Let 2013 be the year we make more noise. Not just as individual print companies but as an industry. We know that the general perception of print is poor – and that even within our own existing customer-bases there’s often too little real understanding of all ‘print’ companies can provide in terms of services and product. Certainly things have changed in the new media landscape, but print is not the barren wasteland it’s often painted. The problem is, too few see the real, bigger picture. We’ve got to make sure more do.
A New Year open letter from Two Sides to Google, admonishing the giant for trying to promote its services as environmentally preferable to print and paper when there is evidence that electronic communication carry a significant and increasing environmental footprint, again highlighted the huge task the print sector has in re-educating the public - and more to the point, potential customers – but everyone needs to spread the word and our industry bodies need to become more proactive in getting the message out that print is sustainable. And I don’t mean ‘green’ necessarily; I mean fit for future purpose.
When people talk about ‘print’ and its future, the discussion invariably alludes to the widespread migration of information dissemination from hard copy to online and other digital media. Fair enough – but what about other types of print? Everyone within the wide-format sector is now well versed in the huge scope inkjet technologies offer within the decorative and visual graphics markets as well as the more traditional signage sectors. And then there are the other additional ‘value-added’ services that so many ‘solutions’ providers now offer. We know this so how do we make sure everyone else does too?
In this issue you’ll find plenty of food for thought, with Zeitgeist focussing on local business networking, Hollywood Monster explaining its high-profile marketing rationale etc. But we also need to pull together on a bigger scale to get to those we just aren’t reaching – those that may not currently have anything to do with print but who could potentially stimulate new and profitable markets. Let me know your thoughts…
Editor, Lesley Simpson
lesley.simpson@imagereportsmag.co.uk
Tel. 01932 707173