reaching 190 million tons in 2029. They forecast that corrugated’s value in the market will increase at a +3.7% AGR to $277.6 billion. Meanwhile, Keypoint Intelligence found that, at the end of 2022, digital printing accounted for a mere 2.9% of corrugated production. But, they say, “Even if nothing were to change, digital’s share is projected to reach 7.3% by 2027. With change, however, the future potential is truly staggering. A 26% share of the global high graphics market opens up a world of opportunities, with equipment revenues projected to reach $6.2 billion.”
And that’s just corrugated. There are also folding cartons, flexible packaging, even labels, all of which are the subject of very bullish forecasts, and industry analysts and consultants have pointed to untapped potential for commercial print businesses in the packaging markets, and while some have taken advantage of these opportunities, most have not. Yet?
But are there opportunities for print service providers in packaging? If so, what and where are they? Join us on April 29 for the upcoming WhatTheyThink webinar “Opportunities for Commercial Printers in Packaging—Reality Check.” Analyst Kevin Karstedt of Karstedt Partners and former Vice President of Packaging for Keypoint Intelligence will identify where and how the real opportunities can be found. What strategies can printers take to move into these new areas? What markets and verticals should they pursue? Does it require a massive capital investment?
What you’ll learn:
If you’re a print business owner looking for product diversification opportunities, you won’t want to miss this presentation.
A complete recording of this session will be available.
Recorded April 29, 2025
GelatoConnect has just released its “2025 State of Print Production” report, exploring the key trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping today’s print industry. Based on insights from industry leaders, the report details how AI, digital work, automation, and sustainability are redefining the print industry.
Join us on Tuesday, March 18 at 1 p.m. ET, as industry analysts Bruce Watermann and Richard Bellamy present the highlights of the report, including:
Who should attend?
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available following the session.
Recorded March 18, 2025
Join Kelly Lawrence and Tom Zoes as they introduce practical use cases for AI in the print industry. This webinar will focus on AI tools and prompts that every person interacting with customers needs to know. A must for sales and marketing, we’ll dig into “should-cost” models and how they are changing the game from a sales perspective and what sales and marketing teams can do to capture value in spite of them. We’ll also introduce a new AI tool called SalesPrep, used by sales, marketing, and technical staff to prepare pre-visit customer reports in 60 seconds—with company overviews and news, market trends, common problems, and process steps—plus 2-Page Problem Briefs on any customer problem. We’ll also show how AI takes the awkwardness out of traditional role-playing exercises to help teams with skill uptake. Finally, we’ll talk about how AI can help ease the pain of writing quality call reports to maximize ROI on CRM systems.
Who should attend:
Key takeaways:
Participants Receive Complimentary:
Recorded March 12, 2025
Today’s production print environment has seen a kind of war between production inkjet and offset, as users of the latter have long been encouraged to switch to the former. But is offset and inkjet an either/or proposition? Can the two processes work together?
Installing inkjet systems inline on offset press equipment is not a new technique, but it still stands out as the opportunity to meld digital non-impact printing with analog impact printing in a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Offset shops looking for opportunities in inkjet can get a good look at the promise it holds by hybridizing their existing presses with the digital process. It’s a step up in function that demonstrates how inkjet can add value in offset shops that have not yet committed to investing in full-scale production inkjet equipment.
Join us for WhatTheyThink’s LunchNLearn webinar “Offset and Inkjet: A Marriage Made in Heaven or Strange Bedfellows?,” to be held Wednesday, February 12, at 1 pm ET, when we will look at these options. This discussion, moderated by WhatTheyThink’s Offset section editor Patrick Henry, will take a look at the options available to offset shops. Panelists will include Rick Mazur, Worldwide Director of Market Development, Packaging, Eastman Kodak Company; Kevin Loos, Senor Client Executive, MCS; Steve Atherton, Director of Marketing & Commercial Operations, FUJIFILM, and Arwin van Oostveen, International Sales Director, DJM.
In this session, sponsored by Canon and Kodak, you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
If you are looking for a “best of both worlds” solution to offset and inkjet, you won’t want to miss this session.
Recorded February 12, 2025
Over the past decade, the average print run has dropped dramatically, from over 3,000 units to less than 30. How can print producers thrive in this rapidly evolving landscape?
Join us on December 11 at 11:30 am ET when WhatTheyThink’s Richard Romano will be joined by Gelato founder and CEO Henrik Müller-Hansen to take a detailed look at GelatoConnect, an enterprise software solution that optimizes every stage of print production, from procurement and workflow to logistics, helping companies accelerate efficiency and capture new ecommerce momentum. Sponsored by Gelato, this session will include a live demo as well as tangible success stories from such early adopters as Bennett Graphics, ESP Colour, and TidyMerch.
In this session, you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Recorded December 11, 2024
Packaging printing is one of the top growth areas in today’s printing industry. A combination of technological and consumer trends are also driving growth in digital packaging production, and the barriers to entry have never been lower. At the same time, sustainability is a major factor that can impact packaging producers. Consumer expectations and demands as well as increasing government regulations—in the U.S. and Europe—are impacting the materials used in packaging production and how packaging is produced. What do printers need to know to navigate this new environment? What are some best practices?
Join us for WhatTheyThink’s LunchNLearn webinar “A New Environment for Packaging: Today’s and Tomorrow’s Sustainability Demands,” to be held Wednesday, November 13, at 1 pm ET. This panel discussion, featuring FSEA’s Jeff Peterson, Case Paper’s Karen Kromat, and Oliver Inc.’s Katrina Edwards, will take a look at the current lay of the land.
In this session, sponsored by Michelman, Ultimate Tech, and Miracle, you’ll learn:
If you are looking to move into packaging production, you won’t want to miss this session. Register now!
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Recorded November 13, 2024
Attendees at drupa 24 saw that the biggest trend in print production today is increased migration of software and workflow to the cloud. Having an online workflow production system has numerous benefits for print organizations, including easy, cloud-based online access to virtually all customer and job information and management tools from anywhere in the world.
Kodak’s PRINERGY has long been one of the most popular print production workflow systems, offering flexibility in cloud-based options to suit any unique requirement. Kodak is now introducing PRINERGY Access version 2.0, an innovative digital workflow solution that enables printers to streamline the file upload, approval and routing process, putting their customers in control of file preparation from anywhere in the world. PRINERGY Access version 2.0 features new Intelligent Layout, which dynamically imposes files accurately and efficiently for any production line with full connectivity to any digital press or on-premises third-party workflow.
On August 21 at 1 pm ET, get an overview of what PRINERGY Access featuring new Intelligent Layout, can do for your business, with a free webinar hosted by WhatTheyThink and sponsored by Kodak. Kodak’s Patrick Kerr will highlight the top features and advantages of PRINERGY Access, and give a demonstration of new capabilities.
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Recorded August 21, 2024
On Friday, August 16 at 1 pm ET, our fifth annual Technology Outlook series of Webinars finishes up with binding and finishing. Join Kevin Abergel and Trish Witkowski as they highlight the latest trends and technology and product announcements from manufacturers of binding, finishing, and embellishment equipment. This session will give you the lowdown on new features, capabilities, and applications that can give your business a competitive edge. Also get the lowdown on what was announced and shown at drupa 2024 and what to expect at PRINTING United.
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Other Technology Outlook webinars include:
The Technology Outlook Week webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up to date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded August 16, 2024
On Thursday, August 15 at 1 pm ET, Richard Romano and Cary Sherburne will highlight the latest trends and technologies in display graphics, signage, and textiles and apparel. Display graphics (aka “wide-format printing”) is a maturing market, but new application areas are gaining traction and seeing tremendous growth. Meanwhile, digital textile printing is a hot new area—and in fact display graphics printers are starting to add textile printing. What are the top trends in both these areas, and how do they complement each other?
