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Printing Industries of America's “Green Guide for Graphic Communications” has been sitting on their cyber-shelves for more than a year. It's free to PIA members. So how come you haven't used it? Read More
I was having lunch at the MPA-AMC conference last week with a very major publisher who is deeply involved with the creation of digital magazines. His titles have had great notoriety and a fair amount of success. To make a point in this conversation I devised an analogy that a few days later still makes a great sense to me. Read More
Can paper really protect two light bulbs and two coffee mugs from a brick and a renegade delivery driver? The power of the pyramid is real, and I'm a believer! Read More
There have been mixed reviews about Graph Expo. A slow start on Sunday. Not much offset. Andy Tribute, as always, was right in the thick of things. In this article he wraps up his thoughts on the event, and looks forward to Graph Expo 2011. Read More
Looking for a good read? Check out this review of I Live in the Future and Here’s How It Works: Why Your World, Work and Brain are Being Creatively Disrupted, by Nick Bilton. Bilton calls it “a unique reading experience,” and it is. Each chapter begins with a QR Code! (And this from a “Gray Lady” reporter.) It even includes some history about how print was one of the original disruptive technologies. Read on! Read More
In the seventh article of this series, industry expert and WhatTheyThink contributor David Zwang continues his discussion about cross-media communications and production, this time with a discussion of what new skills are required and obstacles likely to be encountered for printers to bring cross-media services into their businesses. It focuses on how to grow the talent, or where to find the talent, that is required to be successful. Read More
Dr. Joe explains what the numbers 30, 60, and 100 have to do with 2020 and our industry. Somehow, it all adds up. The unemployment report shows an “L” shaped recession, even though we are now in an extended recovery. See what 30, 60, and 100 have in store for us. Read More
August 2010 commercial printing shipments were $7.3 billion, up $235 million (+3.3%) compared to 2009. Adjusting for inflation, shipments were up +2.2. Read More
Patient News Publishing (Haliburton ON) was the winner of the 2009 WhatTheyThink Environmental Innovation Award for Environmental Sustainability and Your Community, which recognized a company that is involved in an environmentally progressive community program.Alice Miller, IT Director, tells about her company’s programs that support both the environment and the community. Read More
The last couple of years have been difficult for both printers and suppliers to our industry. While there are positive signs that indicate a path to recovery, and many companies are investing to better position themselves for a brighter future, many suppliers to the industry believe that we have too many trade shows and too many of them are too siloed for today’s diverse environment. Hear what they—and GASC—have to say. Read More
The Federal Trade Commission has released its long-awaited Green Guides revision draft for public comment. It's a big step in the right direction, but how far will it go to stop greenwashing in its tracks? Read More
Over the past several years, trade show attendance has declined due to economic downturns. Organizations are trying to do more with fewer people, which makes it all the more difficult to get away from the office to attend an event. Much of the product information that we used to get from trade shows is now available at your fingertips via the Internet. Barb Pellow took the opportunity to ask a number of people why they were at Graph Expo 2010 and to determine their specific areas of interest. The message was that attendees came to learn, listen, and network. Read More
What's that they say about not hiding your light under a bushel? In a market that is moving toward increasing sustainability, it is only natural that green claims become woven into the fabric of sales presentations and literature. I only wished they had not been woven-in so deeply at this Graph Expo. Read More
Lately, we have been discussing the trend of newspaper, book and magazine publishers to convert their content for e-readers. This trend is hoped to reverse the decline in readership and attract new readership. But the glacial decline in readership is not slowing or thawing. For example, the Pew Center for People & the Press recently reported that only 31% of Americans today get their news from the newspaper, as compared to 56% in 1991. Read More
We’ll be happy to stand corrected if our count is wrong, but, after prowling the show floor of Graph Expo 2010 in search of lithographic printing equipment, we came up with only four fully assembled offset presses. Where did the heavy iron go? That’s not all that makes this year’s event seem a bit eerie when contrasted with the Graph Expo and Print shows of years past. Read More
Bo Jackson (yes, THAT Bo Jackson) was a keynote speaker. Offset presses seemed completely absent. Throngs of passionate spectators showed up at a time when some experts say the industry is perched for the second half of the double dip. Richard Romano reports on a Graph Expo that, so far, is full of pleasant surprises. Read More
