Exhibitors and visitors I spoke with at this year’s show in Toronto were very positive. I heard good comments about the steady flow of traffic as well as the wide range of technologies and helpful seminars. “Attendance topped 8,000 and the Graphics Software Theatre seminars (sponsored by Witz Training Centre) were packed every day,” said show Manager Dan Mustata. “Also well attended was the Printing Sales Training Day presented by print sales expert Dave Felman and the Digital Imaging Association breakfast meeting with keynote speaker Jeff Jacobson, Chairman and CEO of Presstek.”
Here are some comments from selected exhibitors along with my personal picks from this year’s show:
Feedback from visitors to our booth was very positive. The Saphira Café gave people a chance to rest, chat or discuss business over a cup of coffee or a soft drink. The newest additions to our product portfolio proved to be very popular. The Ricoh C901 Graphic Arts Edition printer, the EFI Rastek H652 wide-format printer and the EFI VUTEk GS200 grand-format printer demonstrations were busy all three days. Our colleagues at both EFI and Ricoh provided great support for our Canadian launch of these machines. We did sell a number of Suprasetter CTPs, presses and cutters at the show, including one of our large XL162 VLF presses to Annan and Bird.
– Ken Freek, V.P., Product Management, Heidelberg Canada Graphic Equipment Ltd.
While we had some direct sales, the true value was the high level of interest resulting in above-average lead generation from previous years. The interest was varied across workflow, CTP, display graphics, digital cutting and consumables. The new Acuity LED 1600 wide-format inkjet printer was demonstrated live for the first time in Canada and generated a high level of interest. We secured multiple strong leads for this product, which will be available in a few months. While we were not able to showcase the JPress or Onset products, customers still showed a lot of interest in our support displays.
tWe had a couple of new products exhibited for the first time. The biggest draw was the Snake Skin Wire-O System – a new packaging innovation for wire-o-wire featuring cost savings in production time as well as reduced waste. We also had a new product for making gift cards that contains no PVC, is recyclable and FSC-certified. Its eco-friendly features generated a lot of interest. Overall, we felt that it was a very good show and are looking forward to 2013.”
– Bob Brickell Sr., President, Terry C. Stapely Co. Ltd.
Graphics Canada really delivered this year! Not only was traffic way up from the last show, but the mood was different. Last time it was about “how can you help me cut my costs?” This year, the conversations revolved around “I’m focused on building the top line” – so the demos of Avanti’s Automated Lead Management were by far the most requested and most popular. Lots of traffic from not only Ontario but western Canada, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.”
– Chantelle Bani, Marketing Communications Manager, Avanti
Our production line featured Bourg BB Adventure PUR and BB3002 EVA Perfect Binders manufacturing book blocks covered with Library Binding Supplies (LBS) endsheets that were glued and pressed using on-demand equipment and finished on a Challenge trimmer. Booth visitors left with an actual hard-cover, case-bound copy of “Bookbinding Made Simple.” Our Canadian launch of the Bourg BSFx in the Xerox Canada booth, was a showstopper. The Bourg BSFx, the print industry’s first dual-mode sheet feeder for digital-print workflows, enables a user with a production line dedicated to a single digital print engine to also handle printed output from any number of different presses in an off-line mode, maximizing productivity and equipment ROI. Toronto’s Marwood Bookworks, through our dealer Robert E. Thistle Ltd., purchased a Bourg BB Adventure PUR Binder while Ken Cook Co. in Milwaukee ordered a Bourg BB3002 Perfect Binder.
– Donald J. Schroeder, Vice President of Sales, C.P. Bourg Inc.
CPIA saw excellent traffic at our booth. In particular, attendees seemed to be very interested in our group-buying-power programs such as discounts available with Adobe, Apple, FedEx and others. Many also asked about our new Trial Membership that, at $200 for a full year, provides many of the benefits we offer.
– Bob Elliott, President, Canadian Printing Industries Association (www.cpia-aci.ca)
We were very busy all three days and handed out hundreds of tote bags. We also received a lot of positive feedback about our customer service and inquiries about Sinalite.com, our fast online service. Our Tradeshow15 Promotion, where printers saved 15% on everything until the end of November, was also very popular.
– Mike Meshkati, Sina Printing/Sinalite.com
The show was a huge success. Thanks to all who stopped by the booth to say hello and celebrate our 60 years in business! This meant a lot to us. Sales were excellent with creasers and paper cutters being the stars. The newly redesigned Autocreaser Pro 33 was our best seller (4 sold) followed by the New EBA 485EP programmable 18.5″ paper cutter (3 sold). Our Reconditioned Booth had plenty of traffic and several pieces sold, including our Titan 200 20″ programmable paper cutter.”
