Printing Industry Commentary & Analysis

Voice of the Customer: Direct Mailers Partner with Screen to Drive Growth and Efficiency

Printers and direct mailers of every flavor gathered at PRINTING United in September to explore new technology, finishing, and workflow solutions. Lois Ritarossi spoke with three Screen Americas customers about changes in their production environments and expanding direct mail services. The interviewees shared their perspectives on strategic partnerships, evolving their capabilities, and preparing for the future.

Driving Innovation and Sustainability: Key Takeaways from the Fashion Network Ecommerce Summit 2024

In this article, compliments of textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan, she highlights the recent Fashion Ecommerce Summit 2024 which took place in Manchester, UK. She notes that the ecommerce sector, including fashion, is poised on the brink of significant expansion and summarizes some of the interesting presentations delivered at the event.

SnapPress and Commercial Printing Trends: Short Runs for Big Goals

SnapPress supports commercial printers navigating evolving industry trends like sustainability, automation, and digitalization. Purpose-built for high-quality, short-run labels, the SnapPress LP-1 minimizes waste and maximizes efficiency. In this article, written and sponsored by SnapPress, learn how SnapPress, by offering eco-friendly, on-demand printing, enables companies to meet niche market demands while enhancing profitability in a competitive landscape.

Success Is Not Always Trusting Your Gut Instinct

Heidi Tolliver-Walker explains how to protect ourselves from our own brains.

What Makes Your PDF? (Part 1)

At a recent industry meeting, many printers pointed out that they are seeing more poor PDF files than ever before. The point was that many companies are offshoring content development, even for transaction and marketing mail. The PDFs coming into their print queues are so poor that some won’t process at all, while others cause delays in RIP and processing. Let’s look at your options!

Mercury Print Productions: From the Basement to the Bleeding Edge

Mercury Print Productions was founded in 1968 by Valerie Mannix as a typesetter and forms printer in the basement of her little ranch house. They closed off the garage so they could store paper and she would print downstairs. Today, they are successfully operating in 300,000 sq.ft. and are not afraid to try something new.

What’s Fueling Fashion Over-Consumption? And What Can We Do About It?

As the year comes to a close, we’re back on our soapbox about over-consumption, especially in fashion. Although we don’t mention fast fashion in this article, we are looking at you, Zara, Shein, and others who are pushing out low-quality, highly trendy stuff that usually ends up in the landfill. This article places a focus on several of the online resale platforms that make buying and selling fashion easy for consumers—even profitable—enabling a circular lifecycle and helping to reduce fashion’s horrendous climate impact. If you know of resale platforms we haven’t discussed here, please add them in the comments section, with a few words about how you have used them!

Johnson’s World: Musings, Droppings, Streams and Flashes, Part 14

Vague musings, name-dropping, streams of consciousness and occasional flashes of brilliance...from Johnson’s World.

September Shipments: No Fall This Autumn

September 2024 shipments came in at $7.67 billion, up ever so slightly from August’s $7.66 billion—the third straight monthly increase. Sure, it’s a small increase, but we’ll take what we can get.

Around the Web: Perishing Papers. Vonnegut Volume. Comic Controversy. Country Con. Precious Prime. Fromage Felony.

Several major NJ newspapers discontinue their print editions. A new limited deluxe edition of Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-5. Comic Sans turns 30—is it time to reconsider its awfulness? New clues about the origin of writing. An elaborate and successful 19th-century scam involving a fictional Central American country. The new largest prime number ever discovered. A mathematical model that determines the optimal shape of a beer glass that keeps beer cool. In memoriam: Murray McCrory, inventor of the JanSport backpack. A wooden “artisanal satellite” has just been launched. “Your air fryer may be spying on you,” for some reason. A scammer steals 22 tons of cheddar from a London cheese shop. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

The Target Report: Paper Industry Transformation Moves Forward—October 2024 M&A Activity

International Paper Downsizes Again, CJK Rationalizes Kodi Again, and more…

Salem One Takes “University” Approach to Workforce Development

Salem One, the largest independently owned packaging, print, and direct marketing/mail operation in the Southeast, believes it will gain a significant competitive edge by committing to a new model for internal training and cultivating up-and-coming leaders within its ranks. Patrick Henry explains how the company’s “leadership pipeline” has become an integral part of its business strategy.