These days software companies are building products that they know will get used in larger “mashup” solutions. The trend in software has moved towards simpler, interchangeable apps with fewer features but better functionality. The recent Mimeo-FSI partnership highlights a great example of an existing company getting dragged into the present to make the adjustments necessary to be competitive. Read More
Dr. Joe explains the latest Institute for Supply Management manufacturing report in terms of its key components of new orders, prices paid, employment, and imports. The manufacturing side of the economy is still growing, but it looks like it's slowing down, and inflation is starting to creep into the system. Read More
Thomas Ackerman Jr, owner of Spirit Graphics, and his business partner (and mother) have been working diligently for approximately 12 years in the printing industry to change the way they do business as a whole with the environment, their employees and themselves in mind. Learn what initiatives earned them the coveted WTT award. Read More
In this interview with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne, Ricoh Europe Executive Vice President Peter Williams talks about the company’s IPEX experience, European distribution strategies, and the progress being made with integration of IKON and InfoPrint Solutions into the customer experience. Read the full interview. Read More
The most successful print supplier into the book printing market has been HP with their T300 press. Andy Tribute looks at the success of HP in this market. He also visits the first installation of the new HP T200 "entry-level" continuous feed color press at O'Neil Data Systems where it will operate alongside the O'Neil's T300 press. Read More
Chris Lyons, Kodak’s Global Market Segment Director, talks about his role at Kodak, what to expect from Kodak at Graph Expo, and his goals and challenges in this new role. Read the full article. Read More
Graph Expo 2010 (October 3-6 at McCormick Place South in Chicago, IL) represents an opportunity for print service providers to re-evaluate and re-assess their businesses. While this year’s event will certainly feature exciting equipment upgrades, enhancements, and new digital and traditional devices, savvy service providers will focus on solutions. This article provides an overview of just a few of the announcements that are designed to help service providers reduce their costs or grow their businesses. Read More
As we look forward to the bells and whistles of Graph Expo, let's not forget the roots of printing. How far we have come. How far we have to go. Read More
You'll find the phrase "business model" mentioned in magazine articles, obsessed over by venture capitalists and overheard in thousands of conference rooms daily. Yet, it is a concept that is often ill-defined, misunderstood, or completely ignored. Research shows that a good business model is the best predictor of a company's success. This resource and link-filled article is your guide to definitions, tools, examples and out-of-the-box, business model ideas. Read More
The Internal Revenue Service plans to stop mailing paper income tax forms. The IRS cites (PDF) continued growth in electronic filing and cost cutting for the change. According to the IRS nearly 100 Million people prepared and filed their taxes electronically in 2009. The Washington Post reports the change will save the agency $10 million a year in printing and postage costs. Read More
Sustainability isn't just about "going green" -- sustainable business is sound business. A new book by Jonathan Scott and the EFMD offers a lot of insight into the strategic, tactical, and catalyst components of a whole-business approach to sustainability. And guess what? The book is FREE. Read More
What is your printing company worth? Emotionally speaking, everything. But, owners contemplating the sale of their companies have to answer this tough question in an objective and a financially realistic way. Here are three common approaches to business valuation. Read More
Consultants in the print industry keep talking about the need for print companies to reinvent themselves. Andy Tribute takes a look at how Xerox has come back from the brink of bankruptcy to reposition themselves, and remain a power in the industry. Read More
Sustainability advocates have promoted the concept of "green teams" as a path to improved performance and value. But do they really deliver on that promise? A new report indicates that green teams can be a bit of a mixed bag. Read More
J.C. Penney continues its shift to electronic media with plans to quit is traditional catalog business in favor of e-commerce and retail store sales. This announcement comes the company discontinued its “Big Book” catalogs last Fall. Read More
The educational aspects of the show floor at Graph Expo are an under-utilized opportunity that companies can use to better educate their staff. The Business Cycle Dating Committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research certainly has taken its time in informing us when the recession ended and might soon be telling us the recovery is over. Dr. Joe explains it all, and even offers a review of Warren Werbitt's latest opus. Read More
