Recently an acquaintance asked why he had not seen my byline on this site and I needed to explain that my time has been spent working on building our business and also creating a new digital site for our clients. The site is very basic, but shows images of every piece created along with the quantity produced. There is an area for ordering material we fulfill and also a section for ordering formatted stationery.

Then I started thinking about how I missed putting my thoughts out to the members here at WhatTheyThink.com, so here I am again!

When I began wondering about a subject, I was deluged with many small thoughts I have about our industry. One thing led to another and what follows is the first installment of, what I hope will become, a monthly rant.

Many of you out there are print and letter shop suppliers. The membership also includes many of the equipment manufacturers. Hopefully the thoughts I write will make you do one of two things. Either you will say to yourself, “WOW, that makes sense, I have a client I can discuss that with.” Or you will say “Yes, I do that already.”

Additionally, I hope some of these thought will bring a smile to your face, because, as the saying goes…laughter is the best medicine. With our industry being slow now, I know we can all use some medicine now. Also, by putting these thoughts in my column, I hope that I can avoid spending money on therapy for myself!

Thoughts from the Other Side of the Desk

- With the new business philosophy of smaller to no inventory, have the paper manufacturers thought about what they will do with those large empty warehouses? Did someone say Sam’s Club, Costco or BJ’s Warehouse?

- Why do we need to wait 4 to 5 years to hear anecdotal stories regarding Variable Digital Imaging projects? Millions are being spent on this technology yet it is almost impossible to find out what is being done and how it is working.

- If another salesman walks in to sell me on his/her company’s new digital equipment and then can not answer the simplest of questions, I will be convicted of salesacide…. Newspaper headline “Vince Marini, who has something to do with the post office, goes postal”

- Another “merger”…Moore/Wallace… Options begin to look very limited to us Print Production Professionals with the glut of mergers over the last 5-6 years.

- I love the digital revolution in our industry, but there is a victim to this. The craftsmanship seems to be waning. I can’t tell you the last time I had a piece of art to compare to the digital proof I received from my printer. I look at the proof…then look at the CD in my hand…back at the proof…over to the CD…yup, looks about right!

- I hate to say it, but I also think we are losing this craftsmanship in our press operators. With all the buttons and bells and the instantaneous match to color thanks to CTP, my 15 year-old son can run the press. OK, I am exaggerating, but I think you get the idea.

- The only real expo devoted to those in my profession is only three weeks away and I am saddened that I will not be attending. PRINT OASIS. The event is owned and produced by PrintBuyersOnline.com. (Arlington, VA from February 25-27) This is the second year for the Oasis, three days of seminars and information sessions aimed directly between the eyes of any Print Production Professional or Print Buyer. Unfortunately, I will be taking my aforementioned 15 year old to a baseball Spring Training Camp that week in South Carolina. His training takes precedent over my attending and participating in the show.

Well, I think that will do it for this month. Let me know if you agree, disagree, or if you put a hit out on me for my views!

Print Production…Where Creative Ideas Become Reality…..