“Green” Textiles and Apparel: Digital Printing Leads the Way

As the world continues to prioritize sustainability and “green” practices, the textile industry is experiencing a significant transformation to meet eco-friendly standards and government regulations. This article explores what sustainability means for textile and apparel companies, and how digital printing is paving the way for a more sustainable future.

Key Insights and Five Stand-Out DTF Digital Print Solutions for The Garment Decoration Industry

Have you been thinking about getting into direct to film (DTF)? It’s certainly been a hot topic at shows this year! In this article, compliments of textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan, you’ll find valuable insight, including how this technology is poised to disrupt Direct to Garment and screen printing for many applications. She also provides links to some of the suppliers to the industry who offer DTF solutions.

Adobe Adds Integrated Print Capability to Adobe Express

Cary Sherburne looks at a new collaboration between Adobe and Zazzle that adds integrated printing capabilities to Adobe Express and allows users to design and order printed products through an open print ecosystem.

Customer Value Proposition: Product/Solution Offering

In the latest edition of his Smart Strategy Insights Series, Wayne Lynn explains how you must have the capabilities to provide the “deliverables” the customer needs to secure their desired outcomes.

Resurgence of “Catalogs the White”

After a decline, catalogs are on the rise again. Heidi Tolliver-Walker looks at the resurgence of print catalogs—and how they have changed with the times.

Cereus Graphics Quietly Steals the Show

Phoenix, Ariz.’s Cereus Graphics recently won multiple awards from the Foil and Special Effects Association (FSEA) for Excellence in Foil Stamping and Embossing—a nice way for a company to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Heidi Tolliver-Walker chronicles Cereus Graphics’ journey.

Kodak: Reestablishing a Brand

The Kodak brand became ubiquitous with photos creating the tagline a “Kodak moment” and becoming a part of the vernacular. Then came technological and market shifts, bringing them to bankruptcy. However, they are now profitable and innovative again, with what appears to be a future of growth.

Sizing the Print Industry in Europe—Greece

This bi-weekly series of short articles provides details on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country, especially tracking the number of printing establishments. This time we look at Greece.

A Primer on Web-to-Print Integrations: Automate Operations and Offer More Value

In this article written and sponsored by Propago, learn how efficient integration in web-to-print solutions is crucial for printers to automate operations and add value. With diverse integration methods, systems communicate seamlessly, reducing errors and manual tasks. Connecting key platforms streamlines workflows, enabling real-time updates, improved data accuracy, and a responsive customer experience.

The Label and Packaging Industry in 2024: Trends Shaping the Future

From digital innovations to eco-friendly solutions, several key trends are reshaping how businesses approach their packaging strategies. Joanne Gore enumerates them.

Are You In Control of Your VOC Emissions?

Cary Sherburne talks with Anoosheh Oskouian, CEO and President of Ship & Shore Environmental, Inc., about their Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer solutions, designed to capture VOCs and other emissions and eliminate them safely.

Still Wondering About the Epson Fiery Acquisition?

As noted at the time by my colleague David Zwang, many were scratching their heads over Epson’s acquisition of Fiery. Last Friday, November 1, Epson provided more detail about its strategy and expectations related to this acquisition, which are summarized here.

Tales from the Database: Packing it In

Drawing on six years’ worth of Print Business Outlook surveys, our “Tales from the Database” series looks at historical data to see if we can spot any particular hardware, software, or business trends. This issue is in part devoted to labels and packaging, so we delve into the data to gauge print businesses’ interest in adding packaging capabilities.

