33 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk May / June 2024 - Issue 348 Making the most of your time out of the office for trade shows One thing that is clear from the challenges and hurdles faced by the print and signage industries in recent years is that the need for collaboration, diversification, and knowledge is more important than ever. As the debate between digital and print continues to rage on (the IPIA has literally debated on the side of print in The House of Commons) printers have many options for maximising profits and improving their company. Live events can be ideal places to learn about how to do this and start the process of implementing new technologies and processes in your business. But with so much importance placed on business owners being at the forefront and working as hard as they can to meet deadlines, hit sales targets, and get orders out the door, the biggest question when it comes to a trade show can be: “Is it worth my time out of the office?” At last year’s Print Show, Mark Stephenson, product manager of Digital Printing and Press Systems at FUJIFILM Europe, said: “There’s no substitute for looking somebody in the eye, seeing their whole body language, and seeing how they react to things. “We’re [FUJIFILM] actually doing three shows at the same time, there’s Sign&Print in Scandinavia, there’s C!Print in Madrid, and there’s The Print Show here in Birmingham. It just shows you where print is going as far as reaching out and going to where the people are.” One of the big takeaways from last year’s Print Show was the buzz and atmosphere that can sometimes be hard to find at other trade shows. The word exhibition or expo can often conjure images of packed halls with numerous companies selling their wares. Yet The Print Show 2023 reflected the friendly and approachable nature of the print industry with many bold and inviting stands encouraging discussion and collaboration. Speaking at the show, Eddie Tucker managing director of Liyu UK, said: “The Print Show is growing, there’s a buzz, it feels good, and you can see that by the quality of the stands, people have gone the extra mile this year.” The lifeblood of the print industry is of course its kit as investment and research into the latest equipment for the likes of printing, finishing, and engraving, can transform a business. Speaking as both a visitor and speaker at The Print Show in previous years, Joanna Stephenson, managing director at PHD marketing, said: “It’s a pretty unique show as it looks at print holistically, so whether you’re a young person looking to enter the industry or someone looking at diversifying your business there’s something there for everyone.” Exhibitors at this year’s show include swissQprint, Agfa, CMYUK, Morgana Systems, Resolute, InkTec, Tech-ni-Fold, and Fujifilm UK demonstrating the variety of machinery that will be on display. By being showcased in one location, it eliminates the need for a business owner or employee to visit multiple showrooms and open days to experience the latest developments. With multiple staff members on hand and many new presses and solutions on show, visitors get a great opportunity to see the kit in action, scrutinise print samples, and explore the ins and outs of the machines. Tucker continues: “People need to see what UK shows can offer them. The footfall is getting bigger, and this is the way forward. The UK needs to start investing and getting back on its feet again, especially in the print industry, and that investment is starting to show here at The Print Show.” When it comes to spending time out of the office, The Online Print Coach, Colin Sinclair McDermott, has long been an advocate for encouraging those in the industry to make the most of live exhibitions to answer questions you have about your business and make connections you didn’t think you could make before. Speaking at The Print Show 2023, Sinclair McDermott said: “Anyone who's involved in the industry needs to be at this event, if you’re putting it off because you’re too busy or can’t afford the time out of the office, it’s a no brainer. “Get cover or close the office if you have to, you’ll get so much for being involved in this event to take back and work on your business. There’s a plethora of suppliers […] even if you’re not in a position to buy a product or service at the moment, you can go to look for ideas and set plans for the future.” The Print Show will take place in Hall 17 of the NEC, Birmingham this September In a busy year for trade exhibitions, it is important that printers know the launches and trends they want to explore to make their time out of the business worthwhile By David Osgar EVENTS - THE PRINT SHOW / NEWS
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