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Other Technology Outlook webinars include:
The Technology Outlook Week webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up to date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded August 15, 2024
On Wednesday, August 14 at 1 pm ET, our fifth annual Technology Outlook series of Webinars continues with software and workflow. Join WhatTheyThink contributor Pat McGrew and Pixel Dot Consulting’s Ryan McAbee as they look at the latest trends in software and workflow—which are not the same things. Software is the collection of tools to support your workflow processes. Software, when used well, allows the business to succeed by improving efficiency, exceeding key performance metrics, and enhancing the customer experience. The path is to disrupt the flow of endless phone calls, emails and texts asking questions, chasing information, and looking for approval by creating solutions where customers can self-serve for most of their needs. The session, sponsored by Kodak and PrintFactory, will also offer some software-related highlights from drupa 2024 and what to look for at PRINTING United.
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive of—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Other Technology Outlook webinars include:
The Technology Outlook Week webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up to date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded August 14, 2024
On Tuesday, August 13 at 1 pm ET, our fifth annual Technology Outlook series of Webinars continues with labels and packaging. Join WhatTheyThink contributor David Zwang as he highlights the latest technology and product announcements from manufacturers of label and packaging solutions. This session will detail new product announcements, new features, capabilities, and applications in the label and packaging market, as well as prevailing and emerging trends, some of what was announced at drupa and to expect at PRINTING United.
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Other Technology Outlook webinars include:
The Technology Outlook Week webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up to date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded August 13, 2024
On Monday, August 12, at 1 pm ET, WhatTheyThink’s fifth annual Technology Outlook series of Webinars kicks off with Production Print Outlook, sponsored by Canon. Join WhatTheyThink contributor Patrick Henry and Inkjet Insight’s Elizabeth Gooding as they assess the current state of offset and digital printing technology and look to the future. Although many have written offset off, it remains a viable and practical production process for shops of all sizes. And the capabilities of today’s presses make the offset process even more economically competitive with digital, be it toner-based or inkjet. At the same time, digital presses have been evolving, and are more competitive than ever with offset in terms of quality and economy. The old question about what process is best for certain run-lengths is becoming more complex.
So, what is the best option for your print business?
In this webinar, Patrick and Elizabeth will discuss the latest trends in today’s print environment, and where offset and digital fit. What are the capabilities of new equipment, and how do they make print businesses more efficient? How is automation changing the face of each print technology? What were some of the major announcements at drupa and what can we look forward to at PRINTING United?
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Other Technology Outlook webinars include:
The Technology Outlook Week webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up to date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded August 12, 2024
For sign businesses, there are many benefits to being part of a franchise like FASTSIGNS, such as receiving technical, sales, and marketing help from the franchise, as well as specific initiatives and programs. In particular, the FASTSIGNS Co-Brand program is designed to help not just sign businesses, but print-oriented businesses of all kinds to expand into new product areas. As a part of the Co-Brand Program, businesses are able to retain their original identities while expanding their product lines and services. The program allows companies to add a FASTSIGNS center to their existing business and receive ongoing training and support from the FASTSIGNS franchise system.
Some common businesses that have participated in the FASTSIGNS Co-Brand Program are:
On Wednesday, August 7, join us for a special LunchNLearn Webinar, “Beyond Signage: How the FASTSIGNS Co-Brand Program Helps Print Businesses of All Kinds Succeed.” WhatTheyThink Managing Editor Richard Romano and Gabrielle Mullinax, owner of FASTSIGNS Brea and Fullerton (Calif.) and beneficiary of the Co-Brand Program, will talk about the program, how it has helped her grow her business in a challenging print environment, and how it can help print businesses of all kinds. In this webinar, you’ll learn about:
Other participants to be determined.
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Recorded August 7, 2024
According to Texintel, cultural trends are driving a change in the way consumers decorate their living and working spaces:
[P]eople prefer fast fashion and exclusive products that can be customized and personalized according to their specific demands. Customers are willing to pay premium prices and actively seek out platforms and brands that cater to their custom home décor needs. This trend is particularly evident due to the increasing purchasing power of Gen Z, who are more inclined towards online shopping. There is a strong demand for printed materials used in furniture. Consumers are increasingly looking for personalized and one-of-a-kind home furnishings, including curtains, upholstery fabrics, bedding, and cushions.
As a result, the market for digital décor has been forecast to grow strongly in the coming years. According to Allied Market Research, the home décor market in general is expected to reach $1.1 billion by 2032 at 4.9% CAGR. Polaris Market Research adds that digitally printed wallpaper alone is expected to reach $21.33 billion by 2032, with 19.4% CAGR. Display graphics equipment manufacturers across the board see growth in these markets, and many have been launching digitally printed wallcovering solutions. And many elements of décor can be produced on equipment you may already have. But how do you break into décor printing?
Join us on Wednesday, April 17 at 1 pm EDT, when wide-format printing consultant, columnist, keynote speaker, and masterclass educator Debbie Nicholson will offer helpful tips at how PSPs, display graphics producers, and others can take advantage of this high-growth market. Other participants have yet to be determined.
In this session, you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
You have the potential to open the curtain for the exciting possibilities of décor printing. If you are looking to expand into new markets and applications, you won’t want to miss this session, sponsored by EFI and swissQprint.
Debbie Nicholson is the owner of Think-to-Ink! She is a wide-format printing consultant, columnist, keynote speaker, and masterclass educator. She has been in the print industry for 28+ years. Debbie is passionate and committed to helping printing companies elevate their untapped potential. As the previous owner of a printing company, she understands what it takes to continually navigate change and the strength it takes to endure challenges.
Recorded April 17, 2024
Join WhatTheyThink contributor Pat McGrew and Pixel Dot Consulting’s Ryan McAbee as they look at the latest trends in software and workflow—which are not the same things! In particular, they will look at how the cloud—“that big, fluffy ghost that lives in our networks”—is transforming virtually every aspect of the print business in shops of all sizes.
The opportunities of cloud computing, cloud services, and cloud-enabled training bring more power to print manufacturing than we could have imagined a decade ago. The cloud offers seemingly endless storage and computing to power solutions that are changing how and where we work. Join us as we explore the current state of the cloud, how it applies to print businesses, and how to take full advantage of its opportunities.
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Recorded February 14, 2024
Job onboarding is a common challenge for small and medium sized in-plant and commercial printers. In fact, roughly 40% of all print jobs, regardless of submission method, require time-consuming follow-up activities before the job can even move into production.
Join us on November 8th to learn how to easily jumpstart your job onboarding with confidence while avoiding the common pitfalls in this critical production area. Automate with efficiency when running a high number of small jobs with this intuitive, vendor-agnostic print-on-demand SaaS workflow technology.
Let our panel of experts guide you with examples, so you get this right the first time. Our panelists include:
In this webinar you will learn:
Attend this interactive webinar to learn how easily many onboarding challenges can be quickly resolved with a SaaS-based, vendor agnostic workflow solution.
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Recorded November 8, 2023
Digital label and packaging production still remains a small part of the packaging market, but represents strong growth opportunities. At the same time, brand and customer demand—and often governmental legislation—for more sustainable packaging is driving the development of more environmentally friendly options, as well as placing increased emphasis on packaging lifecycle analysis and what to do with packaging materials at end of life.
On Tuesday, October 31 at 1 pm ET, join WhatTheyThink’s David Zwang as he highlights the latest technology trends in label and packaging solutions. This session will detail how shifting market requirements are driving new innovations from label and packaging printing and converting equipment manufacturers.
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
This session is sponsored by Michelman.
Recorded October 31, 2023
A look at the challenges and opportunities of this exploding growth opportunity.
Taktiful, the Digital Embellishment Experts, teamed with WhatTheyThink to conduct a first-of-its-kind study of digital ink and toner embellishment use. The goal of this study was to find out more about how print service providers are using the specialty inks and toners that are available as options for their digital presses. The resulting “Taktiful/WhatTheyThink 2023 Specialty Digital Ink and Toner Embellishment Study” provides insights into the size of the embellishment market and identifies areas for improvement as well as further market opportunities for vendors and print providers alike.
On Wednesday, September 27, at 1 pm ET, join the study’s principal investigators, Taktiful’s Kevin Abergel and WhatTheyThink’s Richard Romano, as they take a deep dive into how current users of digital ink and toner embellishment technologies are utilizing them, what the response from customers has been, how satisfied print providers have been with the sales and profitability of these jobs, where the challenges lie, and their general feelings about the future of these technologies. The report is based on survey responses from owners of specialty ink and toner technologies using them in conjunction with digital printing equipment from Ricoh, HP Indigo, Xerox, Kodak, Oki, Heidelberg, Fujifilm, and Xeikon.
