Expanding Opportunities via Trade Brokering and Distributing

Advice for leading your business into the new year

The print distributor market (aka “brokering”) has evolved quite dramatically in the past two decades, having become a $5+ billion industry, composed predominantly of a large number of small, diverse businesses. What do these businesses do, and what is their role in the overall printing industry? And what opportunities exist for current print and sign businesses in the distributor market?

Join us on January 26 at 1 p.m. ET for the latest in WhatTheyThink’s LunchNLearn Webinar series. In this 30-minute session sponsored by Navitor, WhatTheyThink’s Richard Romano will be joined by Matt Bruno, Executive Vice President of Brand Chain (formerly the Print Services & Distribution Association), and incoming Brand Chain President and Thumbprint President/CEO Greg Gill, to look at the key traits of successful print resellers and distributors, as well as opportunities for commercial print and sign businesses in working with a distributor.

What you’ll learn:

• How the distributor-client relationship works
• The current state of the distributor market and how it has changed with the times
• How and why commercial print business owners and managers can partner with distributors
• Strategies for distributors to expand their businesses
• Why working with a distributor or being a distributor can open up new business opportunities

“Expanding Opportunities via Trade Brokering and Distributing” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly LunchNLearn webinar series.

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Time January 26, 2022 1:00 PM Eastern Time US
On-demand Playback will be available shortly after the event.

Finishing Up the Year: In It to Win It

2021 has been a wild year of highs and lows and unique pressures, but the print finishing category met the challenge and pushed forward with lots of new offerings and opportunities. From looking across a year of announcements, it’s safe to say with confidence—finishing is in it to win it.

On Wednesday, December 15 at 1pm ET, join Trish Witkowski for WhatTheyThink’s LunchNLearn webinar and look back at the year in binding and finishing. This session will last approximately 30 minutes.

What you’ll learn:

• What categories of binding finishing equipment were red hot in 2021 and what new products were launched
• What were the latest developments in embellishments
• What to look for in binding, finishing, and mailing in 2022

Register Now!

Finishing Up the Year: In It to Win it is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series.

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Recorded December 15, 2021

Graphics on Display: A Wide-Format Look Back and Outlook

Wide-format printing had been a high-growth area for many print providers pre-COVID and, during the pandemic, demand for COVID and other related signage kept many print businesses busy even as their traditional markets and customers were shut down. As we emerge from the pandemic, where does wide format stand?

On Wednesday, November 17 at 1 pm ET, join WhatTheyThink’s Richard Romano and IDG’s Tim Greene as they look back at 2021 and ahead to 2022 and identify some of the dominant and emerging application trends, new equipment releases, and opportunity areas for both those who are already producing wide-format and display graphics—and those who are still looking to.

What you’ll learn:

• What are the dominant and emerging post-pandemic wide-format application trends?
• What have been the top product releases of the past 12 months?
• What is 2022 likely to hold for wide-format printing and producers of display graphics?

“Graphics on Display: A Wide-Format Look Back and Outlook” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series.

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Recorded November 17, 2021

Landa Nanographic Printing In the Market

Landa Digital Printing has commanded the industry’s attention since the first presses were unveiled. Now that Landa has a global presence, with a growing number of installations around the world, we are hearing about the impact that Nanographic Printing Presses are having.

Join us on Wednesday, November 3 at 1pm ET for a special webinar, sponsored by Landa Digital Printing, on the current state of Nanography. Representatives from Landa will provide an update on the company and its growing installed base of uses, as well as recap the value proposition of the company’s Nanography technology and outline its vision for these digital mainstream presses going forward. The session will also include Landa customers who will offer real-world insights and experiences of day-to-day Nanography printing.

What you’ll learn:

• The current state of Landa’s Nanographic printing technology and installed base.
• The company’s vision for the future of the technology.
• Real-world user experiences from Landa customers.

Featured speakers include:

• David Zwang, WhatTheyThink
• Scott Brown, Landa Digital Printing
• Paul Hudson, Hudson Printing
• Jordan Patterson, Virtual Packaging

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Recorded November 3, 2021

Driven to Distraction: Display Graphics and Signage in the Automotive Industry

The pandemic has changed the way cars are purchased, with less emphasis on showrooms and more on online sales, especially thanks to the rise of sites like Carvana. As the role of the automotive dealership changes, display graphics are themselves playing a role in redefining the auto dealership. How can signage and display graphics producers help these businesses navigate what can be rocky roads?

On Wednesday, October 27 at 1 pm ET, WhatTheyThink Managing Editor Richard Romano will be joined by Maggie Harlow, Owner and CEO of Signarama Downtown Louisville (Ky.), who has not only done projects for the automotive market, but whose family has a long history in the auto industry itself.

What you’ll learn:

• The changing nature of the auto dealership.
• The role of signage and display graphics in auto sales.
• How sign and display graphics providers can potentially break into the automotive market.

“Driven to Distraction: Display Graphics and Signage in the Automotive Industry” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series.

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Recorded October 27, 2021

Print Production Outlook: Tracking the Turning Points

Printing Technologies have been in a state of transition for the past two decades, driven by declines in print volume and increases in print quality and press speeds. Offset has been transitioning to digital, toner is now transitioning to inkjet, and flexo is holding its own—for now. What is the current status of printing technology transitions—and what will the future hold? What applications are seeing the most movement—and to where?

On Wednesday, October 6 at 1 pm ET, join WhatTheyThink Managing Editor Richard Romano and Keypoint Intelligence Director of On Demand Printing and Publishing German Sacristan as they look at the current state of production output technologies.

What you’ll learn:

• The current state of production output technologies.
• Is the transition from offset to digital complete…or just beginning?
• Is toner vs. inkjet the new battleground?
• What print applications are seeing the most movement?
• What’s happening with flexo?

Sponsored by Canon Solutions America, “Print Production Outlook: Tracking the Turning Points” is the latest installment in WhatTheyThink’s monthly half-hour LunchNLearn webinar series.

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Recorded October 6, 2021