In the sixth article of this series, industry expert and WhatTheyThink contributor David Zwang continues his discussion about cross-media communications and production, this time with a discussion of file formats and standards, two crucial components in cross-media production workflows. It will focus on what the important ones are, and how to keep up with them. Read More
In December 2008 Homewood Press installed a power generating wind turbine for the purpose of providing electricity from a clean energy source to assist in providing power to their plant. Projections that suggest that the wind turbine will generate approximately 1/3 of the power the plant consumes annually. Read More
HP is convinced that locked inside smart phones, tablets, and other web-connected devices are billions of pages yearning to be printed. On September 20, HP’s Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) showcased its latest solutions for liberating personal and business printing at an “innovation summit” in New York City. Read More
The number one challenge that today’s marketers face is reaching consumers. Seismic shifts have dramatically altered the landscape, and marketing executives are entrenched in an industry that is markedly different from what it was just a few years ago. Shifts have occurred in how, where, and even if customers are receiving specific messages. This article considers how communication has evolved and discusses the cross-media marketing opportunity. Read More
This week, the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP) announced the launch of its certification program for Binding, Finishing, and Loose Leaf (BFLL) operations. Clunky acronyms aside, what else does SGP have up its sleeve? Read More
Colombia's printing industry association, Andigraf, held its annual meeting in Santa Marta, Colombia, in early September. WhatTheyThink's Senior Editor Cary Sherburne participated in the event as an attendee and speaker, joined via video by WhatTheyThink's Dr. Joe Webb, Director of the Economics and Research Center. Sherburne shares her thoughts about the Colombian experience. Read More
In a recent WhatTheyThink webinar, both listeners and industry experts commented on the potential offered by the new Presstek 75DI digital offset press, which was debuted at IPEX and will be on display at Graph Expo 2010. WhatTheyThink checked in with Presstek Chairman, CEO & President, Jeff Jacobson, to get his take on what the 75DI means to Presstek and its customers, as well as his opinion on the state of the industry, and more. Read More
Working from “The Cloud” is changing the way we use software applications. HP and Google are leading the charge, and it promises major changes in the print and publishing industry. Andy Tribute examines the trend and discusses how the industry can get ahead of it. Read More
People love forests in a deep, almost spiritual manner. So how come the forest and paper industry continues to break people's hearts by the way it speaks about trees? Read More
The process of managing a printing sales staff has become much more complicated than comparing compensation with business brought in. Matching the right rep with the client has become more important than ever. Mike Philie of the NAPL offers some insights on giving your team the best chance to succeed. Read More
As we head into GraphExpo, what does our latest survey show that commercial sheetfed and commercial color digital printers are looking for? Dr. Joe explains it all Read More
AllpakTrojan, Renton WA, was the winner of the 2009 WhatTheyThink Environmental Innovation Award for Beyond Environmental Sustainability, which recognized the company its leading-edge solutions and an initiative involving unique creativity. Alyson Meade, Sustainability Coordinator for AllpakTrojan tells about her company's efforts and initiatives. Read More
As Quad/Graphics has begun to integrate its recent mammoth acquisition of Worldcolor, WhatTheyThink checked in with Joel Quadracci, the company's Chairman, President & CEO to get the latest update and his view of the state of the industry. Read More
Few management philosophies have influenced the business world as widely as quality management. Quality management is designed to tap the potential, abilities, skills, and knowledge of the workforce. The quality revolution claimed many names in its heyday, including Total Quality Management (TQM) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI). The most widely known quality expert at the time was Dr. W. Edwards Deming. This article discusses how Mid-York press evolved by embracing Dr. Deming’s quality management philosophy. Read More
Indoor air quality is a big issue for even the smallest offset printer. Here's a clean-air solution that just doesn't make scents! (And that's a good thing!) Read More
The second quarter of 2010 continued a welcome continuation of mild profitability for the industry. Much of the industry is still recovering from a very difficult 2009, and two quarters of profits can't really make up for that. But we're on the right track, even though there are still challenges ahead. Read More