What you’ll learn:
If you’re a digital press owner—or planning to become one—find out how you can take advantage of this potential profit center. This webinar is sponsored by Matik/SEI Laser.
Recorded September 27, 2023
Canon PRISMA has long been an important part of Canon’s digital print workflow offerings. Until recently, all of the PRISMA workflow solutions have been on-premise software. Now, they have started moving into the cloud to take advantage of the many benefits it can offer.
Canon’s PRISMA Home is the online portal to PRISMA cloud applications, connecting users to current and future cloud-based offerings. The current tools fall into the categories: Color Management, Device Management, and Data Analytics. A recent addition to PRISMA Home is the award winning PRISMAcolor Manager, which enables printer operators to analyze color performance across Canon and non-Canon CMYK printers by measuring and validating printed colors to help users compare quality and consistency. It verifies color conformance against industry or shop standards and presents clear overviews and trends at a glance, making key data actionable.
On Tuesday, September 26, at 1 pm ET, join WhatTheyThink’s David Zwang and Canon Senior Color Analyst John Thorburn as they talk about the current state of color management in general, and why it has been such a persistent pain point, and the color control capabilities of Canon’s PRISMAcolor.
What you’ll learn:
This session is sponsored by Canon.
Recorded September 26, 2023
Each year, WhatTheyThink invites small commercial print business owners to participate in its Top 100 Shops Survey, and respondents are then ranked according to their annual revenues. In 2022, the shops included on our Top 100 list accounted for more than half a billion dollars in revenue. For the top-ranked businesses, what was the secret to their success?
On August 23 at 1 pm EDT, the latest installment of WhatTheyThink’s monthly LunchNLearn webinar series will look at this year’s Top Shops. In this 30-minute session, WhatTheyThink’s Richard Romano will share the results of the annual Top Shops survey, talk about some of the challenges these businesses faced in 2022, what new opportunities they pursued, and other aspects that helped them become this year’s Top Shops. This webinar is sponsored by the National Print and Sign Owners Association.
Joining this session is Paul Heffington, COO of Allen Printing Company, this year’s #1 small print business, who will talk about the factors that helped them flourish in 2022, as well as new and continuing initiatives the company is pursuing through 2023 and beyond.
What you’ll learn:
“The Top Small Printers in North America” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded August 23, 2023
Landa Digital Printing has commanded the industry’s attention since the first presses were unveiled. Now that Landa has a global presence, with a growing number of installations around the world, we are seeing firsthand the impact that Nanographic Printing Presses are having on the packaging and commercial print markets.
Join us on Tuesday, June 6 at 1pm ET for a special webinar, sponsored by Landa Digital Printing, on the current state of Nanography. Representatives from Landa will provide an update on the company and its growing installed base of uses, as well as recap the value proposition of the company’s Nanography technology and outline its vision for these digital mainstream presses going forward. The session will also include Landa customers who will offer real-world insights and experiences of day-to-day Nanography printing.
What you’ll learn:
Featured speakers include:
A complete recording will be available following this session.
Recorded June 6, 2023
On Friday, May 26 at 1 pm ET, our fourth annual Technology Outlook series of Webinars finishes up with binding and finishing. Join Kevin Abergel and Trish Witkowski as they highlight the latest trends and technology and product announcements from manufacturers of binding and finishing and embellishment equipment. Sponsored by Standard Finishing and Matik/SEI Laser, this session will give you the lowdown on new features, capabilities, and applications that can give your business a competitive edge.
Who should attend?
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
The Technology Outlook Week webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up-to-date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded May 26, 2023
Display graphics (aka “wide-format printing”) is a maturing market, but new application areas are gaining traction and seeing tremendous growth. Meanwhile, digital textile printing is a hot new area—and in fact display graphics printers are starting to add textile printing. What are the top trends in both these areas, and how do they complement each other. On Thursday, May 25 at 1 pm ET, Richard Romano and Cary Sherburne will highlight the latest trends and technologies in display graphics, signage, and textiles and apparel, sponsored by EFI.
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
Recorded May 25, 2023
On Wednesday, May 24 at 1 pm ET, our fourth annual Technology Outlook series of Webinars continues with labels and packaging. Join WhatTheyThink contributor David Zwang as he highlights the latest technology and product announcements from manufacturers of label and packaging solutions. This session, sponsored by Screen, will detail new product announcements, new features, capabilities, and applications in the label and packaging market, as well as prevailing and emerging trends.
Who should attend?
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
The Technology Outlook webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up-to-date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded May 24, 2023
On Tuesday, May 23 at 1 pm ET, our fourth annual Technology Outlook series of Webinars continues with software and workflow, sponsored by Global Graphics and Ultimate Technographics. Join WhatTheyThink contributor Pat McGrew and Pixel Dot Consulting’s Ryan McAbee as they look at the latest trends in software and workflow—which are not the same things. Software is the collection of tools to support your workflow processes. Software, when used well, allows the business to succeed by improving efficiency, exceeding key performance metrics, and enhancing the customer experience. The path is to disrupt the flow of endless phone calls, emails and texts asking questions, chasing information, and looking for approval by creating solutions where customers can self-serve for most of their needs.
Who should attend?
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive of—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
The Technology Outlook Week webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up-to-date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded May 23, 2023
WhatTheyThink kicks off its fourth annual Technology Outlook on Monday, May 22, at 1 pm ET with a look at digital printing. In this session, sponsored by Canon Solutions America, WhatTheyThink European section editor and Inkjet Insight contributor Ralf Schlözer will highlight the latest technology and product announcements from manufacturers of both toner and production inkjet digital printing equipment.
Who should attend?
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
The Technology Update Week webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up-to-date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded May 22, 2023
Join us February 22 for our monthly LunchNLearn Webinar featuring special guest Jon Budington.
For many, if not most, print businesses, software is the backbone of the business, whether it is an off-the-shelf solution or a homegrown software system. But few print businesses have ever actually considered selling their homegrown software. One company that has is More Vang. Founded in 1979 as Global Printing, over the decades the company has expanded far beyond print and, in the early 2010s, began developing its own software for clients—“middleware” solutions designed to address the everyday needs of marketing departments, such as e-commerce, inventory management, and print marketing—before launching “Banjo,” a workflow management tool they developed to for their clients to help automate their direct mail. Banjo evolved over the years, and today Banjo accounts for a quarter of More Vang’s annual revenue and—70% of its growth in 2022. Another software product, Mythos, has grown 400% in the past two years alone—and is poised to double again this year. More Vang now considers itself not a printing company, but a software company.
How does a printing company even begin to develop, much less sell its own software solutions? Join us Wednesday, February 22, at 1 pm ET for WhatTheyThink’s LunchNLearn Webinar. Special guest Jon Budington, CEO of More Vang, will talk about his journey into software development, and discuss “8 things to consider if you want to build software.”
In this webinar, you’ll learn:
Sponsored by Canon Solutions America and OneVision Software.
Recorded February 22, 2023
The debate over the future of ecommerce is over: it’s quickly becoming one of the primary ways people buy things. Market tracker Statista says that global retail ecommerce sales are expected to grow more than 11% from 2022 to 2025. The US Census Bureau finds that ecommerce accounts for more than 15% of retail sales, a percentage that is only going to continue to grow. As a result, web-to-print is no longer an option: it has become vital for print service providers (PSPs) to have a robust online presence and storefront that customers can use to order printed materials effectively.
However, not all customers are created equal. Selling direct to consumers (B2C) has different requirements than selling to other businesses (B2B) or even the selling to other businesses who sell to consumers (B2B2C). The challenge is to know the needs of your buyers and find a technology solution provider that can deliver on that vision. Enter Customer’s Canvas, Aurigma’s adaptable web-to-print solution. Whether you run a small online storefront or need a large enterprise-grade solution, Customer’s Canvas can be configured in whatever way will work most efficiently for your business.
