Software Enabled Automation: What? Why? and How?
Software has evolved to allow automation with developers. Print businesses can take advantage of this if they invest in technical leadership and give them a seat at the decision-making table.
Who’s Tracking Direct Mail?
The Who’s Mailing What! Database contains an astounding wealth of information about direct mail. The database is growing by leaps and bounds, currently containing more than 130,000 mail pieces and with 13,000 mail pieces added every 30 days. Because these mail pieces are searchable, you can slice and dice the database any way you want—by industry, by sub-category, by search term, by color, by mailing format, and the list goes on.
Beware Of Shiny Things: How to Keep Your Focus on Your Priorities
WhatTheyThink contributor David Fellman writes about urgency and importance—specifically, how any task on your plate can be both of those things, just one of them, or neither of them. If you have more tasks on your plate than you have time in your day, it’s really important to know exactly where each one fits in terms of importance and urgency—and not to be distracted by “shiny things.”
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Industry News
- Registration Opens for Label Congress 2021
- ACTEGA Launches Signite™ to Transform the ‘No Label Look’ Market and Provide a Zero Waste Future
- Epson Debuts Production-Class Line of SureColor T-Series Wide-Format Printers for CAD and Graphics Applications
- Epson Helps Print Service Providers Power Up Productivity with All-New Line of Production-Class SureColor P-Series Wide-Format Photo Printers
- Great Lakes Brewing Company Celebrates INX Can Design Contest Victory
- Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions Announces New Automotive PPF and Window Film Training Classes
- Heidelberg Optimizes Customer Approach in the United Kingdom
- Kuipers Print & Sign Set for Colourful Future with Nazdar 708 Series Inks
- TLMI Announces Webinar to Guide Members on how to Complete Sustainability Award Submission Materials
- Jigraf Boosts Productivity With Nilpeter FA-17
- Minuteman Press Printing Franchise in Bethesda, MD Celebrates Grand Reopening
- Videotel Digital’s Digital Signage Media Players Now Come with Free Software
- Andrew Schofield Joins PrintLink
- $75,000 in PMMI Member Family Scholarships Awarded
- Beaver Paper Group Appoints TexSewn® Product Manager
- AF&PA Announces Better Practices, Better Planet 2030: Sustainable Products for a Sustainable Future
- Design Pool, LLC. Makes Their NeoCon Debut with an Exciting New Collection
- Highway 85 Creative Acquires Architectural Impressions; Expands Robust Capabilities
- WoodWing Strengthens Its Enterprise Information Management Position Through A Strategic Combination With Expansion, Supported By Main
- Seam Tapes Market to Bring in over US$368.4 Mn By the End of 2026 – Trends Market Research
Vycom Expands its PVC and Acrylic Recycling Program
Vycom (and its parent, The AZEK Company) launched its Recycling Take Back Program in 2019, accepting hard-to-recycle materials like PVC and other materials used for signage and display graphics and reusing them in decking products, diverting millions of pounds of plastic from landfills. The company has expanded the number of recycling plants, has been adding customers, and is renewing its outreach efforts.
Johnson’s World—If It Is Ink On Paper, It Is Printing: Musings, Droppings, Streams, and Flashes
Digital print or conventional print? Do you have a preference? More importantly, do your clients? If it is ink on paper, it is printing. The rest is just labelling.
EFI Reggiani Announces New Products at ITMA Asia, Broadening Extensive Digital Textile Printing Line
In its first in-person trade show appearance since the pandemic began, EFI Reggiani displayed its dedication to ongoing innovation for textiles, even during this difficult time. Three new products were announced at ITMA Asia in Shanghai last Friday, as well as ink manufacturing capabilities in Asia and updates to the EFI Reggiani BOLT. Read the full story.
Where Brands are Headed with Mass Customization
Mass customization avoids many pitfalls of typical VDP projects because it doesn’t require the development of elaborate cross-sections of personal user data. In this article, sponsored by HP and written by HP Indigo's “Workflow Chef” Gershon Alon, learn how creating such campaigns is relatively worry-free and less complex, yet can be a very effective way of giving each individual the feeling of being unique.
Get Ahead of Your Competitors through Strategic Landmines
WhatTheyThink contributor Lisa Magnuson explains how to be pro-active and re-active toward your competition.
A moment of levity. View Today's Dilbert
Life in print isn’t easy, right? You deserve a laugh. That's why MindFire brings you Dilbert. And why we help Printers & Agencies of all sizes grow sales with 'OptiChannel'. Learn more now.
Industry Data
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Printing Outlook 2021 - The WhatTheyThink Overview of the Current State of the Printing Industry
The new Printing Outlook 2021 report provides detailed analysis of the latest WhatTheyThink Business Outlook Survey, the latest industry economic data and macroeconomic trends, as well as industry and cultural technological trends to look out for in 2021.
Shipments: A New Season?
April 2021 printing shipments came in at $6.80 billion, a slight downturn from March’s $6.98 billion, but is consistent with the pattern we have been tracking over the past five years. Full Analysis
European Print Industry Snapshot: Belgium
In this bimonthly series, WhatTheyThink is presenting the state of the printing industry in different European countries based on the latest monthly production numbers. This week, we take a look at the printing industry in Belgium Full Analysis
Book Publishing Employees—2010–2018
According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 81,511 employees in NAICS 51113 (Book Publishing). Over the course of the decade, employment had dropped to a low of 64,085, but climbed back up to 73,108 in 2018. In macro news, the Great Rebound is underway. Full Analysis
Recent Discussion
Gina Danner on Affiliates Are Positioned to Support Local Printing Communities
I love the local support of our affiliates. I am concerned about the representation of the industry as a whole when it comes to political action., OSHA, representation with the USPS, and the various connections to ur OEMs. As we look at the 22 di… Full comment Reply
Jim Hamilton on Frank Has Spirit (Duplicators)
I think the statement "everyone has a printer/scanner a few feet away" is generationally biased. I love the all-in-one printer I have at home, and I use it frequently. But many young people see printers as an unnecessary purchase (and an overall nuis… Full comment Reply
Joe Webb on Frank Has Spirit (Duplicators)
But Frank, you left out the most important part of the mimeograph... THE SMELL!! In 1960s elementary and high school classrooms and hallways across the USA you could smell when it was semester final exam periods. :) I'll never forget learning how t… Full comment Reply
Elizabeth Gooding on Industry Veteran Patrick Henry to Retire
Pat, I'm so happy that you have finally been given Liberty without the death part. Your fans above have done a fabulous job extolling your many virtues so I will simply say that I whole heartedly agree and wish you the best. I hope your semi-retireme… Full comment Reply
Magazine
WhatTheyThink Magazine is the resource for the Commercial Printing, Visual and Graphic Arts Industries. Industry experts share their ideas and technical knowledge on ways to improve operations.
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Robert Lindgren on Affiliates Are Positioned to Support Local Printing Communities
Gina, I understand and agree with your concern as this is the relationship we enjoyed when we had a national federation, Printing Industries of America. This give our industry the resources and support of their local association and also provided the… Full comment Reply