Around the Web: Logo Library. Auctioning AI. Plonk Packaging. Damned Domain. Cryptid Carnival. Echo Education. Super Stations. Fitting Footwear. Future Food.

The Space Exploration Logo Archive (SELA) is a series of printed books celebrating 70+ years of space travel. Artwork by robot artist Ai-Da is up for auction at Sotheby’s. A study by the UK’s Wine Society found the most sustainable option for wine packaging, although we have questions. Did you know that domain names can be “haunted”? Reconstructing the face of a 400-year-old vampire. Johnstown, Pa., hosts the annual “Squonkapalooza” to celebrate a mythical beast. An electric scooter that uses a graphene-based battery. Get rid of autumn leaves with ease using a leaf blower mounted to a robot dog. Learn how to echolocate in 10 weeks. Fifteen “stunning train stations.” A line of sneakers that grow with your kids. Whole Foods’ culinary trends for 2025. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Biomarker Ink Additives for DNA-Based Track and Trace

Mary Schilling spoke with Bruce Carnes, director of business development for Diversified Nano Solutions, which creates custom inks and fluids for high-security track and trace applications.

The Case For Standards In Digital Print Embellishments

Digital embellishments are poised for high growth, but the embellishment landscape is still very much the “Wild West.” Kevin Abergel makes the case for the need for standards in digital print embellishments.

Executive Leadership’s Critical Role in AI Adoption

Artificial intelligence is moving from theory into practice, but its success depends on the leadership and strategic decisions made at the highest level of an organization. This article explores the critical role that executive leaders play in AI adoption and the challenges they face.

Unboxing the Folding Carton Market

Katrina Edwards dives into the world of the folding carton: its growth trajectory, market trends, and an overview of the manufacturing process.

Branding Bullseye: How to Hit Packaging Color Targets

David Hunter explains how to avoid a brand owner’s worst nightmare: two packages for the same product sitting side by side on the store shelf and the colors don’t match.

Consumers on Four Factors That Influence Brand Trust

Remember the days when we used to talk about using personalization to drive sales? Today, we’re hearing more about personalization being used to drive things much more difficult to quantify, such as brand loyalty and brand trust. Heidi Tolliver-Walker looks at nuggets from Marigold’s just-released survey “Relationship Marketing Trends: Brand Rankings Report.”

Up All Night with Gina Danner: Scaling Up Requires a New Approach to Leadership

This article kicks off a new feature that will run regularly on WhatTheyThink.com in which Gina Danner, CEO of Kansas City’s NextPage, and other print business owners will look at the issues and concerns that beset them.

Executive Q&A: Michelman’s Lori Gobris

We sat down with Lori Gobris, Michelman’s Global Marketing Director, Packaging, about the company’s diverse product portfolio, commitment to sustainability, and a growing need for collaboration across the circular economy supply chain.

Executive Q&A: Canon

WhatTheyThink sat down with Francis McMahon, Executive Vice President, and Nicole Tully, Manager, Marketing Communications & Sales Enablement, Production Print Solutions of Canon for a wide-reaching conversation that touched on a Canon business update, how better targeted marketing campaigns can help save print, and education initiatives the company has been involved in to help attract the next generation to the printing industry.

Back to the Present with UV Retrofits for Offset

The many benefits of UV production are in reach without investing in a new, UV-equipped offset press. With the right modifications, existing equipment can find its place in the UV spectrum as well. Patrick Henry explains.

Welcome to the Print & Packaging Issue!

Issue 5 of WhatTheyThink magazine is now out, and this week and next we will be publishing the contents of that issue. Here’s a preview.

September Graphic Arts Employment Remains Fairly Flat

Overall printing employment in September 2024 was not much changed from August with production employment down 0.2% and non-production employment up 0.5%.

Around the Web: Real Raven. Nurdle Negation. Wallpaper Warming. Color Kindle. Code Controversy. Computer Chronicle. Runner’s Racket. Snack Sobriquet.

