February 12, 2002 - The NPES Spring Meeting, March 7-9 in Puerto Rico, will offer a first look at the results of an important new study on the film market; two up-to-date outlooks for advertising expenditures and printing sales, and the results of a survey on the distribution channel. The presentations could shape both members' future business prospects and the association's programs and priorities. The meeting will be held at the Westin Rio Mar in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. There is no registration fee and all members are welcome to attend. Meeting and hotel registration forms are available in the Conference section of the NPES web site at www.npes.org. At the meeting, members will learn the results of a new NPES market research project entitled The Impact of Direct-to Technology on the Market for Graphic Arts Film and Related Equipment: A Worldwide Perspective. The film market has declined dramatically in both dollar volume and square feet consumed, as the industry shifts rapidly from analog to digital technology and adopts computer-to-plate and computer-to-press systems. The new NPES study contains estimates of the future rates of decline in usage of film products and related equipment. This presentation will be made by Louis Laurent, Managing Director of Laurent Associates International. NPES has also surveyed machinery and equipment suppliers and dealers for their views of the changing supplier/dealer relationship. What suppliers expect from dealers in terms of service, inventory management, finance and other factors? And what expectations do dealers have for the vendors they support? These findings will be presented by Dennis Mason, President, Mason Consulting Inc. Helping to strengthen members' dealer networks is a key focus of the new NPES Five-Year Plan adopted last fall. About half of NPES members use dealers, and this new study will be of immediate interest to them, as well as other members who may be evaluating their policies toward dealer networks. Robert Coen, Senior Vice President of McCann Erickson will provide an updated forecast of advertising spending including the prospects for print advertising in magazines and newspapers. Andrew Paparozzi, Chief Economist with the National Association for Printing Leadership will give an updated forecast of printing expenditures. The Spring Meeting agenda will also include updates on all NPES programs and Graphic Art Show Company events and time for networking and recreation. Click here for registration forms. For more information, contact Assistant to the President Irene LaBranche at 703/264-7234 or e-mail [email protected]. NPES is a U.S. trade association representing companies engaged in manufacturing and importing for sale or distribution of machinery, equipment, systems, software and supplies used in every printing, publishing and converting process from desktop design and image generation and processing to multiple output options and targeted dissemination systems. NPES is a co-sponsor of PRINT, GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO, the leading expositions of printing, publishing and converting technologies in the Americas.