The economy may be still, but the wide-format industry is trying to grow
2012 was a great year for Britain, a year where the world looked on and saw the mighty lion spirit celebrate the Queen’s Jubiliee and the Olympic Games. It was also a year where businesses were fighting the good fight to stay alive and furthermore, grow in whatever way they could. The economy may be still, but industry is still trying to grow – and none more so than the wide format print industry. Many new innovations were launched at Sign & Digital UK last year and this trend is set to continue in 2013 when the show opens it’s doors on the 30th of April.
There are three main reasons why you should visit the show in 2013, apart from it being the ONLY trade show totally dedicated to the UK wide format print industry.
Reason 1 – new features & business advice
Sign & Digital UK 2013 promises to be a bumper show, packed with new features and showcases to help inform and develop your wide format print business. Business growth issues will feature prominently this year and the organisers have worked hard to develop the New Business Tour in co-operation with a number of key trade professionals.
The three elements that make up this new feature are:
The New Business Tour will guide visitors around the show stopping at designated stands that can demonstrate new business opportunities, markets and ideas to help start your new signmaking business, take your existing business into new areas or show how you can make your business run more efficiently.
The New Business Theatre will host a number of thought provoking sessions related to making money from niche industry areas. Exact times will be announced on the Sign and Digital UK website so you can plan your visit in advance.
The New Business Cafe will be the starting place for visitors to pick up further information about the newly introduced tour and theatre. Once they have taken the tour and soaked up the free advice at the theatre they can relax and network over a coffee and discuss new business opportunities in more detail in the cafe.
Alan Caddick, Senior Marketing Manager for Sign & Digital UK explains; “To further increase the advice on offer at the show, we have introduced this new feature which will be a really effective way for business owners to spend their time. The idea is for business professionals to get face to face with the specialists and actually see how they can make money, in many instances by adding to their existing business for a surprisingly small investment.”
The organisers have also identified three areas of particular interest this year to wide format printers and sign makers, demonstrating that diversification is a good route to survival and growth. Alan Caddick comments, “Feedback received from visitors and exhibitors this year indicated that businesses are indeed diversifying and looking at new ways to bring in business.”
Some trends have started to emerge:
1) Bringing outsourced revenue streams in house. Most print houses outsource one or two of their services, including sewing, laminating, mounting, eyeleting, binding and many more. By working out the revenue stream these outsourced services bring and by speaking to the correct suppliers you may find that with a simple purchase you not only increase your margin, but also your turnaround times and you will have a greater control over quality.
2) Textiles for soft signage. There is an increasing demand to create wide format print as a textile. Its fast, simple, long lasting and best of all it weighs next to nothing compared with standard pop-up material so not only do you save on shipping charges but the customer doesn’t have to lug heavy graphics around with his display system. Digital textile printing is no longer a dark art.
3) Interiors / home and business décor as an emerging market – another new and evolving market for digital print is the interiors market. Media suppliers are constantly improving and adding to their range of medias to help you diversify – ask them for the latest media swatch book in their range and you will see what options are open to you.
This fresh new approach with the wide format business visitor in mind, along with FREE registration and free educational seminars, further demonstrates the organisers’ continued commitment to the wide format print and signage industry.
Green Trail
After a successful introduction last year, the Green Trail will feature once again in 2013. The Green Trail highlights products from exhibitors that can display either an eco-friendly, environmental or ethical element.
“There will be a good mix of products on the Green Trail list including ink and media manufacturers, printers, and recyclable display products,” adds Caddick, “not to mention sustainable solutions from the digital signage sector.”
Reason 2 – FREE workshops, educational seminars & demonstrations
Workshops & Seminars
Sign & Digital UK is well known for its excellent free educational programme and this year will be no different. Seminars by Adobe and Corel are confirmed and the Signmakers Workshop, one of the most eagerly anticipated activities, will be held on a regular basis throughout each day. For more information and timetables, please visit the website www.signanddigitaluk.com.
On stand demonstrations are always extremely interesting for visitors – and can include anything from a total vehicle wrap over three days, to new finishing techniques, transfer printing, routing, engraving and much much more. The new Business Tour section will also include interesting demonstrations and talks.
Reason 3 – Doing real business
Sign & Digital UK is renowned as the only UK show where major wide format print and finishing manufacturers are widely represented, both by the manufacturer themselves and also by a number of highly respected UK resellers. It is the only UK trade show to offer this under one roof on an annual basis and so has a well earned reputation as the show to research, discover and purchase your next wide format print or finishing solution.
Duncan Jefferies of Hybrid Services comments, “Hybrid’s stand at the 2012 exhibition was geared to attracting visitors old and new. They were able to receive free, independent business advice in the Mimaki Learning Zone from seasoned professional sign makers, textile printers and commercial operations and alongside this, Hybrid launched a number of new products, demonstrated the latest printers and cutters and as the Mimaki ‘hub’, supported its reseller network that was present at the event. Hybrid’s 2013 stand will again feature new Mimaki product launches, free advice, impressive demos and great hospitality!”
Graham de Kock of CWE Solutions comments; "2012 was the most successful Sign & Digital UK for us to date. We fully believe that Sign & Digital UK offers a very focused approach, tailored to UK sign & display businesses. Other exhibitions attract a more European and International set of visitors which often do not translate into sales in the UK market, and for that reason Sign & Digital UK is still the only relevant UK trade sign exhibition to attend."
From workflow software through to display and lighting systems, the show never fails to deliver. So don’t delay and register for free today at www.signandigitaluk.com and be sure to follow us on twitter @signanddigitaluk or follow #SDUK