The inspiration for Poe’s “The Raven” A new line of sustainable wrapping paper. A paper-based alternative to plastic “nurdles.” A research project intended to “improve the reading experience for people with low vision through typography.” Electric wallpaper for home heating. The invention of the barcode was not without controversy. A 1968 Bell Labs computer documentary that inspired Stanley Kubrick. A simple, ingenious invention for runners: the Runbell. Goldfish—the snack cracker—is changing its name to “Chilean Sea Bass,” for some reason. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

The Next Leap in Automation: AI’s Role in Driving Print Business Growth

AI is more than a buzzword in print. It has the potential to automate complex print tasks, optimize resources, and improve processes. Fiery, an industry leader in digital print technology, is at the forefront of this transformation, integrating AI into solutions that streamline job processing, enhance inventory management, and ensure consistent print quality. This article, written and sponsored by Fiery, explores how Fiery’s AI-driven tools are empowering print providers to boost efficiency, reduce costs, and drive growth for print businesses.

Second Time Around for Vintage Machinery in the Used Equipment Market

A new piece of printing equipment becomes used at the first moment it goes into production. Its useful life doesn’t have to end when its original owner no longer needs it. Patrick Henry explains.

Using Chat GPT to Analyze the Most Effective Subject Lines

Heidi Tolliver-Walker explores how forms and labels manufacturer Wise used ChatGPT to effectively evaluate its marketing campaign.

Customer Value Proposition: Target Customer

In the latest edition of his Smart Strategy Insights Series, Wayne Lynn explains how to know who your best customers are, what they look like, and why they’re your best customers.

Gallus “System to Compose”—Adaptation Dynamics Included

In an environment of changing markets and technologies, adaptability is becoming a key requirement for modern machine systems. Guest contributor Dieter Finna of pack.consult looks at how a future-oriented machine concept impresses with its flexibility to seamlessly integrate additional printing and finishing modules when changing market conditions require it.

Sizing the Print Industry in Europe—Germany

This continuing series of short articles provides some country details on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country, especially tracking the number of printing establishments. This time we look at Germany.

After the Flood: BOBST Opens New Competence Center in Florence, Italy

Sean Smyth reports from the opening ceremony at BOBST’s new 1,200 square meter Competence Center in Florence, Italy, where they showed off six of their label, flexible packaging, and carton presses.

Will a New California Law Make a Dent in Textile Waste?

California’s governor just signed into law a first-in-the-nation law requiring companies that make clothing, footwear, and textiles—including drapes, towels and bedding—to set up the nation’s first mandatory take-back program for unwanted clothes. This comes on the heels of a similar law in France, foreshadowing big changes for the industry and hopefully, benefits for the planet.

Around the Web: Type Tournament. Price Package. Drone Delivery. Mobile Museum. Absent Accordions. Screw Story. Food Fallacies.

Show off your mad typing skills with “Typing Bowl.” A German company print the price of its products right on the packaging. Delivering food by a robot–drone team. When online, visit the Mobile Phone Museum. An elaborate, Rube Goldberg-like snooze alarm. A graphene-based “electronic tongue.” The last French accordion manufacturer has gone out of business. Why is it called a “Phillips head screwdriver”? Many of America’s most “traditional” food recipes were based on marketing campaigns. New TikTok-inspired “smoked Cheez-Its” are coming. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Outdoor Advertising Establishments—2010–2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 2,378 establishments in NAICS 54185 (Outdoor Advertising). This NAICS actually grew post-Great Recession, with a slight decline mid-decade before climbing back up to 2,765 establishments in 2018. 2019 saw a massive drop in establishments, but it has climbed back up to 2,532 establishments in 2021. In macro news: retail sales increased in September.

The Future of Printing: A Conversation with Ford Bowers, President and CEO of the PRINTING United Alliance

As technological advancements redefine the status quo, it becomes essential for enterprises to not just adapt but anticipate the changes on the horizon. Ford Bowers, President and CEO of the PRINTING United Alliance, underscored this in a recent interview with Texintel CEO and WhatTheyThink contributor, Debbie McKeegan at PRINTING United in Las Vegas.

