Print Business Front Office Modernization: Part 2—Prospects and Customers
Think about your front office in terms of what “objects'' you need to manage there. In part 2 of a five-part series, we discuss customers and prospects. This means tracking sales activities and inserting more valuable information (both quantitative and qualitative) into your Print MIS regarding your customers.
The Job’s Not Finished ’til It’s Finished and Out the Door
Is your finishing operation holding your business back? Or depressing your margins with labor-intensive processes or waste caused by bindery errors? Are finishers disconnected islands in your workflow automation? This article, the third in a series sponsored by EFI, explains how to integrate the printing operation with nearline finishers to complete automation from prepress to finishing.
Printing Outlook 2021 Quick Look: 2020 Revenues
According to data from our recently published Printing Outlook 2021 special report, print industry revenues dropped -12.6% from 2019 to 2020, compared to +4.1% from 2018 to 2019.
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Industry News
- Mittera Expands West Coast Presence with Acquisition of Creel Printing
- Techtextil North America & Texprocess Americas to Pivot to New Event Cycle After 2022
- Digital Flex Joins Sponsors of FTA Europe 2021 Diamond Awards
- Brand iQ Workflow Webinars: Virtual Event
- Abbott Label Installs Domino K600i Dual Bar Digital UV Inkjet Printer
- Steven Schnoll Posts Third GCAG Article—Looks to the Future for Printing Companies
- EFI Quick Print Suite Gets Kapture Marketing on the Fast Track for its Integrated Services Offering
- Summa Launches Tray One, a Most Effective A3 Sheet Feeder for the S One Roll Cutter Series
- New Touch7 Neon Color Guides Simplify Use of Neon Inks in Digital Printers
- Inkcups Launches E-commerce Site for Product Orders
- Monadnock Paper Mills Announces New Partnership with Case Paper to Serve Florida Market
- Worzalla Celebrates Dr. Seuss Day by Donating Books to Little Free Libraries
- Crossmark Installs Eagle Systems’ Cold Foil
- Toppan Develops TOPMER™ Adhesive for Digital Printing
- Empire Screen Printing Partners with Medical Device and Equipment Manufactures
- CP Printing Expands Digital Capabilities with Colordyne Technologies’ 3800 Series AP – Retrofit
- YSoft SAFEQ Universal Print Connector Now Generally Available
- Y Soft Launched Cloud Printing with YSoft OMNI Series
- Tempo Beverages Invests in New PET Line from KHS
- BOPP Films for Packaging Market - Global Research Analysis, Trends, Competitive Share and Forecasts 2018 – 2026
So…You Want to Buy Some Software!
More and more printing companies are engaging with workflow automation solutions, which tend to bring better margins and often increase available capacity with current equipment. This is a path open to all companies—but walk carefully. In this feature, Pat McGrew explains how to evaluate your current software environment and what areas can offer the biggest returns.
European Print Industry Snapshot: United Kingdom
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 the United Kingdom.
Nine Continuous-Feed Inkjet Webinar Takeaways
Takeaways from a recent webinar on assessing continuous-feed (CF) inkjet for your print operation.
Is the Apparel Industry in the Midst of a Systemic Change?
In a recent TexProcess/TechTextil webinar, panelists discussed what is happening with respect to the textiles and apparel supply chain, especially what has been accelerated by the pandemic. Has there been a sourcing shift? Is there a balance shift between Western and Asian sources? What key elements do brands and suppliers need to address to bring about needed systemic change? How many are even capable of driving systemic change? These were some of the questions and issues discussed in this very interesting session.
Key Thermal Print Segments Poised to Rebound in 2021
COVID-19 has had a profound effect on thermal print equipment and consumable sales, but these will return to positive growth in 2021, according to the Smithers study The Future of Thermal Printing to 2025. This article summarizes some of the main trends identified in the study.
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.
JUST RELEASED
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.
Industry Data
Printing Outlook 2021 Quick Look: 2020 Revenues
According to data from our recently published Printing Outlook 2021 special report, print industry revenues dropped -12.6% from 2019 to 2020, compared to +4.1% from 2018 to 2019. Full Analysis
European Print Industry Snapshot: United Kingdom
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 the United Kingdom. Full Analysis
Commercial Screen Printing Employees—2010–2018
In 2010, there were 57,674 employees working in US screen printing establishments (NAICS 323113). By 2018, that number had increased +12.4% to 64,840. In macro news, seven “recovery indicators” for parts of the economy most acutely impacted by the pandemic. Full Analysis
Recent Discussion
Jennifer Matt on Print Business Front Office Modernization: Part 1—Guiding Principles
Jim, It all seems straightforward and generally it makes sense. I find the challenge for most print companies is to make strategic things a priority. Print manufacturing can hand you a bucket of "emergencies" every day (especially if you're runnin… Full comment Reply
Gordon Pritchard on Frank Says, “PS, I Love You”
In early 1985 I set up the prepress production department for a 28 page weekly newspaper "Prince Rupert This Week" by using a combination of Manhattan Graphics Inc.'s Ready, Set, Go! page layout program (later acquired by Letraset), Cricket Draw to h… Full comment Reply
David L. Zwang on APTech Brings Research, Standards and Education to 2021
Thayer... looks like an impressive line up for 2021! Reply
Cary Sherburne on PRINTING United Alliance and Idealliance Officially Merge
Watch for our video interview tomorrow! 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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Catherine McGavin on Print Business Front Office Modernization: Part 1—Guiding Principles
Well said: 'Print manufacturing can hand you a bucket of "emergencies" every day...' As it becomes a habit, and we get really good at responding to the stuff in that bucket, we reach the point where we can't maintain focus without the stimulus of an… Full comment Reply