WhatTheyThink recently learned that there was a move afoot to consolidate the research efforts of two associations, NPES and GAMIS, both known for the development and delivery of much-needed market research to their respective—largely vendor-based—memberships. GAMIS is currently in the process of balloting its members regarding the merger. Just about a year ago, WhatTheyThink ran a series on industry association consolidation, reflecting the opinions of association professionals, printers, and suppliers to the industry, in response to an opinion piece written by Frank Romano that was prompted by the decision of PIA and GATF to consolidate operations in Sewickley PA.

NPES, the Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies, is a trade association of some 420 member companies which manufacture and distribute equipment, systems, software, supplies used in printing, publishing and converting. The Association was founded as the National Printing Equipment Association in 1933. NPES makes available to its members a wide range of services including:

These deliverables are, in part, produced by NPES’ Market Research Committee, which has an annual budget of approximately $317,500. Research conducted by this committee is available to all active NPES members at no charge. For most members, the cost of membership in NPES is offset by the savings members receive in the cost of participating in trade shows produced by the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC), a joint venture among NPES, PIA/GATF and NAPL.