Print’s Enduring Role in Customer Communications

Even in today’s digital world, printed materials play a powerful role in customer communications. In fact, firms that are focused on customer experience have discovered an excellent harmony between print and digital channels. This article explores how businesses can optimize the strengths of both digital and printed media to culminate more meaningful customer relationships.

What Do Users Really Think of USPS Informed Delivery?

A look at the most recent USPS Informed Delivery update (June 2023–June 2024), including updated user stats, the latest open and click-through rates, and number of Informed Delivery campaigns.

Sizing the Print Industry in Europe—France

This bi-weekly series of short articles provides details on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country, specifically tracking the number of printing establishments. This time we look at France.

Collaborating for Visibility!

Whether you are a printer who does industry shows in the segments you serve or a vendor selling into the community printers at a local, regional, or global event, how you come to the show and the samples you share tell a story. Why not make it bigger and better by collaborating with your clients and partners?

Best Practices for Hiring and Retaining Employees in a Labor-Constrained Market

Finding talent continues to be an issue for many printing and packaging businesses, perhaps even more so than in other industries due to perceptions about the business that are no longer accurate. In this article, we offer 10 suggestions for hiring and retaining talent that may help you ensure access to the best possible talent pool in your business.

Around the Web: Kafka Covers. Grass Graphics. Costume Chemicals. Time Trends. Comma Creation. Cassette Comeback. Morticia Menu.

Using Rapid Liquid Printing to produce a handbag. Lawnmower-based graphic design. The dangers of really fast fashion: Halloween costumes. A temperature-controlling graphene-enhanced jacket. Where did punctuation come from? Cassette tapes are becoming popular. The slow acceptance of wearing pants. Burger King’s Addams Family-themed Halloween menu. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

August Shipments Indeed

August 2024 shipments came in at $7.68 billion, up from July’s $7.44 billion—the second straight monthly increase.

Innovation Spotlight: De Montfort University Unveils Scalable Textile Technologies to Enable Circularity

Future Fabrics Expo in the UK featured more than 10,000 different textiles and solutions on display for the fashion industry to exploit innovation in sustainable materials and the transition toward circularity. Read more in this article compliments of textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan.

The Intriguing Possibilities of Inkjet/Offset Integration

Installing inkjet systems inline on offset press equipment stands out as the opportunity to meld digital non-impact printing with analog impact printing in a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts.

You’ve Got 30 Seconds, What Can Your Business Do For Me?

In the latest edition of his Smart Strategy Insights Series, Wayne Lynn explains why, without a Customer Value Proposition, your business is like a ship without a rudder.

Could Community Impact Be Your Next Marketing Tool?

What is a Director of Impact? This is a role within a company that develops and leads programs focused on community growth, investment, and well-being, ensuring that sustainable practices are woven into all decision-making. Good vibes and good press have every bit as much an opportunity to benefit and differentiate a printer’s business as it does any other. Heidi Tolliver-Walker explains.

Exploring AI in Print

European section editor Ralf Schlözer reports from the German Printing Industry Association’s annual Print & Media Congress, where most of the presentations centered on AI. How is AI perceived by printers in Europe?

The Target Report: Print Providers Seek Variety Via Acquisitions—September 2024 M&A Activity

Artisan Colour Acquires MarComm, CJK Rationalizes Kodi, and more…

Leveraging Interdisciplinary Research for Smarter Fashion

Work at the ATLAS Institute at the University of Colorado Boulder is leveraging interdisciplinary research to develop new bio-based fibers that can be dissolved using heat at end of life, supporting disassembly and electronics recyclability in smart textiles, as well as to make textiles more sustainable and less reliant on petroleum-based feedstocks.

Around the Web: Graphic Gags. Hail Hamlet. Leaf Lenses. Map Mural. Absent AI. Dorito Dye. Fixing Flakes. Car Ketchup.