The conventional pressroom ranks pretty high on the list of places you don’t want to be if you want to avoid exposure to toxic materials. Here's how one company is working to help you keep HAPs, S.A.R.A.Title 13 materials, and Calif. Prop 65 materials out of your workplace. Read More
Canon Expo was the first opportunity since their recent merger for Canon and Océ to show their new team face. Patrick Henry was there to report back on just how well the two companies are working together and leveraging each other's strengths. Read More
AAA, the premier association of regional auto clubs, produces 160,000 statements annually at its headquarters location. Its TransPromo implementation with DocPath has saved the organization more than $110,000 annually, streamlined the invoice-to-cash process and resulted in a more attractive statement design. This story demonstrates that TransPromo is not just for the big guys! Find out more. Read More
Want the C-suite's take on how (or if) going greener works for printing businesses? Then don't miss our no-holds-barred panel discussion on Sustainability & Profitability, Saturday, 2 October at PrintCEO Forum. Read More
In his 5th article on cross-media communications, David Zwang discusses metadata and its role in cross-media production workflows. He looks at the basics of metadata and examines what you need need to know to work in an integrated environment. Read More
The only thing certain is confusion. If business is so bad, why does our recent survey of commercial printers show they are planning to invest? Newspapers announce plans to keep their print edition - but we learned of it in non-print media! Things are certainly confusing, and this column might raise the confusion to an even higher level of sophistication. Read More
Quad/Graphics, Sussex WI, was the winner of the 2009 WhatTheyThink Environmental Innovation Award for Environmental Sustainability and Your Plant, which recognized the company for “walking the talk” in their own plants. Learn more from Joe Muehlbach, Director of Facilities and Environmental Policy. Read More
Our increasingly ravenous hunger for new technology, ie. smart phones, flat screens, iPads, grows by the day. Frank Romano looks at the environmental cost of all this new stuff and considers how it compares to technologies of the past and the effect on the environment Read More
Although there has been a lot of buzz about devices like the Kindle and the iPad displacing printed books, savvy publishers have identified opportunities for making printed books more interactive. This article discusses the concept of incorporating QR (quick response) codes in books, provides examples of publishers that have already begun doing so, and highlights the market opportunity. Read More
No doubt about it. Printers order up more spot-color paste ink than they use. That costs money and creates waste. Now an equipment manufacturer and an ink company have teamed up to fix that, and to give printers of all sizes a cost-effective way to go a little greener. Read More
In mid-September, X-Rite will release XRGA, an ISO-compliant metrology standard for the graphic arts industry that is designed to take advantage of advances in color science and new international standards to provide a way to reduce measurement discrepancies between legacy instruments previously developed by X-Rite and GretagMacbeth. Read More
Scorecards are nothing new - they've been used to see how corporations and products stack up on everything from responsible fiber sourcing to carbon footprint. Sometimes, a report card is all you get. But Norcross, GA- based Unisource Worldwide is using a scorecard program to move its entire supply chain toward greater sustainability. Read More
July 2010 commercial printing shipments were $6.87 billion, up $18 million (+0.3%) compared to 2009. Adjusting for inflation, shipments were down -1%. This continues the consecutive gain in current dollar shipments for four months, the first time we have had a period of that extent since November 2007. Read More
We hear a lot about cloud computing being the next big thing. WhatTheyThink’s Jennifer Matt explores how this new platform is impacting printing, and how three major players are planning to use it to change how you get your printing done. Read More
The New Jersey towns of Summit and New Providence are among the most upscale in the state. Household incomes are high, home prices remain strong, and local amenities are first-class. Nevertheless, some residents of these affluent communities are going hungry—an inequity that the area’s AlphaGraphics franchise is working to eliminate. Read More
Standard Register recently made the decision to establish a focus on the healthcare industry. Cary Sherburne recently sat down with President of the company’s Healthcare Business, Brad Cates, and Business Director of Document and Information Management Ann B. Scales, to learn about the transition to all healthcare, EMR reform and the future of printing in the health care space. Read More
Only a year old, Minnesota's Discount Recycle Ink is making a name for itself by promoting the underutilized practice of remanufacturing waste ink. Read More
