I Was Just Thinking

(or, Tip Topics Keep on Churning)

Like the cheese that stands alone, I might be the only printing pundit who's yet to start a blog. Part of me thinks, who on God's earth would care what else I've got to say? All of me thinks that I'm way too busy.

It's not for lack of ideas. Or opinions. So much happens in this world/economy/business (pick one) that relates to print as a medium, that Print Tip ideas literally trip over themselves in my head.

To wit:

• Whenever I bring up the topic of print brokers to an audience of print buyers or when moderating a buyer's panel, it's my hunch there will be blood (as opposed to enchantment). For whatever reason, professional buyers have very strong feelings for or against working with brokers. I must write about this again.

• A few months ago, it was Sustainability. Now, all I seem to read about is Transpromo. A transpromo document is the marriage of a piece of transactional printing (utility bills, banks statements, credit card statements, etc.) with marketing content. Thanks to digital color technology, companies can now include advertising messages on the statements, and eliminate those color inserts cluttering the envelope. (I have never even glanced at one of those inserts. I head straight for the invoice.)

• Why has the print management model been so successful in the UK - and not yet here? I have been following this for years, ever since I first presented at a print buyer forum in England. What were the conditions that allowed PM companies to thrive there, and can they exist here? Fascinates me.

• There are only two types of print customers. New ones and experienced ones. Stay tuned.

• I have my own litmus test to gauge whether a person keeps up with the industry, whether as buyer or manufacturer. I drop names like Frank Romano, Dr. Joe Webb, and Andy Tribute. Events like Graph Expo, drupa, and On Demand. Sites like WhatTheyThink. Publications like American Printer, Graphic Arts Monthly, and Printing Impressions. And associations like PIA/GATF.

• What are some of the career paths for print buying professionals? As printing volumes shrink, do these jobs follow suit? Are modern print buyers moving into larger, grander roles or facing extinction? What do current job descriptions look like? What should they look like? My inquiring mind wants to know.

So you see, I have plenty of food for thought for future columns. I’m not against blogging; I just need a few extra hours in my day.

Please send along your thoughts on any of these topics. They will be Tips. I am particularly interested in your ideas about print management and about the career path of modern print buyers.

Comments? Talk to me at mdana@bostonprintbuyers.com.

©2008 Margie Dana. All rights reserved. You're free to forward this email to friends and colleagues: please do! However, no part of this column may be reprinted without permission from the author.

March 18th BPB Dinner Program

Web Sightings…
How to Know When Web Offset Printing Suits Your Printing Needs

Co-sponsored by Ripon Printers and Richard Jacobs & Company

Tuesday, March 18th, 6 - 8:30 pm
Millennium Bostonian Hotel, Boston, MA

Everyone who purchases printing is concerned about speed and costs today, but many buyers overlook web offset because of old assumptions.

Join Jeff Hopp of Ripon Printers and David Jacobs of Richard Jacobs & Company for a can't-miss presentation covering the state of current web offset technology and where it fits in your print buying equation.

You will learn:

• Technology advancements transforming web offset today

• Advantages and disadvantages of web versus sheetfed

• How to match the web technology to the project

• How to figure out which quantities should go web vs. sheet

• Tips on paper, line screens and other critical quality factors

• Cycle-time advantages of in-line finishing

Only print customers and those who influence the purchase of print may attend this sponsored program. The cost is just $25 for BPB members; $50 for all others. It's $10 more at the door.

Register today!

Print Buyer Conference Update

Announcing Guided Tours! September 11th - 12th, 2008

We have recently announced that we'll provide small group tours of the Exhibit Hall at our 3rd Annual Print Buyers Conference in Boston.

Visit www.printbuyersconference.com/notices/PBIexhibitors03-11.html for details.

Questions on exhibiting? Please contact Barbara Graham at exhibitorinfo@printbuyersinternational.com.

Print Tips Archives!

Our Print Tips archives are public. Access them from the home page of our site
under Print Tips at www.bostonprintbuyers.com.