Print magazine talks with a former graphic designer for SNL. A production of Hamlet based on Radiohead’s “Hail to the Thief.” Virginia parks provide special viewfinders so the color blind can leaf-peep. Making a giant mural out of a Google Earth Easter egg. The Moon is getting its own time zone. This year’s Lego Advent calendars are now available. According to the New Yorker, there is no AI. Cool. “Mice made transparent with a dye used in Doritos.” Making the original Corn Flakes recipe. VW’s Gewürz Ketchup briefly available in the US. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Keypoint Intelligence Study Reveals Top Challenges and Strategies for High-Volume Apparel Decorators in 2024

In 2024, Keypoint Intelligence conducted an in-depth study examining the operations of high-volume apparel decorators across the globe. The report explores various printing technologies, including Screen Printing, Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing, Hybrid Printing, and Dye Sublimation. This article highlights the top challenges faced by decorators using these technologies and discusses key strategies used to overcome them.

Smart Sales Training for Today’s Reps

Sales training is essential for any organization that wants to improve its revenue and build a successful sales team, but many sales representatives will tell you that they simply don't enjoy this training. This article explains why traditional training methods often fall flat and explores some alternatives that can help today’s reps sell more effectively.

Tech Highlight: The “Magnificent Seven”—Memorable Tech Takeaways from PRINTING United, Las Vegas 2024

In this article, textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan highlights what she calls the “Magnificent Seven” after sifting through the plethora of new products and technologies that were on display at PRINTING United 2024.

Automation in the Order Process: Redefining Where Automation Begins

In this article, written and sponsored by Aleyant, David Graves from Aleyant highlights how printing companies can automate their processes and previews a webinar that will expand upon these points by showcasing PDF2Press, a new product from Aleyant.

Much Ado About Color: The Canon Colorado Wallcovering Challenge

At PRINTING United, Canon showcased the results of a unique challenge that highlighted the color consistency and repeatability of its Colorado line of UVgel printers. Richard Romano looks at The Wallcovering Challange.

Technology Outlook: Software and Workflow

Heidi Tolliver-Walker recaps WhatTheyThink’s recent Technology Outlook webinar on software and workflow in which Pat McGrew and Ryan McAbee looked at the trends and technology introductions in this category.

Every Business Can Use a Magazine!

Consider your options for staying in touch with your customers and attracting new ones. If your first thought is a digital marketing campaign, stop! While digital channels are a common tool, they put you into a very big pond with a lot of other bait. Think outside of bits and bytes—consider print. Specially, consider a print magazine! Here’s why!

Sizing the Print Industry in Europe—Finland

This bi-weekly series of short articles provides some country details on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country, specifically, tracking the number of printing establishments. This time we look at Finland.

Designing for Next Use: Changing the Focus in Textiles and Packaging

Circularity in both textiles and packaging is getting more attention, and importantly, not just recyclability or using recycled materials, but creating a truly circular life cycle that begins with designing for next use. This article explores this concept and uses two companies—Patagonia and DS Smith—as examples of what’s possible to truly create a circular economy.

Seiko Epson Acquires Fiery. Epson??

When the Fiery acquisition by Epson was announced, many were scratching their heads trying to understand the logic and synergies—although the acquisition does make sense when you look at the expansion and growth rate of inkjet.

Sign Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 5,824 establishments in NAICS 33995 (Sign Manufacturing). This NAICS category tumbled in the wake of the Great Recession, ultimately climbing back up to 5,865 establishments in 2019, but dipping a little in 2020, and then back up to 5,814 in 2021. In macro news: BEA leaves Q2 GDP growth unchanged at 3.0%.

Around the Web: Viva Vice. Cloned Critic. Fitzgerald’s Flat. More Mozart. Globe Goofs. Hat Hating. Railway Rodents. Breakfast Bag.