Join McGrew Group principal and WhatTheyThink contributor Pat McGrew and Pixel Dot Consulting’s Ryan McAbee on Tuesday, January 17 at 1pm EST for an overview of the capabilities of Customer’s Canvas. They will be joined by representatives from Aurigma as well as Customer’s Canvas user Industry Print Solutions (IPS) who will provide insights and offer real-world experiences of working with the software. The session will also feature a live Q&A, allowing attendees to get answers to their own specific questions.
In this webinar, you’ll learn:
A full archive of this webinar—both audio and video—will be available for download.
Recorded January 17, 2023
One of the hottest trends in finishing today is what are known as “embellishments”—adding special effects to printed materials such as textures, metallic foils, and other tactile finishes. The technology is fast-evolving, and new digital embellishment solutions allow printers to embrace the power of touch by creating enhanced, desirable, memorable, and valuable print and packaging. And when there is a perceived value, there is a willingness to pay a premium.
But what do we mean by “embellishments”? And what are today’s digital embellishment solutions? What print applications are they best suited for?
Join us on Tuesday, December 13 at 1pm EST when Taktiful’s Kevin Abergel and Fold Factory’s Trish Witkowski will look at the current embellishment landscape, providing a comprehensive look at different types of embellishments, the different ways they can be produced, and the top applications for which they are used.
In this LunchNLearn webinar, you’ll learn:
Finish It with Flair! is the latest in WhatTheyThink’s monthly LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded December 13, 2022
Printing technologies have been in a state of transition for the past two decades, driven by declines in print volumes and increases in digital print quality and press speeds. Offset has been transitioning to digital, toner is now transitioning to inkjet, and flexo is holding its own—for now. What is the current status of printing technology transitions—and what will the future hold?
On Wednesday, November 16 at 1 pm ET, join WhatTheyThink’s Richard Romano and Ralf Schlözer as they look at the current state of production output technologies.
What you’ll learn:
Sponsored by Canon Solutions America, “Print Production Outlook: The Digital Transition Continues” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded November 16, 2022
The 2010s could be thought of as “The Decade of Wide-format Printing,” as revolutionary technology advances made wide format a compelling business proposition for companies in a wide variety of markets, from commercial printers to photolabs, to copy shops, to traditional signmakers. As a result, we saw a wide format “boom.” But as the decade ended, expansion into wide format had slowed, and technology introductions became more evolutionary than revolutionary. The pandemic year of 2020 created a temporary spurt in demand for COVID and other related signage, but the post-pandemic years have returned us to our previous trendline. So, as we head through the 2020s, where does wide format stand? What are the opportunities in what has become a mature market?
On Wednesday, September 21 at 1 pm ET, join WhatTheyThink’s Richard Romano and IDC’s Tim Greene as they look back at 2022 and ahead to 2023 and beyond and identify some of the dominant and emerging application trends, new equipment releases, and opportunity areas for both those who are already producing wide-format and display graphics—and those who are still looking to.
What you’ll learn:
“The Graying of Wide Format” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded September 21, 2022
After 25 years, QR codes are becoming mainstream, and other interactive print technologies such as augmented reality (AR) have also caught on with marketers and other print customers. As a result, they have become increasingly relevant to the printing industry at large—and not just a handful of printers whose clients are massive consumer brands.
On August 24 at 1 pm EST, a panel of interactive print experts will look at the latest interactive print technologies and how printers can use—and are using—them to add value to clients’ projects. Industry analyst and WhatTheyThink contributor Heidi Tolliver-Walker will leads a panel discussion on featuring Joanne Gore of Gore Communications (and WhatTheyThink contributor) and Joe Zeff, president of Joe Zeff Design, Inc., a pioneer in interactive storytelling.
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive of slides and audio will be available for download following this session.
Recorded August 24, 2022
As so often happens, entrepreneurs in the textiles & apparel industry are driving change in the U.S. market. While digitally-driven businesses have not yet reached critical mass, there are good examples of companies that are taking advantage of new ways of working and doing business to build the businesses of the future. In this webinar, scheduled for 20 July at 1 PM Eastern, we will hear from:
If you are involved in textiles & apparel, or considering getting involved, this webinar is for you.
Recorded July 20, 2022
Each year, Printing News invites small commercial print business* owners to participate in its Top 100 Shops Survey, and respondents are then ranked according to their annual revenues. In 2021, the shops included on our Top 100 list accounted for nearly half a billion dollars in revenue. For the top-ranked businesses, what was the secret to their success?
On June 29 at 1 pm EDT, the latest installment of WhatTheyThink’s monthly LunchNLearn webinar series will look at this year’s Top Shops. In this 30-minute session, WhatTheyThink’s Richard Romano and Kelley Holmes will share the results of the annual Top Shops survey, talk about some of the challenges these businesses faced in 2021, and how they are faring so far in 2022.
Also joining this session is Keith Miller, President of Strategic Factory, this year’s #1 small print business, who will talk about the factors that helped them flourish in 2021, as well as new and continuing initiatives the company is pursuing through 2022 and beyond.
What you’ll learn:
“WhatTheyThink | Printing News Top 100 Small Commercial Printers” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded June 29, 2022
eProductivity Software (ePS) may be a new name, but their software solutions for packaging and print have been driving the industry for more than 30 years. Join us on Tuesday, June 21, at 1:00 p.m. EDT for a special webinar, sponsored by eProductivity Software, in which we reintroduce ePS to the market, discuss the current challenges facing the industry, and learn how the right technology can make your business more agile, efficient, and profitable. Representatives from ePS will provide an update on the company, as well as recap its extensive portfolio of software solutions for the print and packaging industry. The session will also include market insights from industry experts and ePS customers who will offer real-world insights and experiences of working with ePS solutions. The session will also feature a live Q&A, allowing attendees to get answers to their own specific questions.
Panelists for this webinar include:
What you’ll learn:
Recorded June 21, 2022
On Thursday, May 19 at 1 pm ET, our third annual Technology Outlook series of Webinars finishes up with binding and finishing. Join Trish Witkowski as she highlights the latest trends and technology and product announcements from manufacturers of binding and finishing. Sponsored by Standard Finishing, Ultimate TechnoGraphics, and Müller Martini, this session will give you the lowdown on new features, capabilities, and applications that can give your business a competitive edge.
Who should attend?
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive of—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
The Technology Outlook webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up-to-date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded May 19, 2022
On Tuesday, May 17 at 1 pm ET, our third annual Technology Outlook series of Webinars continues with wide-format & signage and textiles & apparel. Join Richard Romano and Cary Sherburne as they highlight the latest technology and product announcements from manufacturers of wide-format printing and finishing, signage, and apparel solutions. Sponsored by Ultraflex and Zünd, this session will give you the lowdown on new features, capabilities, and applications that can give your business a competitive edge.
Who should attend?
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive of—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
The Technology Outlook webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up-to-date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded May 17, 2022
On Friday, May 13 at 1 pm ET, our third annual Technology Outlook series of Webinars continues with labels and packaging. Join WhatTheyThink contributor David Zwang as he highlights the latest technology and product announcements from manufacturers of label and packaging solutions. This session, sponsored by HP Indigo, SEI Laser, and Bobst, will detail new product announcements, as well as new features, capabilities, and applications in the label and packaging market, as well as prevailing and emerging trends.
Who should attend?
What you’ll learn:
The Technology Outlook webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up-to-date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded May 13, 2022
On Wednesday, May 11 at 1 pm ET, our third annual Technology Outlook series of Webinars continues with software and workflow. Join WhatTheyThink contributor Pat McGrew and Pixel Dot Consulting’s Ryan McAbee as they look at the latest trends in software and workflow—which are not the same things! Software is the collection of tools to support your workflow processes. Software, when used well, allows the business to succeed by improving efficiency, exceeding key performance metrics, and enhancing the customer experience.
Who should attend?
What you’ll learn:
A complete archive of—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
The Technology Outook webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up-to-date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded May 11, 2022
On Monday, May 9 at 1 pm ET, WhatTheyThink kicks off its third annual Technology Outlook series of Webinars with digital printing. Inkjet Insight’s Elizabeth Gooding, Mary Schilling, and Ralf Schlözer will provide an overview of the wide range of inkjet technology available and its impact on the commercial, book, direct mail, and customer communications markets. Sponsored by Canon Solutions Americas and HP PageWide, this session will take a deep dive into the different approaches used to drive print quality, media compatibility, and productivity.
