Boston Print Buyers - Margie's Print Tips

Margie Dana

Thanks to all of you who attended and supported our 2nd Annual Print Buyers Conference this month. We'll be posting photos and conference feedback to the site any day now. The energy level was very high, attendance was up 25%, and people from all across the globe took part. Education + fun…what a winning combo!

Speaking of “thanks,” I want to wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving this Thursday, if you celebrate this holiday.

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Margie Dana

Super-Big Thank You!

To our Conference Platinum Sponsors - RR Donnelley and PrintingForLess.com

To our Conference Gold Sponsor - Vermillion, Inc.

To our Corporate Sponsor - Adobe, Inc.

To all of our Conference Exhibitors at the show!

Speakers' Presentations from 2nd Annual Print Buyers Conference

Did you miss our conference - or did you attend and are interested in our speakers' presentations? Today's your lucky day.

On our website you can find most of the handouts in PDF format. Click on the PDF icon next to the session titles. Download, read, enjoy - and impress your friends. Some files are large and may take a minute or two to load. Be patient.

Commemorative Conference Poster

To get a sense of the personality of our conference, take a look at the poster that was designed by Jeff Moores for our show. It was co-sponsored by Xerox Corporation and RR Donnelley, A Xerox Premier Partner, and printed at RRD's Andrews, CT, plant on the Xerox iGen3 110 Digital Production Press. Every attendee received one. I have extras if you'd like one. Email me at mdana@printbuyersinternational.com.

[Print this Tip]

What Makes Print Buyers So Special?

by Margie Dana

Spending as much time as I do focusing on professional print buyers, I want to share the following observations:

They're part of every industry.
They work in different areas of their firms, depending on the organizational structure.
They generally don't have the title of "print buyer."
Buyers are underappreciated in their own organizations.
Their job descriptions need standardization.
Usually, the print buyers are the only ones in their companies who know anything at all about working with the industry. Empowering? Perhaps, but it can also be isolating and frustrating.
Buyers tend to love printing as a craft. They are passionate about fine quality, and many love working with paper.
The majority of print buyers are women.
Most buyers I know are very bright, well-educated individuals.
You'd be surprised how many of them have print manufacturing backgrounds.
Buyers like sharing their knowledge with their peers.
The biggest gap in the buyer population lies between new buyers and seasoned ones.
They want more information on printing trends and newer technologies.
They want to learn how to develop their careers.
Buyers are either hot or cold about print brokers.
Why are so many buyers left handed?
Buyers want printers and other vendors to differentiate themselves.
Different buyers are motivated by different factors. It's up to the sales rep to find these out.
Print buyers are the best ambassadors of printing out there. They stay in their jobs for years - and in this career for life - because they love printing.

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