Vice is launching a subscription service—and a print edition. London newspaper is resurrecting its deceased art critic with AI. A billboard-based art project. A robotic “impact printing” system 3D prints with clay. Who would have thought that 2024 would bring us new Mozart music? The oldest surviving globe dates from 1492 and is wildly inaccurate even by 1492 standards. A flying grocery cart. Graphene-enhanced asphalt goes on trial in the UK. When did people stop wearing hats? Jimmy Dean launches a tote bag that can keep your breakfast sandwiches warm. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Printers Rally to Cause of Sharing America’s Founding Documents with Students

Like their forebears at the time of the nation’s founding, printers are doing what they do best to popularize the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. Patrick Henry looks at a project launched by the Bill of Rights Institute to help promote civics education for students and their teachers.

Shaping the Future of Print and Packaging: Insights from HP’s Haim Levit

What comes next in the Print and Packaging Industry? In this interview, sponsored by HP, HP’s Haim Levit, SVP & Division President of HP Industrial Print, shares his vision on the key trends emerging from drupa, including the role of automation, AI, and, sustainability in transforming the industry.

The Relationship Between Strategy and Business Models

In the latest installment in the Smart Strategy series, Wayne Lynn explains why It is helpful to map your strategy onto your business model—and to do this requires an understanding of the components, what each does, and how they interrelate.

Binding and Finishing: Don’t Miss the Innovations

Heidi Tolliver-Walker recaps last month’s Technology Outlook webinar on binding, finishing, and embellishment in which Kevin Abergel and Trish Witkowski provided a 50,000-foot look at the trends and technology introductions in the category.

September Event Trifecta: It Wasn’t drupa, But It Was Still a Long Week!

Recently, North America had three print technology events: PRINTING United, LabelExpo, and SuperCorrExpo—all in the same week! All three of them promised lots of new print solutions and equipment. After surviving drupa, I thought I would try to see if I still had the stamina to do this trifecta of events. Spoiler alert, I failed…

Circularity in Textiles: Some Thoughts About How to Get There

It seems like all of a sudden, news about forward movement in circularity initiatives for the textile industry are coming fast and furiously. In this article, we summarize a few of them and explain their importance—to the industry and to the planet!

July Graphic Arts Employment Was Flat Virtually Across the Board

Overall printing employment in July 2024 was down slightly in July with production employment down 0.6% and non-production employment up 0.4%.

Around the Web: Font Fracas. Singularity Soon. Data Display. Mesopotamian Meals. Pizza Profile. Eggy Equinox. Cellular Suspense. Taco Turmoil.

Have “fontroversies” become less common? Is the Singularity all that near? A three-day exhibition of radical data visualizations. The Campbell Soup Company is removing the word soup and adding an apostrophe. Make these dishes from the world’s oldest known cookbook. Have your resumé printed on Pizza Hut pizza boxes. Sunday is the autumnal equinox—get your eggs ready! How screenwriters of horror films solve “the cellphone problem.” A 3D printer designed to cut cardboard into cat scratch pads. When is National Taco Day, exactly? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Streamlining Your Workflow with AI: Lessons from The Jetsons

The increasing adoption of artificial intelligence has spurred a widespread integration of new technologies. AI is more than just the talk of the town—it has proven that it can walk the walk. This article explores how AI integration is leading us into the future.

How Smart Manufacturing Will Change Fashion, the Textile Industry, and the Future of Retail

According to textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan, rewiring the entire apparel supply chain is underway but progress is slow and painfully incremental—and must accelerate if the industry is to make positive environmental change. In this article, first published on Pixel to Parcel, McKeegan explains how smart manufacturing in the textile industry can help accelerate this much-needed transformation.

Happy Employees, Happy Bottom Line

When done right, employee recognition not only engages employees and boosts morale, but it can improve an organization’s financial success. Heidi Tolliver-Walker looks at a recent report on the benefits of employee recognition programs.

Is GIGO Killing Your Analytics?

As we enter the last quarter of the year, you may be crunching numbers and planning strategies based on what you see. You may have a set of trusty spreadsheets that you update or rely on your ERP, MIS, and back-office programs to build reports to analyze. What happens if the data you rely on is wrong?