What you’ll learn about:
A complete archive of—slides and audio—will be available for download following this session.
The Technology Outlook webinars are designed to serve as a virtual platform for suppliers to the industry to get their messages out, and for producers to more easily stay up-to-date with the latest technology announcements as they plan for the future of their businesses. In preparing these Technology Outlook sessions, WhatTheyThink will be relying on some of the industry’s best known and best-connected analysts and thought leaders, who have been and will continue to be in contact with industry suppliers to ensure availability of the best and most current information on each topic area.
Recorded May 9, 2022
Cary Sherburne and Richard Romano will present the results of this year’s Annual Print & Sign Franchise Review, talk about how the franchises rebounded from the Year of COVID, and discuss what the franchises’ plans are to expand in 2022 and beyond.
What you’ll learn:
Recorded April 20, 2022
Produced in partnership with the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF). This webinar will discuss how we can attract younger employees into our industry, while also providing tips for print business owners on how and where to search for employees. Panelists will include students and scholarship winners who have entered the industry, as well as representative(s) from PGSF who will talk about the organizations scholarship programs, as well as the larger issues of attracting younger talent.
The panelists will include:
And three recent graduates and PGSF scholars who have found positions in the printing industry:
The panelists will share how they became interested in a career in printing, what attracted them to their current companies and positions, and what keeps them satisfied in their jobs.
What you’ll learn:
Recorded March 23, 2022
Two significant challenges are facing the print industry: labor shortages and inefficiency. They are related, and there is a path to manage them, but it takes more than trying to find people to hire and tightening business and production workflows. The industry needs a new approach to understanding business bottlenecks. It also needs innovation, powered by automation, that leverages available data to assign staff only where they are needed to add value to essential processes.
In this session, you’ll learn:
Recorded February 23, 2022
Advice for leading your business into the new year
The print distributor market (aka “brokering”) has evolved quite dramatically in the past two decades, having become a $5+ billion industry, composed predominantly of a large number of small, diverse businesses. What do these businesses do, and what is their role in the overall printing industry? And what opportunities exist for current print and sign businesses in the distributor market?
Join us on January 26 at 1 p.m. ET for the latest in WhatTheyThink’s LunchNLearn Webinar series. In this 30-minute session sponsored by Navitor, WhatTheyThink’s Richard Romano will be joined by Matt Bruno, Executive Vice President of Brand Chain (formerly the Print Services & Distribution Association), and incoming Brand Chain President and Thumbprint President/CEO Greg Gill, to look at the key traits of successful print resellers and distributors, as well as opportunities for commercial print and sign businesses in working with a distributor.
What you’ll learn:
“Expanding Opportunities via Trade Brokering and Distributing” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded January 26, 2022
2021 has been a wild year of highs and lows and unique pressures, but the print finishing category met the challenge and pushed forward with lots of new offerings and opportunities. From looking across a year of announcements, it’s safe to say with confidence—finishing is in it to win it.
On Wednesday, December 15 at 1pm ET, join Trish Witkowski for WhatTheyThink’s LunchNLearn webinar and look back at the year in binding and finishing. This session will last approximately 30 minutes.
What you’ll learn:
Register Now!
Finishing Up the Year: In It to Win it is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded December 15, 2021
Wide-format printing had been a high-growth area for many print providers pre-COVID and, during the pandemic, demand for COVID and other related signage kept many print businesses busy even as their traditional markets and customers were shut down. As we emerge from the pandemic, where does wide format stand?
On Wednesday, November 17 at 1 pm ET, join WhatTheyThink’s Richard Romano and IDG’s Tim Greene as they look back at 2021 and ahead to 2022 and identify some of the dominant and emerging application trends, new equipment releases, and opportunity areas for both those who are already producing wide-format and display graphics—and those who are still looking to.
What you’ll learn:
“Graphics on Display: A Wide-Format Look Back and Outlook” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded November 17, 2021
Landa Digital Printing has commanded the industry’s attention since the first presses were unveiled. Now that Landa has a global presence, with a growing number of installations around the world, we are hearing about the impact that Nanographic Printing Presses are having.
Join us on Wednesday, November 3 at 1pm ET for a special webinar, sponsored by Landa Digital Printing, on the current state of Nanography. Representatives from Landa will provide an update on the company and its growing installed base of uses, as well as recap the value proposition of the company’s Nanography technology and outline its vision for these digital mainstream presses going forward. The session will also include Landa customers who will offer real-world insights and experiences of day-to-day Nanography printing.
What you’ll learn:
• The current state of Landa’s Nanographic printing technology and installed base.
• The company’s vision for the future of the technology.
• Real-world user experiences from Landa customers.
Featured speakers include:
• David Zwang, WhatTheyThink
• Scott Brown, Landa Digital Printing
• Paul Hudson, Hudson Printing
• Jordan Patterson, Virtual Packaging
Recorded November 3, 2021
The pandemic has changed the way cars are purchased, with less emphasis on showrooms and more on online sales, especially thanks to the rise of sites like Carvana. As the role of the automotive dealership changes, display graphics are themselves playing a role in redefining the auto dealership. How can signage and display graphics producers help these businesses navigate what can be rocky roads?
On Wednesday, October 27 at 1 pm ET, WhatTheyThink Managing Editor Richard Romano will be joined by Maggie Harlow, Owner and CEO of Signarama Downtown Louisville (Ky.), who has not only done projects for the automotive market, but whose family has a long history in the auto industry itself.
What you’ll learn:
“Driven to Distraction: Display Graphics and Signage in the Automotive Industry” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded October 27, 2021
Printing Technologies have been in a state of transition for the past two decades, driven by declines in print volume and increases in print quality and press speeds. Offset has been transitioning to digital, toner is now transitioning to inkjet, and flexo is holding its own—for now. What is the current status of printing technology transitions—and what will the future hold? What applications are seeing the most movement—and to where?
On Wednesday, October 6 at 1 pm ET, join WhatTheyThink Managing Editor Richard Romano and Keypoint Intelligence Director of On Demand Printing and Publishing German Sacristan as they look at the current state of production output technologies.
What you’ll learn:
Sponsored by Canon Solutions America, “Print Production Outlook: Tracking the Turning Points” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded October 6, 2021
There is no question that the decision to implement a new Print MIS, or update an existing one, is one of the most important investment decisions a print, packaging or display graphics company can make today. In this session, sponsored by Sabre Limited, a PrintVis reseller partner, three companies will talk about their experiences, from how they began the process, what due diligence they conducted, ow they approached implementation, and their feelings about the outcome or expected outcome and what it will mean for their businesses. Don’t miss this highly informative session that will feature real-time insight from the front lines.
Featured speakers include:
Recorded September 29, 2021
Despite the expanding selection of high quality inkjet presses on the market today, there are still many scenarios where custom inkjet systems, including inkjet hybrids, are more effective, cost efficient, or both. Integrators are delivering tailor-made solutions across an astounding array of industry segments fueled by modular inkjet development tools.
On September 15 at 1 pm EDT, join Elizabeth Gooding of Inkjet Insight, Ron Gilboa of Fujifilm Dimatix, and Takashi Fukui of Fujifilm Samba as they discuss challenges in the development of custom inkjet systems and opportunities to accelerate development with Fujifilm Samba JPC inkjet modules.
What you’ll learn:
• Where custom inkjet solutions are most in demand based on recent research from Inkjet Insight
• Critical inkjet development challenges faced by OEMs and inkjet integrators
• How FUJIFILM Samba JPC inkjet modules expedite the design and development of new inkjet systems
• How customers are applying the technology in production
Recorded September 15, 2021
We’ve been hearing the refrain for some time: print is going interactive. Not just with QR codes—which took 25 years but finally caught on, thanks to the pandemic—but with other technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and near-field communications (NFC). Some of the applications are truly astounding, and while they capture the imagination, are they relevant to the printing industry at large? Or only to the handful of printers whose clients are massive consumer brands?
