Working Over Your Workflow: 5 Steps to Turn Your Digital Printing Workflow into a Profit Maximizer
Reviewing your workflow on a regular cadence can lead to continuous improvement. It can also lead to continuous savings! With every new software tool and every new device there will be opportunities for more efficiency and optimization. Here is how to build your profit maximizer.
Small Business’ Growing Investment in DIY Marketing Software Creates Opportunities for Savvy Printers
Increasing numbers of small and mid-sized businesses are investing in DIY marketing automation. Platforms such as MailChimp, Pardot, and HubSpot lower the barrier to entry, but without the marketing and database expertise to put them to use, those tools are little more than window dressing. Heidi Tolliver-Walker explains how understanding where and how to plug in can be of significant value to those customers.
Making the Connection: Software Connects the Dots for a Display Graphics Provider
What do we talk about when we talk about “software” in the context of display graphics production? When it comes to print production, and especially “workflow automation,” what we’re usually talking about is “RIP and print” software—and getting this software to talk to all the other software in the shop.
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Industry News
- Powering Short-Run Book Printing with Xeikon
- Koenig & Bauer and PIA MidAmerica Support Mutual Visions and Initiatives
- Hamillroad’s Bellissima DMS - Top of Show in Brazil
- Epson Welcomes Dealers to its 2023 InkBoldly Partner Conference
- Sandy Alexander, a Snow Peak Capital Portfolio Company, Acquires Abbott Communications Group
- Denise Miano, M-EDP Joins Xplor International’s Board of Directors
- Pricer Offers Ecommerce, Pricing, Data Extraction Robots and Automated Quotation Software
- Fujifilm Expands its RxD Inkjet Pigment Dispersions Color Range
- Fedrigoni Launches its Annual Fedrigoni 365 Calendar Project to Celebrate Love
- Carrington Textiles to Showcase Latest Military Textile Innovations in the Middle East
- Pitney Bowes Declares Common Stock Dividend
- Daniel Margherio Joins IMA DAIRY & FOOD as National Business Development Manager
Off-the-Shelf Software Is No Solution: How to Customize a Software Solution That Solves Your Workflow Needs
With the shifting market directions of procurement and print production there is a lot to be learned about the new requirements, processes, and pain points of the customer base. Building a “one size fits all” solution will usually fall short of those goals. Ultimately the solution needs to fit the specific needs of a PSP and their customer and partner relationships.
Stop Buying Sticky Notes: Print Software Providers Are Developing Software to Evolve with Your Company
Senior Editor Cary Sherburne looks at how print software solution providers are responding to the evolving needs of customers.
The Target Report Interview: SupremeX Acquisition of Vista Graphic Communications
Stewart Emerson, President and CEO of SupremeX, discusses their recent acquisition of Vista Graphic Communications with Rod Bristol, a Director with Graphic Arts Advisors. Stewart shares SupremeX's business growth and history, the unique aspects of what they were looking for in a potential business to acquire, the due diligence and process throughout the transaction, unique challenges and opportunities to address, and the outcomes. Included is a checklist of what Stewart feels made this particular acquisition a success.
Graphic Arts Employment Flat or Declining in December
Overall printing employment was essentially flat in December 2022, being down -0.1% from November, and essentially unchanged from December 2021. Production employment was up +0.4% while non-production employment was down -1.1% from November.
Frank Wastes Paper
One benefit of a newspaper is the paper. Frank repeats himself as he bemoans the loss of newspapers and the paper that he gets as a residual benefit. He envisions a world in which we must purchase waste paper for packing, starting fires, and lining bird cages.
A moment of levity. View Today's Dilbert
Industry Data
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Printing Outlook 2023 - The WhatTheyThink Overview of the Current State of the Printing Industry
The new Printing Outlook 2023 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 2023 and beyond.
Graphic Arts Employment Flat or Declining in December
Overall printing employment was essentially flat in December 2022, being down -0.1% from November, and essentially unchanged from December 2021. Production employment was up +0.4% while non-production employment was down -1.1% from November. Full Analysis
Greeting Card Publishing Establishments—2010–2020
According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 107 establishments in NAICS 511191 (Greeting Card Publishing). Although this represents a net increase of 4% since 2010, it has been a category that has ebbed and flowed over the course of the decade, although we’re not talking about a tremendous number of establishments. In macro news, real GDP increased 2.9% annualized in Q4. Full Analysis
Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—France
This bi-weekly series of short articles aims at shedding a spotlight on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country and how revenues and employment developed in 2020, when the pandemic impacted the businesses. This time we look at France, the fourth-largest printing industry by turnover in Europe. Full Analysis
Recent Discussion
Robert Heithaus on What Are You Telling Your Customers About the Paper Shortage?
Having paper materials has been a big factor in winning business. It has been a trough, but it’s not all doom and gloom. We have suggested remedies to help bring back a better balance of supply and price by carefully weighing value and application … Full comment Reply
Bob Raus on Aleyant Leverages New Ownership to Spur Further Growth
Great discussion and insights here. Reply
Heidi Tolliver-Walker on What Are You Telling Your Customers About the Paper Shortage?
I'd love more people to respond to the survey. It's getting a decent response, but the more responses there are, the more accurate the results. If you haven't taken the survey, please do! Reply
Heidi Tolliver-Walker on What Are You Telling Your Customers About the Paper Shortage?
Yep — and hence why papermaking is like a cliff and not a spicket! Those are some crazy numbers! 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.
WhatTheyThink publishes 2 editions of the magazine: Printing News and Wide-Format & Signage. Subscription are free to qualified industry professionals or via paid subscription.
- Understanding inkjet for textile printing
- Lessebo Paper, together with Bonnier Books and Livonia Print, is launching a green paper quality for printing – Livonia Zero Offset by Lessebo Paper
- January 2023 Inkjet Installation Roundup
- Working with paper stocks and laminations for digital inkjet embellishments
- Digital Embellishment Alliance Launches New Website Community
- A closer look at the Landa S10P press
- SCREEN Europe adds automated colour calibration to its Truepress Jet 520HD series
- New innovations in digitally printed textiles address unmet needs
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Cory Sawatzki on The Labor Challenge of Print Software Expertise
You are so right Jennifer. And not just the MIS. Although it is the tip of the iceberg as they say, this same thing can be said for any main RIP, Variable software, Mailing software, eCommerce solution, etc. You have to know who your key technology c… Full comment Reply