Sizing the Print Industry in Europe—Denmark

This bi-weekly series of short articles provides some country details on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country, especially tracking the number of printing establishments. This time we look at Denmark.

Slow Fashion and Landmark Textile Recycling Bill: Some Progress Underway, But We Still Need More!

We’ve been talking a great deal about the deleterious effects of fast fashion on our planet. Now we have a counterpoint to discuss—an effort in Congress to rein in fast fashion with the launch of the Slow Fashion Caucus. Plus, California is putting even more teeth into its recycling efforts with a proposed bill that establishes an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for recycling clothing and textile fibers. And France is proposing a Fast Fashion Tax and an EU ban on exporting used clothing.

All Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 358 establishments in NAICS 322299 (All Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -22% since 2010. In macro news, inflation was virtually flat in August.

Around the Web: Darth Dreary. Horror House. Phone Folds. Misnamed Monitor. Toddling Table. Cassette Collection. Fridge Fashion. Insulation Initiative. Dew Deal.

The art of letterpress printing. James Earl Jones reads “The Raven.” “The year without summer” was great for Gothic horror. Huawei has introduced a trifold phone. The worst product name ever. The next trend in home décor: living furniture. An archive of audio cassette design. Good grief: “fridgescaping.” Traceable down insulation. Redesigning nail clippers. Trademarking “Mountain Time”? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

The Target Report Annual Review—TTM August 2024 M&A Activity

Viewed from the perspective of M&A activity in the printing, packaging, and related graphic communication industries, the pandemic is finally firmly in the rearview mirror. Many printing and packaging businesses are doing well. However, there are some bumps in the road. Deal counts are down again, bankruptcies and non-bankruptcy closures have increased, and lenders have resumed pressuring poorly performing companies. Packaging is still the most active segment, but not close to the peak reached in 2022. The number of deals involving commercial print companies has increased for the second year in a row. Wide-format companies are showing up in greater numbers in our deal stats, while the number of direct mail companies selling or buying remains low.

Tech Highlight: Nine Digital Textile Printing Workflow Software Solutions for Accuracy, Efficiency, Speed, and Profitability

Looking for tools and solutions to increase efficiency and quality in textile printing? Look no further. Textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan highlights nine software solutions that cater to the needs of digital textile print providers of all sizes, delivering tailored solutions to boost productivity, streamline workflows, and elevate profitability.

Why is Strategy Necessary?

If the goal of a business is to make money, both now and in the future, how does strategy help that happen? In the latest edition of bis Smart Strategy Insights Series, Wayne Lynn explains.

Technology Outlook: What’s the Future of Production Print?

Heidi Tolliver-Walker recaps last month’s Technology Outlook webinar on production print, which covered offset, toner, and inkjet.

Seaway Printing Is First with Nonstop Roll Splicing and Sheeting for Offset

It couldn’t be done until it was done by a Green Bay, Wis., printer with a keen eye for increasing press OEE and driving process improvement throughout the plant. Patrick Henry looks at how Seaway Printing boosted offset productivity with nonstop splicing and sheeting capabilities.

Remembering Bob Lindgren

Industry veteran Jim Olsen remembers his good friend and printing industry leader Bob Lindgren, who passed away on August 29.

Carbon Capture Dichotomy: Real Investments or Carbon Credits?

Two articles recently caught my attention relative to sustainability and carbon capture. Google and Microsoft are taking diametrically opposed actions. (And by the way, they are also collaborating on some initiatives!) In this article, we reiterate definitions of carbon offsets or credits and the most common ways it is implemented, as well as discuss the difference between investing in carbon capture or removal directly and through credits. Carbon capture is likely the fastest way to stem the tide of climate crisis, although it won’t happen overnight. There are some big projects underway, but many still need to reach scale and affordability. And they need to be done safely, ethically, and transparently.

Commentary & Analysis

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