Join industry analyst and WhatTheyThink contributor Heidi Tolliver-Walker as she leads a panel discussion on the latest interactive print technologies and how printers are using them to add value to clients’ projects. Joining the panel discussion will be Will Gee of Balti Virtual and Tracy Archuleta of image8creations.
What you’ll learn:
“Interactive Print in the Real World: What’s Really Working” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded August 25, 2021
If the COVID pandemic has highlighted the need for the textiles and fashion industry to clean up its act, one of the most important post-pandemic trends that is emerging involves the area of resale, recycling, and upcycling of textiles and apparel. How can garments, décor, and other textile-based materials be reused in a way that diverts discarded items from landfills? What are the technologies enabling the extension of textile lifespans?
On July 28 at 1 pm EST, join WhatTheyThink Senior Editor Cary Sherburne and contributor and CEO of Texintel and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan as they explore how the move toward resale, recycling, and upcycling is poised to bring significant change to the industry and will further drive adoption of a wide range of digital technologies as the concept of fast fashion fades.
What you’ll learn:
Textiles & Apparel: Resale, Recycling, and Upcycling” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded July 28, 2021
Each year, WhatTheyThink | Printing News invites small commercial print business owners to participate in our Top 100 Shops Survey, and respondents are then ranked according to their 2019 revenues. In 2020, the shops included on our Top 100 list accounted for nearly half a billion dollars in revenue. For the top-ranked businesses, what was the secret to their success in the year of COVID?
On June 23 at 1 pm EST, WhatTheyThink’s latest installment of its monthly LunchNLearn webinar series will look at this year’s Top Shops. In this 30-minute session, sponsored by Xanté, WhatTheyThink Managing Editor Richard Romano will share the results of the annual Top Shops survey, talk about some of the challenges these businesses faced in 2020 (aside from the obvious), and how they are looking to rebound in 2021.
Romano will be joined by Keith Miller, President of Strategic Factory, this year’s #1 small print business, who will talk about the factors that helped them deal with the challenges 2020 wrought, as well as new and continuing initiatives the company is pursuing through 2021 and beyond.
What you’ll learn:
“The Top Small Printers in North America” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded June 23, 2021
In this fast paced mid-day webinar, industry leading color management practitioners Dan Gillespie, Jim Raffel, and Shelby Sapusek will take you through some common color management failures and ways to resolve them. Don't come for the slidedeck but instead the lively conversation as it seldom two color management pros agree 100 percent on the correct solution to a color problem.
We plan to cover topics such as: How RGB and CMYK are different than L*a*b*; why not to leave source profiles defaulted to SWOP; how to choose the correct rendering intent; and why skipping a daily nozzle check of your printer can only lead to problems. The team will likely come up with additional topics as time allows.
What you’ll learn:
- How to choose the correct color management setting in Adobe apps and your RIP software.
- Why changing the default color management settings could give you more color gamut
- How important simple machine maintenance checks can be.
- The path to more consistent, predictable, and repeatable color!
Recorded May 4, 2021
“The State of the Print & Sign Franchises” LunchNLearn Webinar Allegra. AlphaGraphics. FASTSIGNS. Minuteman. Sir Speedy. Signs By Tomorrow. Signarama. SpeedPro. Every year, Printing News and Wide Format & Signage conduct their annual Print and Sign Franchise Review. How and what the franchises are doing can be a useful barometer for understanding how the industry at large is doing—especially in the age of COVID. Are they growing and expanding their centers? Is revenue increasing? How are they growing? What products and services are they expanding into? What challenges are they facing and how are they confronting them? And, of course, what impact did the COVID pandemic have on their centers?
On April 28 at 1 pm EST, WhatTheyThink’s latest installment of its monthly LunchNLearn webinar series will offer the results of the annual Printing News/Wide Format & Signage Print & Sign Franchise Review. In this 30-minute session, WhatTheyThink Managing Editor Richard Romano and Senior Editor Cary Sherburne will share the results of the annual franchise survey, talk about how the franchises weathered the coronavirus, and discuss what the franchises’ plans are to expand in 2021 and beyond.
Who should attend?
What you’ll learn:
“The State of the Print & Sign Franchises” is the latest installment of WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series. Upcoming topics include the industry’s “100 Top Shops” and our special Technology Outlook Week series of daily Webinars. For more information about WhatTheyThink webinars, please visit http://whattheythink.com/webinars/.
Recorded April 28, 2021
Every motion you make in your business sets the tone for the ultimate performance of the supply chain. Whether you are a manufacturer/service provider shepherding the genesis of the supply chain or a reseller/distributor working bi-directionally within the supply chain, success hinges on advanced collaboration in order to deliver on customer expectations.
Join us on February 24 at 1 p.m. ET for the latest in WhatTheyThink’s LunchNLearn Webinar series. In this 30-minute session, industry analyst and WhatTheyThink contributor Preston Herrin will be joined by Matt Bruno, Executive Vice President of the Print Services & Distribution Association (PSDA), to look at the key traits of successful print resellers and distributors.
What you’ll learn:
“Orchestrating Success: New Trends in Trade Brokering & Distributing” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded February 24, 2021
The 2021 WhatTheyThink LunchNLearn webinar series kicks off with software and workflow. We are all planning for a brighter 2021, but is your software infrastructure ready for your growth plans? In this session, WhatTheyThink contributor Pat McGrew and Keypoint Intelligence analyst Ryan McAbee will look at the key areas you should be evaluating and considering as you kick off the new year.
What you’ll learn:
“Planning Your 2021 Software Purchases” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded January 20, 2021
2020 has been the year of imposed flexibility—and a worldwide pandemic made it abundantly clear that diversification is the key to surviving and thriving in uncertain times. From cutting and embellishment, to exciting developments robotics, to some fascinating new offerings in book-of-one bindery automation, in 2020, the finishing category offered a range of opportunities for printers to stand out and expand their offerings. This session looks back at the year in binding and finishing.
What you’ll learn:
“Finishing Up the Year: Trends in Binding and Finishing” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded December 9, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic quickly spawned new forms of signage and display: what EFI calls—and has trademarked—“Divisional Graphics.” These are structural graphics intended to enable or enforce social distancing in public spaces like restaurants, bars, stores, and other locations to help in preventing the spread of contagions—and not just COVID. The coronavirus will remain a persistent threat for the foreseeable future, but even when the immediate threat of the virus has passed, demand for Divisional Graphics—and whatever they evolve into—will likely remain. What will today’s COVID-related materials likely evolve into? What opportunities will remain for these materials, and what new ones will arise? This session will look at the present and future of divisional graphics and COVID signage.
What you’ll learn:
Divisional Graphics: Opportunities Post-COVID is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series.
Recorded November 11, 2020
The rebirth of flexo, the continued adoption of digital, and a growing preference for custom-built, “bespoke” solutions are changing the face of packaging production, all being driven by changes in consumer and brand owner behaviors.
Join David Zwang for a look at the current state of labels and packaging, some of the major product announcements we saw in 2020, and what trends to look for as we head into 2021.
What you’ll learn:
Recorded October 28, 2020
How has the COVID crisis impacted the print supply chain for inks, plates, and other consumables? What other non-COVID-related forces are impacting the consumables supply chain? What do these changes mean for print businesses?
John Braceland, Managing Director of the Graphic Arts Alliance (GAA), joins WhatTheyThink Managing Editor Richard Romano for a 30-minute session, sponsored by GAA, for this report on the state of the consumables supply chain.
What you’ll learn:
Recorded October 14, 2020
Inkjet has proven to be one of the most versatile printing technologies capable of printing and decorating a bewildering variety of substrates, surfaces, and objects—opening up new applications and opportunities for print service providers. In this session, Inkjet Insight’s Elizabeth Gooding and Mary Schilling look at some unconventional inkjet applications and also break some stereotypes about what inkjet can be used for.
