Richard Romano reports on some new product launches/introductions at last week’s International Sign Association Sign Expo.
In this video, sponsored by HP, Kevin Abergel speaks with Macy Flash, CEO of Paragon Press, a printing and direct mail company based in Louisiana. Once all-analog, the company’s variable-data needs impelled the company to go all-digital.
Lori Messina, President of the thINK board, discusses thINK's preparation for its 10th anniversary and the support of its membership with an amazing annual event and a great web resource.
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Want to draw people into a marketing pitch in a way that gets under the radar? Try the survey that’s not really a survey. Heidi Tolliver-Walker explains.
European section editor Ralf Schlözer rounds up some wide-format product launches and announcements made at the FESPA Global Print Expo, held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, March 19–22.
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. Print industry associations are like that. Once you become involved, you find a vast group of people to talk and trade ideas with. You enter a hive where you are not alone facing challenges. If you haven’t considered joining, or you looking for more groups for networking, this is the year to jump in!
WhatTheyThink's Eric Vessels spends some time with Kevin Abergel, Founder & CEO of Taktiful, about the company's recent launch of Taktiful Software Solutions. Hear more about the three major points in digital print embellishment and how this new company eliminates them for printers who have this technology.
Patrick Henry explains how a lack of understanding on the part of lawmakers could have a potentially devastating effect on printing and packaging companies in the Empire State.
The Printing Outlook 2024 report provides detailed analysis of the latest WhatTheyThink Printing Industry Survey, the latest industry economic data and macroeconomic trends, as well as industry and cultural technological trends to look out for in 2024 and beyond.
According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 726 establishments in NAICS 511199 (All Other Publishing). This category saw a net decrease of 39% since 2010, although establishments spiked from 2020 to 2021. In macro news, estimates of Q1 GDP are running around +2%. Full Analysis
Drawing on six years’ worth of Print Business Outlook surveys, our “Tales from the Database” series looks at historical data to see if we can spot any particular hardware, software, or business trends. This issue, we turn our attention to specialty printing—or any printing beyond traditional offset or digital commercial work. Full Analysis
Overall printing employment in February 2024 was little changed from January, with production employment down -1.0%, while non-production employment was down -0.6%, with net employment down -0.1%. Full Analysis
WhatTheyThink Magazine is the resource for the Commercial Printing, Visual and Graphic Arts Industries. Industry experts share their ideas and technical knowledge on ways to improve operations.
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A new book celebrates the short-lived “literary poster” craze. A new zine looks at the art of fireworks packaging design. One of the most game-changing technologies in the history of civilization was affordable artificial light. A social media platform that doesn’t actually exist. A new wearable AI device. A four-legged dog-like robot can do parkour moves, freakishly enough. Jet suit racing is now a thing. A prehensile stabilizing tail for floating astronauts. Another upcoming celestial event. The decline of the guitar solo. Apparently it’s a real thing: Velveeta Hair Dye. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Eclipse-themed food and beverage items for Monday’s event. Cardiff, Wales’, Printed Festival 2024, this June. A new 3D printing ink based on wood waste. Did you know that there is a “royal order of adjectives”? Amazon is ending its “Just Walk Out” checkout—which wasn’t actually an automated system. What does the term “Wi-Fi” stand for? LCD lenses that can turn sunglasses into reading glasses. Volkswagen is working on an electronic device to avoid car-kangaroo collisions. New York City’s acrimonious “tour bus battle.” The James Webb Space Telescope takes a close look at galaxy I Zwicky 18. Instagram’s “Official Stick Reviews” rates actual sticks—and is more popular than you would think. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Pentawards’ annual packaging Trends Report is out. When a company appears on the cover of a popular magazine, what signals does it give the market? More than two dozen new works have been added to the OED, 23 of them from Japanese cooking and art. Really? If you’re in France this summer, celebrate the 150th anniversary of Impressionism. Bad UI design on an ice cream thermostat. New options for non-wrist-based watches. Time Out lists the “30 Coolest Streets in the World.” “AI drone that could hunt and kill people built in just hours by scientist ‘for a game.’” Different ants have different flavor profiles, we are horrified to tell you. Appropriately, SunChips has an eclipse tie-in product. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
"Two leading companies" my eye! Konica Minolta's financial position is precarious at best, and has been so for some time. I am glad to see that they are taking a step to shore up their vulnerable supply chain. Reply
Pat McGrew on You Should Join a Printing Industry Association
Thank Patrick! Great advice for every printer! Find your tribe! Reply
Patrick Henry on You Should Join a Printing Industry Association
Pat, thanks for this inspiring endorsement of trade associations. I've worked with and for trade associations throughout most of my career, and I can attest that the services they provide are highly valuable. They also serve as a voice and an advocat… Full comment Reply
Robert Godwin on International Paper Announces Agreement to Acquire DS Smith
Let the M&A activty continue. The size of this acquisition (Combination!) is impressive. The next year will test the managment's ability to digest the operations and spit out the redundancies. The numbers look good, but 12 months from now is when we … Full comment Reply
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WhatTheyThink is the official show daily media partner of drupa 2024. More info about drupa daily programs
WhatTheyThink is the official show daily media partner of drupa 2024. More info about drupa programs
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Patrick Whelan on Marketing Content: When a Survey Isn’t Really a Survey
My opinion only...I'm tired of being surveyed. Reply