At the end of this column each month, I encourage everyone to “stay positive and stay focused.” Never in recent history has there been a time to tune out the political lies, rhetoric and turmoil and concentrate on your business. I’m currently in the process of reading two books – What Happened by Hillary Clinton and Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff – and I must tell you that even the most positive individual would be nervous, given what’s been happening and what the future might hold. You can add to this the precarious NAFTA negotiations and how they may affect printers here in Canada. My point is that there’s nothing you or I can do about any of this nonsense. So just keep concentrating on what matters to you – namely, your business and your family.
On a more positive note, if there was ever any proof that print is alive and well, I’d like to point to CJ Graphics’ recent move into an expansive 230,000 sq. ft. location encompassing eight acres in Mississauga, Ontario. President and CEO Jay Mandarino said another 30,000 sq. ft. should soon be added, plus the ability to expand by another 50,000 sq. ft. This new location represents the largest independently owned facility for printing and communications in Canada. Congratulations to Jay and all his staff for the new expansion as well as their successful annual CJ Graphics Open House & Fundraiser last December. It is one of our industry’s most popular events, which attracted over 2,000 people and raised thousands of dollars for charity and the Daily Bread Food Bank.
Have you visited our new Graphic Arts Online Career Centre (jobs.graphicartsmag.com) yet? If you’re seeking employment in the industry or looking for skilled staff, this is the place to post – with 79,000 monthly visits. All posts remain on our website for 60 days and are included in our weekly e-newsletter and Twitter feed. The cost is only $99 per listing per category.
We’re also putting together our premier 2018 Wide Format Inkjet Guide. Our goal here is to create a special-interest publication with a long shelf life to increase knowledge of inkjet technology and its potential for commercial, textile, wide format and other printers. We’ll also examine inkjet’s pros and cons so that everyone can better understand this growing, and hopefully lucrative, technology.
In the meantime, as I said previously, and in these uncertain times…..stay positive and stay focused.
Uncertainty, chaos – and yet hope
