Reston, VA (August 19, 2008) - Print buyers will examine the key influences impacting print buying today and gain real-world strategies to be successful in today's economy via a combination of classroom learning and practical application at the Print Buyers Forum, taking place October 28 - 29, 2008, in Chicago's McCormick Place South, during GRAPH EXPO® 2008.  GRAPH EXPO, the largest graphic communications exhibition and conference in the Western Hemisphere, will be held October 26 - 29 in McCormick Place South.

    The Print Buyers Forum is the event for print buyers at GRAPH EXPO, combining high-level educational content with opportunities to see practical applications running live on the show floor.  This year's forum, themed "Beyond Survival: How to Thrive in Today's Business of Print Buying," offers a new focus designed specifically for the experienced print buyer rather than for those new to the field.  In-depth morning and lunchtime sessions-covering issues of greatest interest to sophisticated print buyers-lead into time in the afternoons to tour the expansive GRAPH EXPO show floor, where more than 600 exhibitors will demonstrate a full range of graphic communications equipment live across 450,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space.  A handy pamphlet highlighting special must-see technologies for the print buyer and floor plan with exhibit locator will be provided to assist Forum attendees in navigating the show floor.

    "Today's print buyer must work in a media-savvy, advertising-saturated world," said Ralph Nappi, president of the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC®).  "The value of the Print Buyers Forum lies in the opportunity for experienced print buyers to not only network with their peers and learn about new-media applications during educational sessions, but also to see firsthand how to make use of these technologies for the greatest marketing impact."

    The Print Buyers Forum is chaired by Margie Dana, founder and president of Print Buyers International-an independent, international organization focused on addressing the needs of professionals who purchase or influence the purchase of printing-and of Boston Print Buyers.  Dana, herself a former corporate print buyer, will be running a number of the panels planned for the Print Buyers Forum.

     "From the terrific attendance at the print buyers' conference at GRAPH EXPO last year, it's clear that today's savvy print buyers need not only information about the latest technologies available to them, but also for the industry to hear what's on their minds regarding new media, their biggest challenges, and career development," says event Chair Margie Dana.  "This year's Print Buyers Forum will give them the information they want - and a voice.  I'm confident they will all benefit tremendously."

    All Print Buyers Forum sessions are created by industry experts, with an eye toward providing action-oriented solutions that can be easily applied when print buyers return to the office.  Workshops new for this year include a discussion of the printing technologies that most interest-and plague-today's serious print buyers, with an overview of developments in prepress, press and postpress; and a fast-paced brainstorming session for senior-level print buyers to voice their biggest challenges and get instant advice from their peers.  A popular session from last year, retooled for the experienced print buyer, will offer lessons on how to integrate new media-such as personalized print material, personalized URLs, e-newsletters, podcasts and more-into the print buy.  As with last year's Print Buyers Conference, this year's Forum and GRAPH EXPO will offer additional opportunities for networking with peers and print providers.

    Complete information and registration for both the Print Buyers Forum and GRAPH EXPO 2008 are available online at: www.graphexpo.com.