Welcome to the November issue. We’re just a couple of months away from the new year! This is when smart shoppers start to tick off their holiday gift list (unless you are like me and wait until the double digits in December). If you are a bit more organized than me, this issue is just right for you. While it will not help you figure out what to get your great uncle Charlie for the holidays, it is a great preview of things to shop for in the industry.
I suppose that the concept of shopping during these hard times is quite risky. However, I’d like to point out a few advantages of being brave this trade show season. If you invest in equipment, you are likely to get a good price, while few others are buying. Improving your capabilities during a time when it seems like everyone is hiding can really help you stand out.
And if equipment is entirely too rich for your blood, I’d like you to consider investing in yourself. I have the pleasure of attending some great industry events, and I’ve noticed a declining interest in opportunities to invest in company education this year. I would like to encourage you to not eliminate this budget completely. If you invest in attending a show or conference, and make the absolute best of your appearance by networking, you stand to gain opportunities that you would never reach by phone or email. This past month, for example, I attended the Print in the Mix conference, which offered a multitude of opportunities to learn and explore new areas of print.
On that note, in this issue, Kristen Read takes us through some of the hot items to check out at the upcoming Graphics Canada show. Before you head out shopping at the show, be sure to attend the seminars. Dr. Joe Webb will kick off the show and its seminar series with his keynote speech, “Digital Media’s Challenge: Reawakening Print’s Entrepreneurial Spirit.” Kristen has the inside scoop for our readers in this month’s For the Record (page 26), with the man himself, Dr. Webb. Of course, after you absorb some new knowledge, you should check out the show floor for many exciting exhibits. You can read up on what’s new and exciting in our Graphics Canada preview article…though I urge that nothing is better than the real thing, so be sure to come out and say hi to us.
In addition to prepping your buying decisions at the show, Martin Habekost from the School of Graphic Communications Management at Ryerson, takes you through some trends and options around buying consumables. He addresses trends such as sustainability and one-stop shopping. He also outlines some things to look for in your supplier, discussing issues of service and quality. With his 10 years of experience in the ink industry, he is certainly a great resource for the field.
Lastly, we have another new contributor for this month’s My Customer Asked Me. Stacey Gallagher from the PSDA answers one of our reader’s questions; “what is printjunkie.net?” Let her help you understand the phenomenon of social networking in the print industry.
Happy shopping!