What you’ll learn:
Recorded September 23, 2020
Print is no longer a static, unconnected piece of paper. Whether it is using augmented reality (AR) to being a print catalog to life, a QR code to use print to launch a website or other electronic content, NFC-based InfoLnkX to offer touchless menus for restaurants, or Xanté’s Infomark to share electronic content via print, a printed document can be a seamlessly integrated part of the “Internet of Things” or a canvas on which rich media can be overlaid. The latest in WhatTheyThink’s LunchNLearn Webinar series will look at several examples of “interactive print.”
This dynamic panel discussion will look at different technologies for making print interactive, including:
What you’ll learn:
Recorded August 26, 2020
The COVID-19 crisis is taking its toll on virtually all sectors of the economy, but it is fundamentally transforming textiles and apparel. Specifically, global supply chain disruptions have focused attention on reshoring textile production, and the pandemic has accelerated other trends that had been underway before the crisis, such as an increased emphasis on environmental sustainability, on-demand production, the end of “fast fashion,” and personalization.
WhatTheyThink senior editor Cary Sherburne was be joined by:
This dynamic panel discussion will look at the current and emerging trends in textiles and apparel, how the COVID-19 crisis has affected the industry and accelerated some of these trends, and what the opportunities are for businesses—even print businesses—in a post-pandemic textile and apparel industry.
What you’ll learn:
Recorded July 29, 2020
Each year, Printing News invites small commercial print shop business owners to participate in our Top 100 Shops Survey, and respondents are then ranked according to their 2019 revenues. In 2019, the shops included on our Top 100 list accounted for more than half a billion dollars in revenue. For the top-ranked businesses, what was the secret to their success? And how do they plan to keep that momentum going—even in the face of this year’s COVID-19 crisis?
In this 30-minute session, WhatTheyThink Managing Editor Richard Romano will share the results of the annual Top Shops survey, talk about some of the challenges these businesses faced in 2019, what challenges they face in 2020, and where they see new business opportunities. Romano will also be joined by Jay Wilkinson, CEO of Firespring Print, this year’s #1 small print business, who will talk about the factors that made 2019 a banner year for Firespring, as well as new and continuing initiatives the company is pursuing through 2020 and beyond.
What you’ll learn:
- Who the top small print businesses in North America are.
- The top challenges small print businesses were facing (before the current crisis).
- What top small printers see as the biggest business opportunities.
- How this year’s #1 small printer won the top spot.
Recorded June 24, 2020
Listen to Trish Witkowski oon the latest developments in mailing and finishing. This 30-minute LunchNLearn webinar highlights the latest technology and product announcements, and trends in mailing and finishing. Get the lowdown on new features, capabilities, and applications that can give your business a competitive edge.
What you’ll learn:
- New developments and trends in mailing and finishing
- New products from major industry vendors
- New features, capabilities, and applications
Recorded May 22, 2020
Listen to Richard Romano and Cary Sherburne discuss the latest developments in Wide-Format, Display Graphics, and Apparel. This 30-minute LunchNLearn webinar highlights the latest technology and product announcements from developers of wide-format printing solutions for the display graphics, signage, and apparel markets. Get the lowdown on new features, capabilities, and applications that can give your business a competitive edge.
What you’ll learn:
- New developments and trends in display graphics, signage, and apparel
- New products from major industry vendors
- New features, capabilities, and applications
Recorded May 21, 2020
Listen to David Zwang discuss the latest developments in Labels and Packaging. This 30-minute LunchNLearn webinar highlights the latest technology and product announcements from developers of labels and packaging solutions. Get the lowdown on new features, capabilities, and applications that can give your business a competitive edge.
What you’ll learn:
New developments and trends in labels and packaging
New labels and packaging products from major industry vendors
New features, capabilities, and applications
Recorded May 20, 2020
Listen to Pat McGrew for the latest developments in Software & Workflow. This 30-minute LunchNLearn webinar highlights the latest technology and product announcements from developers of software & workflow solutions. Get the lowdown on new features, capabilities, and applications that can give your business a competitive edge.
What you’ll learn:
New software and workflow developments and trends
New software and workflow products from major industry vendors
New features, capabilities, and applications
Recorded May 19, 2020
Listen to Inkjet Insight's Elizabeth Gooding cover the latest developments in production inkjet. This 30-minute LunchNLearn webinar highlights the latest technology and product announcements from manufacturers of production inkjet equipment. Get the lowdown on new features, capabilities, and applications that can give your business a competitive edge.
What you’ll learn:
- New production inkjet technology developments and trends
- New production inkjet products from major industry vendors
- New features, capabilities, and applications
Recorded May 18, 2020
Everyone in the digital print supply chain can speed the production of variable data printing (VDP) jobs thanks to a new independent guide to the “dos and don’ts” of optimizing PDF files for the fastest, most efficient processing by digital front ends (DFEs). In this webinar, Martin Bailey, chief technology officer for Global Graphics and the primary UK expert to the ISO committees that maintain and develop PDF and PDF/VT talks about a new guide for creating variable data PDF files that won't slow your digital press.
Recorded May 13, 2020
Allegra. AlphaGraphics. FASTSIGNS. Minuteman. Sir Speedy. Signs By Tomorrow. Signarama. SpeedPro. Every year, WhatTheyThink’s Printing News and Wide Format & Signage conduct their annual Print and Sign Franchise Review. How and what the franchises are doing can be a useful barometer for understanding how the industry at large is doing. Are they growing and expanding their centers? Is revenue increasing? How are they growing? What products and services are they expanding into? What challenges are they facing and how are they confronting them?
Recorded April 22, 2020
To date, 11 states have legalized recreational cannabis, 33 states have legalized medical cannabis, and it’s a safe bet that more are on the way in both categories. There is the smokable form, and there are edibles. CBD (cannabidiol), which comes from the cannabis sativa plant but does not contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana), is becoming popular in the health and wellness world, turning up in everything from dietary supplements to athletic wear. We are even starting to see specific cannabis-related products appearing in our own industry—namely, hemp-based paper. We are starting to see regulations emerge regarding the various kinds of cannabis packaging, regulations that seem to change by the day. It’s very much the Wild West, and some companies have started to tame the frontier. What are the opportunities for print and packaging businesses?
Stas Chirkov, Founder of Blunt Skincare, a consumer products company that manufactures a line of CBD oils for health and beauty applications.
Mickey Waite, Packaging, Product Development & Sourcing Expert, and former Project Print Producer at Canndescent.
Michelle Turner, Brand Manager for Neenah Packaging, which launched a line of hemp fiber papers for folding carton converting
This is an essential webinar for commercial print business owners and managers and packaging printers and converters looking to expand into a growing new market. Learn about the current regulatory environment surrounding cannabis-related products, the unique requirements for cannabis-related packaging, and strategies for expanding into this dynamic new product area.
Recorded March 18, 2020
The print distributor market has evolved quite dramatically in the past two decades, and nowhere is that more evident than in what exactly these businesses are called. Traditionally called “trade brokers,” that term has become passé, with “distributor” being the preferred term for what can be described as “non-asset-based sellers of print.” Regardless of what it’s called, it’s a $5+ billion industry, composed predominantly of a large number of small, diverse businesses. What do these businesses do, and what is their role in the overall printing industry?
Matt Bruno, Executive Vice President of Print Services & Distribution Association (PSDA), and WhatTheyThink Managing Editor Richard Romano will look at the state of “trade brokering” today. The 30-minute session will look at the evolution of the distributor market, how distributors have adapted and changed with the times and with changes elsewhere in the printing industry, and how distributors can grow their businesses by understanding the latest indstry trends.
Recorded February 19, 2020
Over the course of the 2010s, wide format and its related constellation of specialty printing applications have helped transform and revitalize the printing industry. As we head into the new decade, what’s the state of wide format? Is it a mature market, or is there still room for growth? It’s a crowded market—what are the opportunities for print businesses who have not yet added wide-format printing capabilities? Is it too late to get in the game? For those who have, what are the growing applications, and what are some strategies for pursuing them?
Join IDC Research Director Tim Greene and WhatTheyThink Managing Editor Richard Romano for an informal conversation about where wide format is today—and where it’s going tomorrow. This 30-minute session will include a preview of WhatTheyThink’s Printing Forecast 2020, as well as some of IDC’s recent findings on the wide-format printing market.