– Michael Steele, President, Sydney Stone
Presstek featured its full-line of consumables including CTP and DI plates. Booth visitors received a $50 coupon toward a future supplies’ order. In addition, visitors that registered for the Presstek Awards Program (a points for purchase program) were entered into a draw to win $500 in free supplies. Many were excited to learn that they can obtain supplies from Presstek’s local Canadian warehouse by visiting shop.presstek.com or by calling 1-800-387-3143.
– Brian Wolfenden, Director of Marketing Communications, Presstek Inc.
EskoArtwork was exhibiting in Toronto for the first time and demonstrating our extensive range of solutions for packaging, sign and display, and commercial print providers. There was a lot of interest from wide-format printers who were examining the EskoArtwork i-cut Suite of pre-production software for digital printers and/or digital finishing systems. i-cut Suite tackles all bottlenecks in a workflow, from preflighting PDF files, preparing graphics and creating layouts, to printing and finishing in perfect registration. i-cut Automate, which ties the pieces of the i-cut Suite together, was demonstrated for the first time in Canada. It automates the entire production process from design to print to cut, allowing users to build dynamic workflows that can automate repetitive prepress tasks.”
– Marc Raad, Account Manager, EskoArtwork
The most popular attraction at our booth was a ‘panelled’ door that we printed on. We made excellent connections and as a result we have several future meetings that could lead to large, ongoing partnerships. We believe in quality partnerships with our trade partners built over the long term. We also promoted our full-time designers that can assist our trade partners.
– Mohamed Dhanani, High Print Co.
It was a very successful show with a steady flow of traffic visiting our booth each day. Our team and our vendor partners did a super job enabling us to differentiate the value EGS brings to our customers. Our HP Latex Wall enabled our customers to think of what they can do ‘outside the box’ to grow their business. We sold a couple of latex printers and Graphtec cutting equipment. We continue to sell more and newer solutions in our vendor partners’ comprehensive line of equipment, software and consumables.
– Douglas E. Green, President & C.O.O., Ernest Green & Son Ltd.
There was a lot of traffic in our booth all three days and we’re looking forward to contacting all the leads we scanned. This year we showcased the new Seiko W-64s Colour Painter. It was the most popular attraction at our booth. The W-64s is the first high-resolution wide-format solvent ink device without HAPs (Hazardous Air Pollutants). The process doesn’t require baking.
– Brittany Daneliak, The Drawing Centre
My personal picks…
Best overall deal: Kozzi.com stock photos
While there were some fabulous show specials, you can’t get better than “free!” Kozzi.com, a new company, featured family-friendly (i.e. vetted for good taste) stock-photo images destined to be a real hit within the industry as well as with consumers. The photos are high quality and new images are constantly added.
Most Visible Handout: Sina Printing/Sinalite
I saw hundreds of visitors carrying Sina’s yellow and black tote bags every day. Basic design, but high visibility!
Fastest sale (I’m aware of): Sydney Stone
They sold a Titan 200 (20″ programmable cutter) to Paris Printing at 11:15 am the first day of the show. Then, on Sunday, Nov. 12, they celebrated their 60th Anniversary with friends and colleagues with free wine, beer and cake. Joining in the celebrations was Dorothy Kent, widow of former owner David Marsh.
Best Posters: Heidelberg and KBR Graphics
Every poster I saw at this show exuded creativity and quality. However, Heidelberg’s monstrous map of the world and KBR’s numerous colourful posters were absolutely stunning and went like hotcakes. Honourable mention to Proveer (different substrates) and the Drawing Centre (HAP-free wide-format).
Most creative handouts: Robert E. Thistle Ltd./C.P. Bourg and Therm-O-Type Foil Tech
Robert E. Thistle’s clever, informative “Bookbinding Made Simple” booklet produced on a C.P. Bourg Perfect Binder during the show was a perfect-bound book about bookbinding – perfect promotional idea! Therm-O-Type also wins for its ingenious 4-page folder featuring a transparent holographic-pattern foil covering that simulated a fish underwater. A small piece with a big ‘wow’ factor!
Nicest booth personnel: Heidelberg
I don’t think I’ve ever been to a trade show recently where everyone was so affable. But if I had to pick one, it would be the Heidelberg booth with its Saphira Café and wonderful staff.
Best Outside-the-Box Visuals: Ernest Green and HP
There were so many breathtaking creations, but the HP Wall in the Ernest Green Booth stands out in my mind. HP-latex-printed lampshades, pillowcases, colour and B&W wall posters and much more. I think the only thing not printed upon were the booth staffers!
Busiest Booths: All Graphic Supplies and Value-Rite Business Products
All-Graphic’s Chris Desouza and Value Rite’s Jay DeGenova should create holograms of themselves for the next show. They were busier than gophers on a golf course!
