So, here we are amid another show season and all the associated jostling for position in what is an increasingly competitive sector. You’re likely heading to Sign and Digital UK as this issue lands, and we’ve got Fespa 2017 just around the corner too. But what other shows/events will you attending this year? Anywhere your customers will congregate?
Creatives of all types are forever telling me that the print sector should stop expecting them to come to print trade shows - regardless of targeted seminars etc. - and instead get print possibilities in front of could-be customers at the events they already attend in their own spaces. SMP Group is one PSP doing just that - it’s taking the novel route of sponsoring the Champagne Bar and Big Party at the upcoming Retail Design Expo in London. Of course they’ll deck out the area in wide-format print and have people on hand to casually network with those sipping champers - see the Think Bigger piece for the full story. Meanwhile, the Innovators feature this month is on the new ProCo Spark initiative, again designed with company/customer networking in mind, and the What to Watch article looks at collaborative software tools.
Talking about moving closer to customers - it isn’t just a physical - or online - thing! Understanding their mindset is key to business growth as we’ve all come to understand. Now you might not think your attitude to water is going have any impact, but read the environment page on the subject and you might have a rethink!
Also in this issue, we help you move closer to what you yourself want in terms of company development. See Zeitgeist for a motivational boost from one of the Fespa Global Summit speakers, and Top Tips for expert advice on expanding overseas trade - one of the biggest considerations for large-format PSPs in 2017 apparently - but more on that in the Widthwise Report that will accompany the May issue.
Editor
LESLEY SIMPSON
LESLEY.SIMPSON@IMAGEREPORTSMAG.CO.UK
TEL: 01932 707173