Recorded January 15, 2020
Communicorp is an MSP with multiple lines of business including Print Production, Fulfillment, Merchandise, Marketing Services, and IT Services. They needed a system which could tie together niche software to form an optimal solution. Moderated by WhatTheyThink’s Frank Romano, hear from Gary Robinette, Director, Communicorp Technology, and Patrick Bolan, President and CEO of Avanti, on how Avanti Slingshot Print MIS transformed Communicorps customer experience.
Recorded October 10, 2019
Over the course of the 2010s, wide format and its related constellation of specialty printing applications have helped transform and revitalize the printing industry. As we head into the new decade, what’s the state of wide format? Is it a mature market, or is there still room for growth? It’s a crowded market—what are the opportunities for print businesses who have not yet added wide-format printing capablities? Is it too late to get in the game? For those who have, what are the growing applications, and what are some strategies for pursuing them?
Join IDC Research Director Tim Greene and WhatTheyThink Managing Editor Richard Romano for an informal conversation about where wide format is today—and where it’s going tomorrow. This 30-minute session will include a preview of WhatTheyThink’s Printing Forecast 2020, as well as some of IDC’s recent findings on the wide-format printing market.
Recorded December 12, 2018
GDP grew at +4.1% in Q2 2018. Is this rate sustainable? What’s driving it? Employment data have been very positive, with record levels of employment, indicating more jobs openings than workers to take them. Is that true? Will this "boom that doesn't feel like a boom" get stronger or will the positive signs be undermined by brewing trade wars and Fed actions? What does it all mean for your print business? Dr. Joe Webb offers his latest round up of macroeconomic and industry data to help guide print businesses into the Fall and 2019.
Recorded September 12, 2018
Join APTech’s Julie Shaffer, The CMO Council’s Liz Miller, and WhatTheyThink’s Richard Romano for a sneak preview of two new programs being launched at the upcoming PRINT 18 (Sept. 30–Oct. 2 at Chicago’s McCormick Place)—Red Hot Technologies and the Brand Inspiration Forum.
PRINT 18’s Red Hot Technologies highlight top new product innovations, from cutting-edge software, to new print engines and devices, to the latest finishing solutions—and more! This session will allow PRINT 18 attendees to get a jump on what's new and exciting, and better optimize their time at the show.
The Brand Inspiration Forum, developed and presented in conjunction with the CMO Council, is a cross-industry gathering that will bring together marketing leaders, engagement gurus, creative luminaries, and print industry innovators to share thinking and showcase where and how new thinking, operational innovation, and a fresh mindset about customer engagement channels can be reshaped to be more effective, efficient, and engaging. The forum will also include case studies that merge print and online—and other—channels to create highly successful marketing campaigns.
Don’t miss this exclusive preview of these hot new PRINT 18 programs.
Recorded September 5, 2018
The Atlanta Fed is forecasting +4.8% for second quarter GDP. Full-time employment is at an all time high. Manufacturing surveys show robust growth. Is this real? Is the economy beginning a surge? Whether or not we’re on the verge of a boom, what does it mean for print and communications markets? What do the latest forecasting models show for commercial printing through 2023? And what does all this mean for your print business?
Recorded June 20, 2018
Many converting operations may believe they have reached the limit of their capacity with steps they have already taken to improve operations. But there is still more than can be done. In this session you will hear from companies who have taken label production to a new level with smart workflow automation, taking tasks that previously took hours down to mere minutes and minimizing chance for error along the way.
Speakers include:
Marco De La Vega, CFO of Blair Labeling
Steven Parato, Operations Manager at Cyber Graphics.
Find out how you can streamline your operation even more, improving both service levels and profitability. Register today for this free WhatTheyThink webinar on June 13, 2018, scheduled for 2 PM to 3 PM Eastern Daylight Time.
Recorded June 13, 2018
The new tax reform legislation is complex with a multitude of moving parts, and it can be easy to fail to take advantage of new provisions, or fall afoul of others, that can substantially decrease—or inadvertently increase—your tax burden. With the 2017 tax filing season just about over, now is the time to plan properly for 2018 and beyond, when the full impacts of the new law will start to be felt.
The fourth and final installment is for printers and technology suppliers that work internationally. How does the new tax law impact income made overseas? How can print businesses with overseas operations minimize their tax burden when repatriating income? How can U.S. printers and suppliers navigate international tax laws?
The presenters for this webinar will be:
• Mark Nuzzaco, Vice President of Government Affairs at APTech
• Joseph Webb, Ph.D., Director of WhatTheyThink’s Economics and Research Center and President of Strategies for Management
APTech and WhatTheyThink also gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Stephen Entin, Senior Fellow, Tax Foundation, Washington, D.C.
Recorded April 24, 2018
The new tax reform legislation is complex with a multitude of moving parts, and it can be easy to fail to take advantage of new provisions, or fall afoul of others, that can substantially decrease—or inadvertently increase—your tax burden. With the 2017 tax filing season just about over, now is the time to plan properly for 2018 and beyond, when the full impacts of the new law will start to be felt.
The third installment covers succession and estate planning. What are the best steps to take to make your print business appealing to a potential buyer? How can you take advantage of provisions in the new law to minimize the tax burden on heirs or other successors? Even if you currently have no plans to sell or otherwise leave your business, now is the time to optimize it.
The presenters for this webinar will be:Mark Nuzzaco, Vice President of Government Affairs at APTech
Edward Bortnick, Managing Partner at SKMB Public Accountants
Joseph Webb, Ph.D., Director of WhatTheyThink’s Economics and Research Center and President of Strategies for Management
APTech and WhatTheyThink also gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Stephen Entin, Senior Fellow, Tax Foundation, Washington, D.C.
Recorded April 17, 2018
Tax Reform for Print Businesses: Capital Investment Strategies
The new tax reform legislation is complex with a multitude of moving parts, and it can be easy to fail to take advantage of new provisions, or fall afoul of others, that can substantially decrease—or inadvertently increase—your tax burden. With the 2017 tax filing season just about over, now is the time to plan properly for 2018 and beyond, when the full impacts of the new law will start to be felt.
The second installment covers capital investment. Specifically, is it better to purchase or lease capital equipment? What has the new law changed vis-à-vis depreciation deduction? What is a good capital investment strategy based on the provisions in the new tax law?
The presenters for this webinar will be:
Mark Nuzzaco, Vice President of Government Affairs at APTech
Edward Bortnick, Managing Partner at SKMB Public Accountants
Joseph Webb, Ph.D., Director of WhatTheyThink’s Economics and Research Center and President of Strategies for Management
Recognizing that not all print businesses are the same, this installment of the Tax Reform for Print Businesses webinar series will focus on the specific investment implications of the new law on establishments of all sizes.
APTech and WhatTheyThink also gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Stephen Entin, Senior Fellow, Tax Foundation, Washington, D.C.
Recorded April 10, 2018
The new tax reform legislation is complex with a multitude of moving parts, and it can be easy to fail to take advantage of new provisions, or fall afoul of others, that can substantially decrease—or inadvertently increase—your tax burden. With the 2017 tax filing season just about over, now is the time to plan properly for 2018 and beyond, when the full impacts of the new law will start to be felt.
Recognizing that not all print businesses are the same, the Tax Reform for Print Businesses webinar series will focus on the specific implications of the new law on establishments of all sizes.
The first installment, covers how you structure your business can substantially impact your tax situation. Should you be an S or C corporation? An LLC? A partnership? Some other kind of business entity? Find out how best to set your business up based on the kind of business you do.
This session, featuring an introduction by Congressman Philip English, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives tax writing Ways and Means Committee, and Senior Government Relations Advisor at Arent Fox, will also offer a series of “questions to ask your accountant” allowing both print business owners and their financial and tax planners to be on the same page.
The presenters for this webinar will be:
Mark Nuzzaco, Vice President of Government Affairs at APTech
Edward Bortnick, Managing Partner at SKMB Public Accountants
Joseph Webb, Ph.D., Director of WhatTheyThink’s Economics and Research Center and President of Strategies for Management
APTech and WhatTheyThink also gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Stephen Entin, Senior Fellow, Tax Foundation, Washington, D.C.
Recorded April 3, 2018