ARLINGTON, Va. - Print Buyers Online.com, a free, educational community for print buyers, print communications professionals and their suppliers in partnership with Print Communications Professionals International (PCPI), the premier association dedicated to print buyers, will host their eighth annual Print Oasis Print Buyers Conference & Exhibit on May 17-19, 2009 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa located in Phoenix, Arizona.

Entitled "Beyond Surviving, Thriving with Print in Tough Times" Print Oasis 2009 will provide actionable advice from the trenches and focus on strategies to help print buyers recover, restructure and secure their positions as print production professionals.  Attendees will learn immediate cost-saving solutions while gaining the tools that will help them succeed in this economy.

"The downfall of the economy has have left most of us searching for ways to protect our companies and even our own jobs," said Suzanne Morgan, president of Print Buyers Online.com and PCPI.  "In these tough times, print buyers need tangible tips that can immediately be implemented within their own organizations.  The lion's share of this year's Print Oasis programming is case studies from real-life print buying heroes and heroines from companies such as Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide and Meridian-Chiles.  Attendees will take away profit generating advice from every illuminating session."

Print Oasis 2009 will feature more than 70 exhibitors including printers, proofing companies, major technology firms and paper manufacturers.  Onsite certification testing for Professional Print Production, Best Practices for Sustainability in Print and How to Buy Digital & Variable Data Printing will also be provided.  Each certification includes a study guide, resource materials and an exam that may be completed onsite or taken home.

"After 15 years experience in print buying, I thought I already knew everything I needed to know before attending this conference," said Linda Lyons-Minor, Advertising Operations Manager at Interline Brands, Inc.  "But not only did the conference give me an opportunity to speak directly with suppliers to my current vendors (which will help me to communicate with my vendors more efficiently), I was pleasantly surprised at how much I learned. It's going to take a few weeks to go through all the materials, as well as my notes, and really digest all the new information. I feel like I just got my Ph.D. in print buying!"

The early-bird rate for the three-day conference including 22 educational seminars, exhibits, special events and catered meals is $699.   After February 28, 2009 the rate increases to $799. For more information about the conference or to register, visit www.printoasis.com or call Print Buyers Online.com at 703.534.9305.  Printers, paper manufacturers and other suppliers interested in exhibiting should contact Kimberlee Sautter, Conference Manager at [email protected].